Search
 
Best Practices

Size Does Matter When Trying To Get Your Fair Share

With investors and ratings agencies, midsize companies often find themselves overshadowed by dominant multinationals in their industry

By Dave Lindorff | Updated on February 01, 2004

Within months of going public in February 2000, wireless provider Nextel Partners Inc. set up its investor relations operation–although the word ‘operation’ may be a little bit of an exaggeration. Today, as it did four years ago, the “operation” consists of one person–Alice Kang Ryder, who serves as both director and staff for a department that spends about $1 million a year. “I also do other things, like financing transactions and so on,” she laughs.

Kang Ryder and Nextel are hardly unique. For midsize companies, even a staff of one and a budget of $1 million can seem like luxuries. When it comes to fielding investment community inquires or disgruntled investor calls, many middle-market companies are forced to rely on their treasurer (if they have one), CFO or even CEO. “We try to be efficient, but at the end of the day we realize we’re a cost center,” says Kang Ryder. And for companies with less than $1 billion in revenues, it is a cost center that many have reluctantly decided that they must live without.

Complete your profile to continue reading and get FREE access to Treasury & Risk, part of your ALM digital membership.

Your access to unlimited Treasury & Risk content isn’t changing.
Once you are an ALM digital member, you’ll receive:

  • Critical Treasury & Risk information including in-depth analysis of treasury and finance best practices, case studies with corporate innovators, informative newsletters, educational webcasts and videos, and resources from industry leaders.
  • Exclusive discounts on ALM and Treasury & Risk events.
  • Access to other award-winning ALM websites including PropertyCasualty360.com and Law.com.

Already have an account?

NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.

Recommended Stories

Treasury & Risk

Join Treasury & Risk

Don’t miss crucial treasury and finance news along with in-depth analysis and insights you need to make informed treasury decisions. Join Treasury & Risk now!

  • Free unlimited access to Treasury & Risk including case studies with corporate innovators, informative newsletters, educational webcasts, and resources from industry leaders.
  • Exclusive discounts on ALM and Treasury & Risk events.
  • Access to other award-winning ALM publications including PropertyCasualty360.com and Law.com.

Already have an account? Sign In Now
Join Treasury & Risk

Copyright © 2024 ALM Global, LLC. All Rights Reserved.