Brightpoint - IR
Company: Brightpoint
Entered by: Ruder Finn
Company Description: Brightpoint, Inc is a global leader in the distribution of wireless devices and in providing customized logistic services to the wireless industry.
Nomination Category: Corporate Literature & Investor Relations
Nomination Sub Category: Best Investor Relations Program
Nomination Title: Brightpoint: Leveraging Investor Relations to Enhance Long-Term Shareholder Value
1. Tell the story about this nominated investor relations program in the past year (up to 500 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:
Objective:
In 2006, Brightpoint’s IR Program consisted of an integrated
communications strategy that was designed to:
-Demonstrate that our strategic focus is directly aligned with high
growth opportunities within the global wireless device industry
-Increase our sell-side coverage and institutional ownership by
proactively targeting the investment community through conferences, road
shows, site visits, analyst/investor day, quarterly newsletters and other
ongoing communications
-Enhance Brightpoint brand awareness
Challenges:
As primarily a B2B company that is providing services in the
wireless space, and relatively less known, our challenges included:
-Effectively communicating the value proposition of our business model
and that we are a pure wireless investment
-Successfully positioning our executives as ‘thought leaders’ within
the wireless space to enhance our credibility within the IR community
-Through our brand identity, effectively communicating our capabilities
and core strengths
-Managing the external factors and expectations within the wireless
device industry that affect IR community expectations
Tactics:
Developed an integrated communication program for the IR
community consisting of:
-Quarterly newsletter
-Email blast on Brightpoint/industry relevant topics
-Investor conferences and road shows
-Regular office/plant visits and tours
-Company hosted analyst/investor meetings
-Regular phone briefings
-Current information on our IR website
-Timely press releases and filings
-Shareholder targeting to promote company awareness and increase
shareholder base
Targeting institutional investors:
-Sell-side research
-Sell-side conferences
-Road shows
-Analyst/investor day
-Institutional investors of peer companies
Determining how investor interactions have prompted investment in company’s
stock:
-Monitoring of shareholder activity and ownership changes using a stock
surveillance firm
-Quarterly 13F filings
-In special cases, 13G or 13D filings
Securing positive coverage of the company by integrating an intensive,
integrated PR program with IR program:
-Media Coverage on Brightpoint and industry related topics in national
business and trade publications including The Wall Street Journal,
BusinessWeek, RCR Wireless News and Wireless Week
-Industry awards including the BusinessWeek InfoTech 100 and the 2006
Forbes Platinum List of Best Big Companies in America
-Industry trade shows presence/participation
-Industry speaking opportunities
-Interactions and relationships high-tech industry research and
analyst firms
-Brightpoint press releases in leading print media
-Interviews with leading publications (Forbes, Fortune,
Business Week, Wall Street Journal, Economist, Reuters etc.)
Accomplishments/Outcome:
-Six telecom analysts initiated coverage on CELL in 2006 (Tim Long of
BofA, Bill Choi of Jefferies, Christin Armacost from Lazard, Ben Bolin of
Cleveland Research, Lisa Maule of SIG and Matt Hoffman from Cowen & Co.)
-Institutional Ownership reached an all time high of 88%
-Market Capitalization reached an all time high of $1.4B
-Brightpoint added as a constituent in the S&P 600 small cap Index
-S&P raised CELL corporate credit rating to BB-
-Brightpoint selected to be listed on NASDAQ Global Select Market Index
-Brightpoint was named to the 2006 Forbes Platinum List of Best Big
Companies in America
-Brightpoint made BusinessWeek’s “InfoTech 100” list of the top 100
tech companies in the world for 2006
-Brightpoint rang The NASDAQ Stock Market Opening Bell on July 18th,
2006.
2. List hyperlinks to any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that support the claims made in the section above. IMPORTANT: Begin each link with http://, and enclose each link in square brackets; for example, [http://www.youraddress.com]:
Media Coverage
-Intele-Card News, “Top 10 to Watch in 2007”
http://www.intelecardnews.com/ten.html
-Wall Street Journal, “Smartphones Aim at New Markets”
Link NA (Subscription Required)
-VARBusiness, “Ripping Out The Wires: VARs mine new wireless-solution
opportunities in the enterprise”
http://www.varbusiness.com/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=OAX31UZXRGKC2QSNDLPCKHSCJUNN2JVN?articleID=195400023&queryText=brightpoint
-BusinessWeek, “The InfoTech 100”
http://bwnt.businessweek.com/it100/2006/index.asp
-Reuters, “Brightpoint eyes new partners in India after Nokia”
http://in.tech.yahoo.com/060718/137/65yy0.html
-RCR Wireless News, “Brightpoint Not Just Distribution Moving Forward”
Link NA
-RCR Wireless News, “Wall Street Celebrates Brightpoint's Third Quarter, HTC
Handset Contract”
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-154510523.html
(subscription required to view article in full)
-RCR Wireless News, “The Holiday Outlook: Big carriers, big handset brands,
low prices”
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-154510500.html
(subscription required to view article in full)
-Wireless Week, “Brightpoint Buys Select CellStar Assets”
http://www.wirelessweek.com/article/CA6401342.html
-Investor’s Business Daily, “Bulking Up For The Winter”
Link NA (subscription required)
-MSN Money, “Brightpoint to distribute Motorola”
Link NA
-BusinessWeek, “Brightpoint to distribute Motorola”
Link NA
-Indiana Business Magazine, “Brightpoint: It's not a household name, but the
global distributor touches one of every five wireless devices in U.S. and 42
Million Worldwide”
http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-5357007/Brightpoint-it-s-not-a.html
(subscription required to view article in full)
-Material Handling Management, “Brightpoint North America Expands Capacity”
http://www.mhmonline.com/viewStory.asp?nID=4632&pNum=1
-Associated Press/BusinessWeek, “Brightpoint acquires Persequor”
Link NA
-Indianapolis Star, “Brightpoint shares climb 18% on jump in quarterly profit”
Link NA
-BusinessWeek, “Brightpoint 4Q Profit Up on Sales Surge”
Link NA
-RCR Wireless News, “MVNO competition spreading to MVNEs”
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-141920279.html
(subscription required to view article in full)
-RCR Wireless News, “Brightpoint extends Exclusive Distribution Agreement With
Nokia”
Link NA
-Intele-Card News, “10 to Watch in 2006”
Link NA
-Investor’s Business Daily, “Growth of Virtual Mobile Firm Helps Telecom
Services Outfits”
Print Only
-TWICE, “The Wireless Future”
http://www.twice.com/article/CA6296905.html?text=brightpoint
Press Releases
-Brightpoint Reports Fourth Quarter and Year End 2006 Financial Results
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=111858&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=959488
-Brightpoint Enters into Agreement to Acquire Certain Operations of CellStar
(December 18, 2006)
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=111858&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=943206&highlight=
-Brightpoint to Distribute Dopod Smart Devices in Australia (November 21,
2006) http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=111858&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=934508
-Brightpoint Reports Third Quarter 2006 Financial Results (November 8, 2006)
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=111858&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=928667&highlight=
-Brightpoint to Distribute New HP iPAQ in the United States (November 7, 2006)
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=111858&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=927860&highlight=
-Brightpoint North America to be Sole Distributor of HTC GSM Devices to
Regional Operators and their Distribution Channels (November 6, 2006)
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=111858&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=926939&highlight
-Brightpoint Joins Verizon Wireless Business Solutions Program (October 23,
2006) http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=111858&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=919609&highlight=
-Brightpoint Completes Acquisition of Trio Teknologies (October 16, 2006)
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=111858&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=916632&highlight=
-Brightpoint Selected as the Provider of Integrated Logistic Services by
Vonage (October 2, 2006)
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=111858&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=910803&highlight=
-Brightpoint Australia Enters into Distribution Agreement with NetComm
(September 27, 2006)
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=111858&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=909573&highlight=
-Brightpoint Selected by Newegg as Strategic Vendor (August 23, 2006)
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=111858&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=898527&highlight=
-Brightpoint Increases its Estimate for Units Handled in the Second Half of
2006 (August 16, 2006)
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=111858&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=896265&highlight=
-Brightpoint Announces Preliminary Second Quarter 2006 Summary Financial
Results (July 31, 2006)
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=111858&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=889542&highlight=
-Brightpoint CEO to Ring NASDAQ Opening Bell (July 7, 2006)
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=111858&p=irol-
newsArticle&ID=879669&highlight=
-Boost Mobile Appoints Brightpoint as Distributor of its Products and Services
(June 29, 2006)
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=111858&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=877536&highlight=
-Brightpoint to be Included in NASDAQ Global Select Market and Ranked in
BusinessWeek's Top 100 Tech Performers (June 26, 2006)
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=111858&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=876272&highlight=
-Brightpoint Expands into the Russian Market (June 23, 2006)
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=111858&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=875658&highlight=
-Brightpoint Enters Into Distribution Agreement With SanDisk (June 22, 2006)
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=111858&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=875221&highlight=
-Brightpoint Reports First Quarter 2006 Financial Results (May 9, 2006)
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=111858&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=854207&highlight=
-Disney Mobile and Brightpoint Reach Agreement for Integrated Logistic
Services (April 6, 2006)
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=111858&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=839716&highlight=
-Brightpoint Enters into Agreement with Motorola (March 29, 2006)
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=111858&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=836596&highlight=
-Brightpoint Secures HELIO as New Integrated Logistic Services Customer (March
27, 2006)
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=111858&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=835607&highlight=
-Brightpoint Announces Agreement with Motricity to Sell Mobile Content
(February 13, 2006)
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=111858&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=815903&highlight=
-Brightpoint Reports Fourth Quarter and Year End 2005 Financial Results
(February 7, 2006)
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=111858&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=813876&highlight=
-Brightpoint and Nokia Extend Exclusive Distribution Agreement for the United
States (January 19, 2006)
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=111858&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=806072&highlight=
3. Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about the leader(s) of the team that carried out this nominated investor relations program:
Robert J. Laikin: Chairman of the Board and CEO
Robert J. Laikin, founder of the Company, has been a Director of the Company
since its inception in August 1989. Mr. Laikin has been Chairman of the Board
and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since January 1994. Mr. Laikin was
President of the Company from June 1992 until September 1996 and Vice
President and Treasurer of the Company from August 1989 until May 1992. From
July 1986 to December 1987, Mr. Laikin was Vice President, and from January
1988 to February 1993, President of Century Cellular Network, Inc., a company
engaged in the retail sale of cellular telephones and accessories.
Anurag Gupta: Senior VP, Global Strategy, Investor & Public Relations:
Anurag Gupta joined Brightpoint as Senior Vice President of Global Strategy
and Business Development in April of 2003. Anurag was previously with
Motorola, Inc. for 13 years where he held a number of increasingly responsible
positions including CEO, Motorola JVC in India. He led the establishment of
three Motorola Joint Venture Companies in India for the Two-way Radio
Communications Business. He has an extensive background and experience
internationally and has worked in Asia, Europe, Latin America and North
America. Anurag earned his Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Electrical
Engineering from University of Toledo, Ohio, and a Masters of Business
Administration in Marketing and International Business from Stuart School of
Business, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago.
Anthony Boor: EVP and CFO:
Anthony Boor has been Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
Treasurer of Brightpoint, Inc. since October 2005. From June 2005 until
October 2005, Mr. Boor was Acting Chief Financial Officer and Principal
Financial Officer of the Company. Prior to that, Mr. Boor had been Senior Vice
President, Chief Financial Officer of the Brightpoint Americas division since
2001. Mr. Boor was previously Vice President and Controller of Brightpoint
North America L.P. from July 1999 to July 2001 and Director of Business
Management of Brightpoint North America from August 1998 to July 1999. Prior
to joining Brightpoint, Mr. Boor was employed in various financial positions
with Macmillan Publishing, Day Dream, Inc., Ernst & Young, LLP, New Mexico
State Fairgrounds and The Downs at Albuquerque, KPMG, LLP and Ernst & Whinney.
Mr. Boor is a Certified Public Accountant and has a B.S. in accounting from
New Mexico State University.
Gary Butts: SVP, Strategic Business Development:
Gary D. Butts has been the Senior Vice President of Strategic Development
since 2005. Mr. Butts joined Brightpoint in November of 1992. Starting in
sales, Mr. Butts has continually expanded his responsibilities throughout his
tenure, including sales, marketing, and logistics services for Brightpoint
North America. Mr. Butts has been instrumental in growing Brightpoint's third
party logistics (3PL) capabilities and has been successful in strengthening
relationships with key customers and network operators. Prior to joining
Brightpoint, Mr. Butts was the Regional Sales Manager for NCI, a wireless
communications distributor based in Dallas, Texas. Mr. Butts has been involved
in the wireless telecommunications industry since 1986.