We strive to create value for all our stakeholders today and for generations to come through our business and all along our value chain. This includes our capital providers, who appreciate an increase of the company’s value.
Transparent communication
Transparent and open communication of the accurate financial and relevant non-financial information to the financial markets is crucial for us. All information is easily publicly accessible via the company website. We actively engage with investors not only through General Meetings of Shareholders but also through events such as our Investor Days and Teach-in events, roadshows, and conferences (in person and virtually) as well as individual meetings.
We reach out to both financial and ESG advisors who cover dsm-firmenich on behalf of their financial market clients, such as brokers, credit rating agencies, proxy advisors, shareholder representative organizations, and ESG rating agencies.
We highly value the investors’ feedback. It is periodically discussed and assessed by the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors and helps up improve our communication.
In 2023, we engaged with our investors and their representatives on sustainability topics such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), climate change, biodiversity, governance, sustainability in supply chain management, human rights, and diversity, equity and inclusion.
Updating investors on our progress
Since the Capital Markets Day in 2022 in Paris, during which former DSM and former Firmenich outlined the strategic rationale of the merger, we have kept our analysts and investors updated on the progress of the merger as well as business, financial and ESG performance during roadshows, conferences, as well as during other one-on-one meetings.
In November 2023 we organized a Teach-in event in Geneva. The event offered the chance to showcase how the two companies had come together both operationally and culturally using the example of two of our four Business Units – Perfumery & Beauty and Taste, Texture & Health. We gave multiple presentations and demonstrations on bringing together the essential, the desirable and the sustainable.
In 2023, our Investor Relations function was ranked again at the top of its sector by Institutional Investor EMEA Research. dsm-firmenich also was recognized by Mergermarket, winning the main category ‘Deal of the Year’ in their annual European M&A awards.
Engaging with the market about sustainability
As a company formed of two global sustainability leaders, we are determined to keep growing our positive impact – for the good of people, climate, and nature.
In 2023, we engaged with investors, including pension funds, to discuss their responsibility in long-term value creation for their customers, but also for the society and the environment their participants live in. We actively participated in projects of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). We also participated in FCLT (Focusing Capital on the Long Term) projects. We are committed to staying ahead in sustainability reporting and ensuring we report against new and future requirements of regulating authorities. These include the EU Sustainable Finance Action Plan, EU Green deal, EU Taxonomy, EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR).
We continued our engagement with leading ESG Ratings and Benchmarks advisors to the financial sector, including Sustainalytics, MSCI, Moody’s-Vigeo and ISS-ESG. We also engaged with IIGCC (Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change) on a net-zero transition plan, as well as with Share Action, an organization working directly with investors to drive up standards for responsible investment.
