GALA by ARIR 2023: 16 listed companies awarded for best practices in investor relations, communication, and ESG

The Romanian Investor Relations Association – ARIR awarded for the 5th consecutive year the excellence in investor communication at the GALA by ARIR 2023 event, held at the Palace of the Parliament. 16 top listed companies were awarded for their communication efforts and the presentation of the best sustainability reports. The awards were given based on votes of institutional and individual investors active on the Bucharest Stock Exchange. The event was attended by over 200 individuals, representatives of the capital market, and was organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship, and Tourism.

Daniela Șerban, ARIR President and Co-Founder:

“GALA by ARIR provides a unique opportunity to recognize excellence in investor relations for the entire capital market. In this universe, the awards for excellence in IR are not just acknowledgments, but also pillars of a culture where vision and commitment create bridges of trust and collaboration between companies and investors. We congratulate the winners and acknowledge their efforts. This year, we marked a special project with the presence on stage of investors who won an NFT dedicated to their favorite listed company.”

GALA by ARIR 2023 winners:

• Best CEO in Investor Relations – institutional investors’ vote: Christina Verchere – OMV Petrom(1st place); Călin Ionescu, Sphera Franchise Group;
• Best CFO in Investor Relations – institutional investors’ vote:  Valentin Budeș, Sphera Franchise Group (1st place); Alina Popa – OMV Petrom;
• Best company in Investor Relations – institutional investors’ vote: OMV Petrom (1st place), Sphera Franchise Group, Banca Transilvania;
• Best IRO – institutional investors’ vote: Marius Dan, Fondul Proprietatea; Zuzanna Kurek, Sphera Franchise Group (1st place);
• Best company in Investor Relations – Main Market – public choice: Antibiotice (1st place); One United Properties (1st place); TeraPlast; Purcari; Transport Trade Services (TTS);
• Best company in Investor Relations – AeRO Market – public choice: DN AGRAR Group (1st place); 2B Intelligent Soft; ROCA INDUSTRY;
• Biggest IPO at the Bucharest Stock Exchange, Main Market – special award by BVB:  Hidroelectrica;
• Best Sustainability Report: OMV Petrom (1st place); Autonom; ALRO;
• Rising Star in ESG Communication: Banca Transilvania;
• Best Board Design – awarded by ARIR and ENVISIA: Nuclearelectrica, Patria Bank.

The first collection of NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) in the capital market in Romania was launched by the Romanian Investor Relations Association (ARIR) together with 8 listed companies: the Bucharest Stock Exchange – NFT created by Upcrafty; AQUILA – NFT created by Șerban Dumitru, Penfire Studio; Antibiotice – NFT created by Jump; BRK Financial Group – NFT created by Andrei Olariu; Electromagnetica – NFT created by Emilia Dumitrescu / Kali Story_; Farmaceutica Remedia – NFT created by Nicu P; IMPACT Developer & Contractor – NFT created by Dots N’ Bits; Rompetrol – NFT created by Adrian Alexandru Gheorghe/ archaag.

The NFT collection, created in partnership with WebitLabs, was exhibited at the Gala, and investors had the opportunity to win an NFT of the selected company by participating in a raffle through the website www.ir-romania.ro/NFT .

The messages inscribed in ARIR’s NFT (Time Capsule type), created by Ovidiu – Valeriu Bojor, will serve as a reference for the organization’s future activities and will be revealed in 2028, with the occasion of the 10th anniversary of ARIR.

The Strategic Partners of GALA by ARIR 2023 are: The Bucharest Stock Exchange (ARIR Founding Member), Banca Transilvania (ARIR Associate Member), IMPACT Developer & Contractor (ARIR Associate Member), BRK Financial Group (ARIR Associate Member), Romcarbon (ARIR Associate Member), Antibiotice (ARIR Associate Member), Nuclearelectrica (ARIR Founding Member) și Mazars (ARIR Affiliate Member). Main partners: OMV Petrom (ARIR Associate Member),Raiffeisen Bank International, BRD Groupe Société Générale (ARIR Associate Member), Purcari (ARIR Associate Member) și Transgaz (ARIR Associate Member). Institutional Partners: Institutional Investor, Envisia.

The Romanian Investor Relations Association (ARIR) was founded at the initiative of Daniela Șerban in November 2018, along with its founding members the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB), ALRO, Electromagnetica, Franklin Templeton Management – Bucharest, Hidroelectrica, Nuclearelectrica, Teraplast, Transelectrica. The following companies have joined the community: Electrica, OMV Petrom, Antibiotice, Purcari, Idea Bank, BRK Financial Group, Banca Transilvania, Transgaz, MedLife, Romcarbon, Farmaceutica REMEDIA, Autonom, IMPACT Developer & Contractor, 2Performant, One United Properties, Transport Trade Services, Patria Bank, Connections Consult, BRD – Groupe Société Générale, Rompetrol, Agista, Mecanică Fină and AQUILA as Associate Members. INNOVA Project Consulting, ENVISIA, RTPR, Mazars și Marsh Broker de Asigurare – Reasigurare, DENTONS have become Affiliate Members.

ARIR members are among the largest companies in Romania, sharing the common objective of implementing best practices in transparency, investor communication, and corporate governance.

About the Romanian Investor Relations Association (ARIR):

ARIR is the promoter of the Investor Relations (IR) concept in Romania. We believe that, through adherence to standards of transparency, corporate governance, and proactive communication with investors, our members will benefit from added value, easier access to funding, reputation, and the trust necessary for the continuous development of their businesses. ARIR was founded in 2018 by listed companies, companies with listing potential, fund managers, and IR professionals.

The founding members are the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB), ALRO, Electromagnetica, Franklin Templeton Management – Bucharest branch, Hidroelectrica, Nuclearelectrica, Teraplast, Transelectrica, Daniela Șerban, and Tony Romani. Electrica, OMV Petrom, Antibiotice, Purcari, Idea Bank, BRK Financial Group, Banca Transilvania, Transgaz, MedLife, Romcarbon, Farmaceutica REMEDIA, Autonom, IMPACT Developer & Contractor, One United Properties, Transport Trade Services, Patria Bank, Connections Consult, BRD – Groupe Société Générale, Rompetrol, Agista, Mecanică Fină and AQUILA joined as Associate Members, while INNOVA Project Consulting, ENVISIA, RTPR, Mazars, and Marsh Broker de Asigurare – Reasigurare joined as Affiliate Members.