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FAQs

Is it secure?  Interaction with DuplexIR is via a secured https/SSL  webpage.  Data input is encrypted on both the company and investor sides. 

How is this data stored?  All data is recorded in encrypted form on third party servers run by a leading industry provider within the EU.

Can I answer the questions on a mobile device?  The system is set up to make it as easy and convenient as possible for investors to complete the questionnaire and it is constructed to work perfectly on all popular platforms PC, tablet or smarthphone.

Who gives the money to charity?  In most cases it is the clients that make the donations via DuplexIR following notification by the DuplexIR system.  In some cases, where for example the client has a strict policy of not making charity donations, the payments can be made by DuplexIR. 

Who chooses the charities?  DuplexIR has an extensive list of charities set up on its system.  DuplexIR is happy to add new charities to this list for clients, subject to verification and time constraints. 

Can I forward the email link to my own personal email and click on the link from there?  We cannot comment on particular firms’ IT policies but the linked to web page will open and function from a forwarded email.  Only one set of responses can be accepted from each email sent out.

Can I send out a survey with no incentive payment to charity? Yes

Can the IRO ‘game’ the system to identify particular views from specific investors?  The system is set up to prevent this.

Who owns the data?  The client owns the questions and the answers as responded ex any relevant identifying data has been stripped out.  The respondent / their employer owns the data regarding the questions asked of them and their responses. This is confirmed as part of the terms and conditions when both clients and respondents submit the questionnaire and the responses.

Why is DuplexIR not regulated?  DuplexIR offers no advice it merely puts the questions and delivers the responses.

Can DuplexIR be used for instruments other than equities? Although it has been designed to deal with the particular problems and issues associated with the equities market, and most particularly the UK equity market, they system could be used for other financial instruments.

Can DuplexIR handle more than just yes/no answers?  DuplexIR can handle responses in text form as well as check box, radio button, weightings and rankings.  Although there are other web form interfaces possible beyond these we have found that these are the ones that actually work in the mobile environment.

What does DuplexIR offer that my broker doesn’t already do?  DuplexIR gives an effective, convenient and direct approach to investor feedback with the option of anonymity for respondents.  The feedback is real.  The investor knows that the views will get through to the company.  DuplexIR doesn’t factor in the fact that responses may contradict brokers’/advisers’ comments or simply make difficult reading.  The feedback can be kept anonymous with no risk of identities being ‘let slip’ in conversation. We believe that this can make investors more forthcoming in their responses.  Using DuplexIR also means that you know what questions were asked and how.  

How does any of this help the investment manager / analyst?  DuplexIR allows the investment manager / analyst to respond in a quick, convenient and simple way.  Not all investors find talking to corporate brokers a pleasant or productive experience.

Why is DuplexIR different from traditional investor perception studies?  DuplexIR is faster, simpler and direct.  It is also considerably cheaper and does not attempt to add value through interpretation and advice. See question below.

Is DuplexIR a replacement for corporate brokers or traditional investor perception studies?  It shouldn’t be a replacement for either if they are being done correctly.  Remember that the data is owned by the client.  It is for the client to use the data in house and alongside its advisers so DuplexIR can be used alongside both these services.

What about the sell side?  DuplexIR can be used to survey the sell side as well as the buy side.  The nature of the questioning need not necessarily be the same, but valuable insights can be obtained by comparing the responses of both sides.

What happens if the responses are regarded as libellous or defamatory and yet the respondent has chosen to remain anonymous?  In such cases DuplexIR has the identity of the respondent and will raise the matter with the management/governance officer of the respondent’s firm in the first instance. We advise against posing questions that my invite such comments.

What record is kept of who responds?  Where asked to do so, DuplexIR can provide details of responses and response rates to governance officers/managers.

How does the Company Access debate affect DuplexIR?  A DuplexIR survey has the potential to identify where management is simply being rolled out by brokers to satisfy targets or quotas of meetings arranged

What about overseas investors?  DuplexIR can be used for overseas investors too. 

What about disclosure of donations?  Under companies act legislation total donations to charities in excess of £2000 must be disclosed.  In order to help clients comply with this legislation, DuplexIR provides a breakdown of payments including classification by type of charity.

How many questions can I ask?  There is no practical limit on the number of questions, but we recommend that clients restrict the number of questions to 25.

What does it cost? Give us a call and we can discuss this question.  Rates vary depending upon the nature, size and potential requirements of the client.

This requires more work to be undertaken by the IRO, doesn’t it? For those companies that choose the basic package there is a small increase in workload for the IRO in terms of survey creation and administration of the email list etc.  However, DuplexIR removes a considerable amount of work regarding managing brokers, etc. and it can also help identify where IR efforts (both those of the IRO and senior executives) are being wasted.

Why not use a traditional web survey?  DuplexIR offers security levels, features, documentation and controls not found in commercial web survey solutions together with the ability offer meaningful charity donation incentives for respondents; all tailored to provide the most effective solution for investor relations purposes.  Commercial web survey systems are tailored for bulk mailings (with little or no account of anonymity) and handling of mass data with no incentives or SMS integrations. Furthermore such systems typically can provide additional information about respondents, such as IP addresses, that compromise their anonymity without their knowledge.

What other services does DuplexIR offer?  We can help clients to construct the surveys and analyse the results and can also run perception studies if required, but we do not provide investor relations advice.  We do not have any agenda other than providing the best tools to promote shareholder engagement and to help understanding and communication between companies and investors.

Who owns DuplexIR? DuplexIR is the Trading Name of Dry Hill Ventures Limited a privateley held company registered in England at The Coppice, Goodley Stock, Kent, TN8 6TA, with registered number: 08617130