MZ Announces Agreement with Sodali for 2010 IR Global Rankings

NEW YORK, Oct. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- MZ Consult NY LLC ("MZ"), a leading investor relations, technology, financial services and integrated communications consulting firm and coordinator of IR Global Rankings, is pleased to announce a joint-effort agreement with Sodali, an international consultancy providing advice to companies in the fields of corporate governance and relations with shareholders, for the corporate governance category of the 2010 IR Global Rankings. Only publicly listed companies can participate in the ranking, and, under the agreement, Sodali will oversee and contribute with IRGR on key aspects related to corporate governance issues globally for publicly listed companies.

"This is particularly good news for all IR Global Rankings clients, especially those registered for the corporate governance ranking. Besides continuing to benefit from our vast experience in analyzing and ranking investor relations communications procedures, clients will now have an even greater value-added contribution that Sodali is bringing to the ranking," said

Tereza Kaneta, director of MZ Consult.

"Investors are increasingly monitoring the governance of their portfolio companies," says Hernan Lopez, manager at Sodali. "Companies must, therefore, manage efficiently the issues that concern investors in their capacity as long-term owners. We wish to contribute by providing our expertise on issues such as governance policy, board effectiveness, remuneration, cross-border share voting, transparency, activism, etc. To this extent, we share MZ's view that "shareowner relations" are an essential integration to the "traditional" investor relations and financial communications programs."

The registration period for the 2010 IR Global Rankings ends on October 30, 2009. A record number of over 280 companies have registered so far, many of which are seeking feedback on their corporate governance practices.

Companies already registered include (in alphabetical order): A8 Digital Music Holdings (HKSE: 0800); Abbott (NYSE: ABT); ABNote (BMF&BOVESPA: ABNB3); Acer Inc. (TWSE: 2353); adidas (FSE: ADS); Aditya Birla Nuvo (NSE: ABIRLANUVO); Advantech Co. (TWSE: 2395); AECOM (NYSE: ACM); Aegon (EURONEXT: AGN.AS); Air France-KLM (EURONEXT: AFLYY); Airmedia Group Inc (NASDAQ: AMCN); Akamai Technologies (NASDAQ: AKAM); AkzoNobel (EURONEXT: AKZA); ALL - America Latina Logistica (BMF&BOVESPA: ALLL1); AmBev (NYSE: ABV); American Water Works Company (NYSE: AWK); AMP (ASX: AMP.AX); Applied Materials (NASDAQ: AMAT); ARC Energy Trust (TSX: AET.UN); Arcadis (EURONEXT: ARCAD); Ardentec Corporation (TWSE: 3264); ARM Holdings (LSE: ARM); Asustek Computer (TWSE: 2357); AU Optronics Corp (TWSE: 2409); Aurobindo Pharma (NSE: AUROPHARMA); Banca MPS (FTSE: BMPS.MI); Banco BPI (EURONEXT: BBPI.LS); Banco Cruzeiro do Sul (BMF&BOVESPA: CZRS4); Banco Daycoval (BMF&BOVESPA: DAYC4); Banco Indusval (BMF&BOVESPA: IDVL4); Bank of Communications (HKSE: 03328); Bank of Montreal (NYSE: BMO); BASF (XETRA: BAS.DE); Baxter (NYSE: BAX); Bayer (XETRA: BAYN GY); BBVA (NYSE: BBV); Bematech (BMF&BOVESPA: BEMA3); Brasil Brokers (BMF&BOVESPA: BBRK3); BrasilAgro (BMF&BOVESPA: AGRO3); Braskem (BMF&BOVESPA: BRKM5); BRF Brasil Foods (BMF&BOVESPA: PRGA3); Brightpoint, Inc (NASDAQ: CELL); Britvic PLC (LSE: BVIC); Brookfield Incorporacoes (BMF&BOVESPA: BISA3); Bursa Malaysia Berhad (MYX: BJURSA MK); Canadian Natural Resources Limited (NYSE: CNQ); Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT); CCR (BMF&BOVESPA: CCRO3); Celanese Corporation (NYSE: CE); Central European Media Enterprises (PSE: CETV); Cephas Holding (OTCBB: CEHC); Chang Hwa Commercial Bank (TWSE: 2801); Changyou.com Limited (NASDAQ: CYOU); Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK); Chi Mei Optoelectronics (TWSE: 3009); China Automotive Systems (NASDAQ: CAAS); China BAK Battery (NASDAQ: CBAK); China Development Financial Holding (TWSE: 2883); China Green Agriculture (NASDAQ: CGA); China Medical Technologies (NASDAQ: CMED); China Motor Corporation (TWSE: 2204); China Steel Corporation (TWSE: 2002); China Telecom (NYSE: CHA); China XD Plastics Company (OTCBB: CXDC); Chroma Ate (TWSE: 2360); Chunghwa Picture Tubes (TWSE: 2475); CipherLab Co. (TWSE: 6160); CNinsure Inc (NASDAQ: CISG); Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (ATHEX: EEEK.GA); Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL); Compal Electronics (TWSE: 2324); Construtora Tenda (BMF&BOVESPA: TEND3); Copasa (BMF&BOVESPA: CSMG3); Corporacion GEO (MXK: GEOB); Cosan (BMF&BOVESPA: CSAN3); COSCO Pacific Limited (HKSE: 1199); Credit Suisse (SWX: CSGN); Danske Bank (OMX: DANSKE.CO); DASA (BMF&BOVESPA: DASA3); Del Monte Foods Company (NYSE: DLM); Delta Electronics (TWSE: 2308); D-Link (TWSE: 2332); Dowa ( Tokyo: DOWA); Duff & Phelps (NYSE: DUF); Ecopetrol (NYSE: EC); EDP - Energias de Portugal (PSI: EDP.PL); Embraer (NYSE: ERJ); Enagas (MSE: ENAG.MC); Energisa S.A. (BMF&BOVESPA: ENGI); Enersis (NYSE: ENI-US); Equatorial Energia (BMF&BOVESPA: EQTL3); Erste Group Bank (VSE: EBS); Eternit (BMF&BOVESPA: ETER3); ev3 Inc. (NASDAQ: EVVV); EVN (NYSE: EVN); F. Hoffmann - La Roche (SIX: ROG VX); Fedex (NYSE: FDX); FelCor Lodging Trust (NYSE: FCH); Fertilizantes Heringer (BMF&BOVESPA: FHER3); Formosa Taffeta (TWSE: 1434); Fosun International (HKSE: 00656); Fraport (FSE: FRA GR); Fresenius Medical Care (FSE: FME); Fubon Financial Holding (TWSE: 2881); Fushi Copperweld (NASDAQ: FSIN); Gafisa (NYSE: GFA); Galp Energia (EURONEXT: GALP PL); Garanti Bank (ISE: GARAN); Gartner, Inc. (NYSE: IT); Gazprom Neft (MSE: SIBN); General Electric Company (NYSE: GE); Georg Fischer (SIX: GF); Gerresheimer (FSE: GXI XE); Global Bio-chem Technology Group (HKSE: 0809); Global Sources (NASDAQ: GSOL); Global Sweeteners Holdings (HKSE: 03889); Global Unichip Corp (TWSE: 3443); GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes (NYSE: GOL); Grupo Santander (IBEX 35: SAN); GVT (BMF&BOVESPA: GVTT3); Hansen Transmissions International (LSE: HSN); Hercules Technology Growth Capital (NASDAQ: HTGC); Hochtief (FSE: HOT); Homex (OTC: DHMXF.PK); HSBC Holdings (LSE: HSBA); HTC Corporation (TWSE: 2498); Hurray! Holding Co (NASDAQ: HRAY); Hypermarcas (BMF&BOVESPA: HYPE3); Hysan Development Company (HKSE: HYSNY.PK); IAMGOLD Corporation (NYSE: IAG); Indra (IBEX 35: IDR.MC); Infosys Technologies (NASDAQ: INFY); Integrys Energy Group (NYSE: TEG); Intel (NASDAQ: INTC); Internet Initiative (NASDAQ: IIJI); JBS (BMF&BOVESPA: JBSS3); KGI Securities (TWSE: 6008); Kingsoft Corporation (HKSE: 03888); KongZhong Corporation (NASDAQ: KONG); Kotak Mahindra Bank (BSE: 500247); LAN Airlines (NYSE: LFL); Life Technologies (NASDAQ: LIFE); Life Time Fitness (NYSE: LTM); Localiza Rent a Car (BMF&BOVESPA: RENT3); Logica (LSE: LOG); Longtop Financial Technologies (NYSE: LFT); Lonza (SIX: LONN); Lukoil (LSE: LKOD); Lupatech (BMF&BOVESPA: LUPA3); Marisa (BMF&BOVESPA: MARI3); Maywufa Co (TWSE: 1731); Medco Health Solutions NYSE: MHS); METRO (FSE: MEO); Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT); Millennium (EURONEXT: MBC.LS); Mindray Medical International (NYSE: MR); Mobinil (CASE: EMOB); Moody's (NYSE: MCO); MorphoSys (FSE: MOR); Nacional Financiera (MXK: NAFTRAC02); Nanya Technology Corporation (TWSE: 2408); National Bank Financial Group (TSX: NA); Nedbank Group (JSE: NED); Net Servicos (BMF&BOVESPA: NETC4); New World Resources (LSE: NWR LN); Newmont Mining Corporation (NYSE: NEM); Nexen (NYSE: NXY); NKT Holding (CSE: DK 0010287663); Novartis (VIRT-X: NOVN.VX); NRG Energy (NYSE: NRG); Nucleus Software Exports (NSE: NUCLEUS); OC Oerlikon (SIX: OERL); Oce N.V. (OTC: OCENF.PK); OHL Brasil (BMF&BOVESPA: OHLB3); Outokumpu (NASDAQ: OUT1V.HE); Overseas Shipholding Group (NYSE: OSG); Pampa Energia (BCBA: PAMP); Parana Banco (BMF&BOVESPA: PRBC4); Partner Communications (NASDAQ: PTNR); PDG Realty (BMF&BOVESPA: PDGR3); PhytoHealth Corporation (TWSE: 4108); Positivo Informatica (BMF&BOVESPA: POSI3); PotashCorp (NYSE: POT); Powerchip Semiconductor (TWSE: 5346); PPG Industries (NYSE: PPG); Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG); Profarma (BMF&BOVESPA: PFRM3); PT Excelcomindo Pratama (JAK: EXCL); PT Semen Gresik (Persero) (IDX: SMGR); PT. Indocement Tunggal Prakarsa (IDX: INTP); Randstad Holding (EURONEXT: RAND); Renova Energia (None: None); Rieter Group (SIX: RIEN); Rossi Residencial (BMF&BOVESPA: RSID3); Royal Dutch Shell (LSE: RDSA); Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG); Ryder System (NYSE: R); Sa Sa International Holdings (HKSE: 0178); Sampo Plc (NASDAQ: SAMAS); Sanofi-Aventis (EURONEXT: SAN);

Santos Brasil (BMF&BOVESPA: STBP11); Sappi (JSE: SAP); Shenzhen Expressway Company (HKSE: 0548); Shin Kong Financial Holding (TWSE: 2888); Shinsei Bank (TSE: 8303); Shire Pharmaceuticals Group (LSE: SHP.L); Shun Tak Holdings (HKSE: 242); Siliconware Precision Industries (TWSE: 2325); Sistema Educacional Brasileiro (BMF&BOVESPA: SEBB11); SMIC (NYSE: SMI); SNC-Lavalin (TSX: SNC); Sohu.com (NASDAQ: SOHU); Solomon Systech Limited (HKSE: 2878); Southwestern Energy (NYSE: SWN); Springs Global (BMF&BOVESPA: SGPS3); SRE Group (HKSE: 1207); STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM); Stora Enso (OMX: STERV); Strabag (WBAG: STR); Sul America (BMF&BOVESPA: SULA11); Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (NSE: SUNPHARMA); Swiss Life (SIX: SLHN); Syngenta International (SMI: SYNN VX); Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TWSE: 2330); Teck Resources (NYSE: TCK); Telecom Egypt (EGX: ETEL.CA); Telefonica O2 Czech Republic (PSE: SPTT.PR); Telekom Austria (VSE: TKA); Telvent Git (NASDAQ: TLVT); Temenos (SIX: TEMN); Tempur-Pedic International (NYSE: TPX); Tenaris (NYSE: TS); The United Laboratories International (HKSE: 03933); Thomson Reuters (NYSE: TRI); TIM Participacoes (NYSE: TSU); Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC); TOTAL (CAC: FP.PA); Tractebel Energia (BMF&BOVESPA: TBLE3); Trend Micro (NASDAQ: IBKR); Trend Micro (TSE: 4704); Tripod Technology Corporation (TWSE: 3044); Triunfo Participacoes (BMF&BOVESPA: TPIS3); Turk Telecom (ISE: TTKOM); UCB (EURONEXT: UCB-XB); Ultra Petroleum (NYSE: UPL); Unum Group (NYSE: UNM); URS Corporation (NYSE: URS); VanceInfo Technologies (NYSE: VIT); Vanguard International Semiconductor (OTC: 5347); Vecima Networks (TSX: VCM); VeriSign (NASDAQ: VRSN); Vermilion Energy Trust (TSX: VET.UN); Vivo Participacoes (NYSE: VIV); Volkswagen (FSE: VLKAY); Ways Technical Corp (TWSE: 3508); Wendy's / Arby's (NYSE: WEN); WestJet (TSX: WJA); WNS Holdings (NYSE: WNS); WPG Holdings (TWSE: 3702); Yageo Corporation (TWSE: 2327); Yongye International (NASDAQ: YONG); Yuanta Financial Holdings (TWSE: 2885.TW); Yucheng Technologies (NASDAQ: YTEC); Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM).

About IR Global Rankings ( www.irglobalrankings.com): Solid communication with the investment community is a key priority for investor relations and corporate governance professionals, once value creation (stock prices) and risk perception can be managed. The implementation of best practices in communicating with the capital markets and fair disclosure procedures do help companies in earning and maintaining investor confidence. The annual IR Global Rankings and Awards survey is the most comprehensive auditing and ranking system for IR websites, corporate governance practices and financial disclosure procedures -- a great opportunity to benchmark IR efforts vis-a-vis peers and industry leaders. Based on extensive proprietary research of publicly held companies and investors, and supported by input from independent audit, corporate governance and legal experts (KPMG, Arnold & Porter, Demarest, Mattos Filho and Barbosa Mussnich), MZ's methodology is highly detailed, transparent and fully accessible to all participants. The annual IR Global Rankings and Awards has grown each year since 1999.

About Sodali ( www.sodali.com): Sodali is a global consultancy providing advice, transactional services and corporate governance expertise to companies in Europe, Latin America, Asia and developing markets. It is a member of the GWM Group, with offices and representatives in major financial centers around the world. Sodali's services include: preparation and conduct of shareholder meetings, bondholder campaigns, mergers and acquisitions, capital restructurings, corporate governance consulting, board evaluation and training, research on strategic issues and shareholder outreach programs. Sodali's mission is to help companies anticipate, understand and deal effectively with the expectations of shareholders, institutional investors and the global financial markets.

Amanda Munhoz Tel: +1 (212) 813-2975 amanda.munhoz@mz-ir.com

http://www.mz-ir.com

SOURCE MZ Consult NY LLC