Next-Generation Virtual Shareholder Meeting Platform Enhanced through Broadridge and Strategic Partnership with Q4, Inc

Rhea-AI Summary

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: BR) has partnered with Q4 Inc. to enhance its Virtual Shareholder Meeting (VSM) platform, combining expertise from both firms. This upgrade introduces advanced features such as secure shareholder authentication, comprehensive meeting management tools, and improved Q&A functionality, aimed at boosting engagement during annual meetings. Broadridge, a leader in VSM technology, hosted nearly 2,000 meetings in 2020 alone and is recognized for reducing the carbon footprint associated with in-person meetings. The new platform will first launch in the U.S., with plans for future global rollout.

Positive

• Enhancement of the Virtual Shareholder Meeting platform with advanced features.
• Broadridge's leadership in VSM technology, having hosted nearly 2,000 meetings in 2020.
• Reduction of carbon emissions compared to in-person meetings.

Negative

• None.

NEW YORK, March 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- With U.S. corporations and investors preparing for the start of the annual shareholder meeting season, Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:BR), a global Fintech leader, in conjunction with Q4 Inc. (Q4), a leading capital markets, investor relations and virtual events solution provider, announce a strategic partnership to deliver the next generation of the Broadridge Virtual Shareholder Meeting (VSM). Combining the technology and expertise of Broadridge's decade-plus leadership in VSMs with Q4's latest virtual events capabilities, provides issuers and investors with a stress-free, intuitive and enriched experience.

"VSMs are a critical tool, revolutionizing how companies conduct their annual meetings and speak to shareholders, and Broadridge and Q4 are re-defining and enhancing the VSM experience. This enhanced VSM will drive increased shareholder engagement by providing an experience that has many advantages over a physical meeting," said Cathy Conlon, Vice President, Broadridge Corporate Issuer Product Strategy & Business Development. "Companies will experience the latest virtual events technology platform, which will benefit their management team holding the event and the shareholders who attend." 

New features of this fully integrated VSM offering include state-of-the-art video and audio collaboration, role-based meeting views, comprehensive meeting management tools and improved Q&A functionality. The platform is aligned with VSM best practices recently outlined by Rutgers University Law School. It provides "one-click" secure shareholder authentication and seamless proxy voting accessed directly from the VSM meeting.

Broadridge pioneered the first commercial VSM platform in 2009 and is the leading provider of VSMs to public companies in North America. In 2020, Broadridge hosted nearly 2,000 VSMs for public company annual meetings and led the industry in how to conduct virtual meetings. This strategic partnership between Broadridge and Q4 builds on the collaborative launch of the Digital Proxy with the goal of increasing retail shareholder participation in corporate governance.

Benefits for Shareholders and Companies

For shareholders, the platform allows for a highly engaging and modern virtual experience, starting with a seamless meeting authentication, a "Zoom-like" meeting experience, integrated Q&A, live voting, speaker profiles and easily accessible meeting materials.

For issuers, the platform provides an integrated console to manage all aspects of the VSM experience, including seamless management of high-quality video and audio streamed from multiple presenters, screen sharing, meeting materials management and voting. Innovative Q&A management has been designed for administrators to review shareholder questions and queue for presenters, while corporate executives and board members benefit from integrated private chat tools for unparalleled collaboration and communication throughout the meeting.

"We are incredibly excited about our strategic partnership with Broadridge and to bring this next generation VSM platform to the market," said Darrell Heaps, CEO of Q4. "Since the beginning of the pandemic we have been working closely with the experts at Broadridge at extending our new virtual events platform to serve the needs of shareholders and issuers in this new virtual world. We are proud to deliver this platform and set the standard by which all VSMs will be measured against as we lead the market to how much more effective VSMs can be."

Broadridge and Q4 provide this VSM platform with a dedicated team of capital markets events experts for guided, premium support throughout meeting planning, dry runs, live broadcast and meeting choreography to deliver a flawless experience for companies to help meet meeting requirements.

VSMs generate significantly lower carbon emissions than in-person meetings and create an opportunity for companies to reduce their overall carbon footprint. Broadridge data shows that, compared with in-person events, VSMs can help companies virtually eliminate their AGM-related carbon footprint.

In 2020, Q4 hosted more than 4,000 capital markets virtual events, including earnings events, investor days and investor conferences. Moving forward, Broadridge and Q4 plan to partner on extending Q4's suite of impactful virtual events solutions to issuers, asset managers and other capital markets participants.

These enhancements are currently only available in the U.S. and will be rolled out to markets outside the U.S. in the future. 

About Broadridge Financial Solutions
Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE: BR), a global Fintech leader with over $4.5 billion in revenues, provides the critical infrastructure that powers investing, corporate governance, and communications to enable better financial lives. We deliver technology-driven solutions to banks, broker-dealers, asset and wealth managers and public companies. Broadridge's infrastructure serves as a global communications hub enabling corporate governance by linking thousands of public companies and mutual funds to tens of millions of individual and institutional investors around the world. In addition, Broadridge's technology and operations platforms underpin the daily trading of on average more than U.S. $10 trillion of equities, fixed income and other securities globally. A certified Great Place to Work®, Broadridge is a part of the S&P 500® Index, employing over 12,000 associates in 17 countries. For more information about us and what we can do for you, please visit www.broadridge.com

For more information about Broadridge's virtual shareholder meeting solution:

About Q4, Inc.
Q4 Inc. (Q4), is a leading capital markets, investor relations and virtual events solution provider. Through Q4's proven technology platform and best-in-class customer experience, the firm is a trusted partner to over 2,400 of the world's most successful public companies and institutions. Q4's comprehensive portfolio of communications and intelligence solutions empowers customers to build impactful and strategic programs. Q4 has offices in New York, Toronto and London.

To learn more, visit: www.q4inc.com.

Investors:
W. Edings Thibault
Investor Relations
+ 1 516-472-5129
Edings.thibault@broadridge.com

Media:
Gregg Rosenberg
Corporate Communications
+1 212-918-6966
Gregg.rosenberg@broadridge.com

Lisa Edwards
VP Marketing
Lisa.Edwards@q4inc.com

 

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SOURCE Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.

FAQ

What is the strategic partnership between Broadridge and Q4 Inc. about?

Broadridge and Q4 Inc. have formed a partnership to enhance the Virtual Shareholder Meeting platform, combining technology and expertise for improved shareholder engagement.

What new features are included in Broadridge's updated Virtual Shareholder Meeting platform?

The updated platform offers secure shareholder authentication, advanced video and audio features, comprehensive meeting management tools, and improved Q&A functionality.

How many Virtual Shareholder Meetings did Broadridge host in 2020?

Broadridge hosted nearly 2,000 Virtual Shareholder Meetings in 2020.

When will the new VSM enhancements be available outside the U.S.?

The new VSM features are currently available only in the U.S., with plans to roll out to international markets in the future.

How do Virtual Shareholder Meetings benefit companies and shareholders?

VSMs provide a modern, engaging experience for shareholders and offer companies integrated tools to manage meetings efficiently, enhancing participation and collaboration.