Over one third of Canadian investment analysts and portfolio managers believe that access to company senior management is more important now than it was last year, according to an annual survey of Canada’s investment community commissioned by Investor Relations magazine.

Overall, 36% of those surveyed said that over the past year, direct contact with management of the companies they own or follow had become more important.

In addition, 82% of respondents considered a company’s ability to offer access to senior management an extremely important non-financial factor for investment decisions. Management capability was once again the most important non-financial factor according to 92% of respondents.

“As the first point of contact, investor relations officers play a critical role in bringing together public companies and the investment community,” says Anthony Parish, North American Editor, Investor Relations magazine. “While it has become increasingly challenging to balance the needs of investors and senior management — especially in the current economic climate — each company’s success depends upon its ability to meet that challenge.”

The fifth annual survey reflects the collective opinions of over 250 Canadian portfolio managers, buy-side analysts and sell-side analysts. The research was conducted in November and December, 2001, by Value Gap Advisors.

.The complete survey results will be released at the Investor Relations Magazine Canada Awards 2002, recognizing excellence in the practice of investor relations. The awardswill be held on Wednesday, February 20 at The Fairmont Royal York in Toronto.