NEW YORK, Nov. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- MZ Consult NY (www.mz-ir.com), a leading global investor relations and financial communications firm, announces that the registration period for the 11th annual edition of the IR Global Rankings and Awards ("IRGR") has entered its final week -- deadline is Friday, November 14, 2008. This event, supported by KPMG, Arnold & Porter, The Bank of New York Mellon, Corporate Asia Network, Bloomberg, NYSE Euronext, Demarest & Almeida and Barbosa, Mussnich & Aragao, is a unique external review of any company's communication process with the capital markets.

Companies participating in the IR Global Rankings range from all sizes, from Microsoft to small local banks. We also have clients that are not yet publicly traded but are in the process of implementing IR initiatives. Additionally, companies may keep their ranking scores private, if desired. Our rankings are also classified by industry and region, which increases the chances of companies ranking well.

Most importantly, regardless of size or location, companies benefit from our feedback and best practice report, which helps them as they continue to implement and improve their internal IR programs. This is proven by the recurring participation of our clients year after year.

TO REGISTER, please visit the website www.irglobalrankings.com, or type IRGR <GO> into your Bloomberg terminal.

More than 120 companies from over 30 countries have already registered for the 2009 IR Global Rankings, among them (in alphabetical order): Abertis (MADRID: ABE); adidas (XETRA: ADS.DE); Aegon (NYSE: AEG); AkzoNobel (Euronext: AKZA); ALL - America Latina Logistica (BOVESPA: ALLL11); Amil Participacoes (BOVESPA: AMIL3); Arcadis (EURONEXT: ARCAD); ASUR (NYSE: ASR); Banco Bradesco (NYSE: BBD); Banco Nossa Caixa (BOVESPA: BNCA3); Bank of Montreal (TSX: BMO); BASF (XETRA: BAS.DE); Bayer (XETRA: BAY); BBVA (Madrid: BBVA); Brasil Telecom (NYSE: BTM); Braskem (BOVESPA: BRKM5); Cameco (NYSE: CCJ); China Agri-Industries Holdings (Hong Kong: 606); China Telecom (NYSE: CHA); Chunghwa Telecom (TSE: 2412); Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO); Copel (BOVESPA: CPLE6); COSCO International Holdings (HKG: 517); Credit Suisse (NYSE: CS); CSN - Companhia Siderurgica Nacional (NYSE: SID); Danske Bank (OMX: DANSKE); DSM N.V. (Euronext: DSM); Dufry South America (BOVESPA: DUFB11); EMBRAER (NYSE: ERJ); Endesa Chile (NYSE: EOC); Energisa (BOVESPA: ENGI); Far Eastern Textile (TWSE: 1402); Galp Energia (EURONEXT: GALP PL); General Electric Company (NYSE: GE); Gerdau (NYSE: GGB); Global Sources (NASDAQ: GSOL); Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes (NYSE: GOL); GVT (BOVESPA: GVTT3); Haemonetics Corporation (NYSE: HAE); Haemonetics Corporation (NYSE: HAE); Homex (OTC: DHMXF.PK); HTC Corporation (TWSE: 2498.tw); Hysan Development Company (HKSE: HYSNY.PK); IC RUSS-INVEST (RTS: RUSIG); Indra (Madrid: IDR); Infosys Technologies (NASDAQ: INFY); Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC); JBS (BOVESPA: JBSS3); Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ); Kotak Mahindra Bank (BSE: 500247); Life Time Fitness (NYSE: LTM); M. Dias Branco (BOVESPA: MDIA3); Marfrig (BOVESPA: MRFG3); Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT); Natural Beauty Bio-Technology (Hong Kong: 157); Net Servicos (BOVESPA: NETC4); Newmont Mining Corporation (NYSE: NEM); Nexen (NYSE: NXY); Norsk Hydro (OSLO: NHY); Novartis (VIRT-X: NOVN.VX ); Oi (NYSE: TNE); Orascom Telecom (CASE: ORTE); Partner Communications Company (NASDAQ: PTNR); PDG Realty (BOVESPA: PDGR3); PEMEX; Perdigao (NYSE: PDA); Petrobras (BOVESPA: PETR3); Positivo Informatica (BOVESPA: POSI3); PotashCorp (NYSE: POT); Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG); PT Excelcomindo Pratama (JAK: EXCL); PT Indosat Tbk (NYSE: IIT); PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (NYSE: TLK); QIAGEN N.V (Nasdaq: QGEN); Qualcomm (NASDAQ: QCOM); RepsolYPF (MADRID: REP); Royal Bank of Canada (TSX: RY); Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS.B); Royal Philips Electronics (AEX: PHIA); RWE (XETRA: RWE); Ryder (NYSE: R); Santander (NYSE: STD); SAPPI (NYSE: SPP); Satipel Industrial (Bovespa: SATI3); Satyam (NYSE: SAY); Shin Kong Financial Holding Co. (TWSE: 2888.tw); Shinsei Bank (TSE: 8303); Sonae (EURONEXT: SON PL); Southwestern Energy (NYSE: SWN); SpareBank (OSLO: MING); Sparebank (Oslo: ROGG); Sul America (BOVESPA: SULA11); Sulzer (SWX: SUN); Suzano Papel e Celulose (BOVESPA: SUZB5); Suzano Papel e Celulose (Bovespa: SUZB5); Symantec Corporation (NASDAQ: SYMC); Talisman Energy (NYSE: TLM); TAM (NYSE: TAM); TD Bank Financial Group (NYSE: TD); Tecnisa (BOVESPA: TCSA3); Telecom Italia (NYSE: TI); Telekom Austria (VIE: TKA.VI); Telkom (NYSE: TKG); Terna (Bovespa: TRNA11); Total (NYSE: TOT); Totvs (BOVESPA: TOTS3); Tractebel Energia (BOVESPA: TBLE3); Turk Telekomunikasyon (ISE: TTKOM); Tyco International (NYSE: TYC); Ultrapar (NYSE: UGP); Unibanco (NYSE: UBB); URS (NYSE: URS); VimpelCom (NYSE: VIP); Votorantim Celulose e Papel (NYSE: VCP); Wendy's/Arby's Group (NYSE: WEN); Wipro (NYSE: WIT); Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM);

Conference Call Replay: If you missed the conference call held on October 1 that discussed the news and procedures of this new edition, please access the link: http://webcast.mzdp.com.br/publico.aspx?codplataforma=197. You can also request your free copy of the 2008 magazine at www.irglobalrankings.com.

TOP 5 REASONS TO SIGN UP FOR the 2009 IR GLOBAL RANKINGS

1) Benchmarking - Get acquainted with the best IR programs around the world, learn how you can improve your practices and see how you are positioned in relation to regional and industry peers;

2) Unique Ranking System - Based on extensive proprietary research of public companies and investors (technical review) and supported by input from independent audit and legal experts;

3) Transparency - Ranking criteria are widely publicized and all the results are evaluated by a technical committee comprised of independent professionals;

4) Feedback - Registrants receive a personalized report with feedback based on a technical evaluation, which is later individually discussed in a call with the IRGR team;

5) Recognition - Best-ranked companies will be awarded (IR ceremonies will be held in four locations worldwide in early 2009), will be featured on the IRGR page on Bloomberg terminals and will receive wide publicity.

Top Companies from the 2008 IR Global Rankings include: ABB (NYSE: ABB); adidas (XETRA: ADS.DE); Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (NYSE: ASX); Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE: AEM); Air France-KLM (NYSE: AKH); Allergan (NYSE: AGN); America Latina Logistica (Bovespa: ALLL11); Aracruz (NYSE: ARA); Arcadis (Amsterdam: ARCAD.AS); ASUR (NYSE: ASR); Australia and New Zealand Banking (NYSE: ANZBY.PK); Banco ABC (Bovespa: ABCB4); Banco BPI (XETRA: BPI.DE); Banco Bradesco (NYSE: BBD); Banco do Brasil (Bovespa: BBAS3); Banco Espirito Santo (Bloomberg: BESNN PL); Banco Itau (NYSE: ITU); Bank of Montreal (NYSE: BMO); BASF (XETRA: BAS.DE); Bayer (XETRA: BAY.DE); BBVA (NYSE: BBV); BlueScope Steel (XETRA: BH5.DE); BNP Paribas (Paris: BNP.PA); Bombardier (XETRA: BBDB.DE); Brasil Ecodiesel (Bovespa: ECOD3); Brasil Telecom (NYSE: BRP); Braskem (NYSE: BAK); BRE Bank (Bloomberg: BRE PW); Bursa Malaysia (OTC: BSAMF.PK); Camargo Correa Desenvolvimento (CCDI) (Bovespa: CCIM3); Cameco (NYSE: CCJ); Cemig (NYSE: CIG); CGI Group (NYSE: GIB); China Telecom (NYSE: CHA); Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO); Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL); Coloplast (CPH: COLO-B); Companhia Brasileira de Distribuicao (NYSE: CBD); Compania de Minas Buenaventura (NYSE: BVN); Controladora Comercial Mexicana (OTC: CDCUF.PK); Copel (Bovespa: TCPLE6.SA) Copel (NYSE: ELP); CPFL Energia (NYSE: CPL); Credit Suisse (NYSE: CS); CSN (NYSE: SID); CyberLinkCorp (Taiwan: 5203.TW); Cyrela (Bovespa: CYRE3); Daimler (NYSE: DAI); Danske Bank (XETRA: DSN.DE); Datasul (Bovespa: DSUL3); Deutsche Post World Net (XETRA: DPW.DE); Deutsche Telekom (NYSE: DT); E*Trade Financial (NASDAQ: ETFC); Enersis (NYSE: ENI); Erste Bank (EUX: EBO.EX); Estacio Participacoes (Bovespa: ESTC3); Euro Disney (Paris: EUROD.PA); EVN (OTC: EVNVY.PK); Exxaro Resources (OTC: EXXAY.PK); FedEx (NYSE: FDX); Gafisa (NYSE: GFA); Genentech (NYSE: DNA); General Electric (NYSE: GE); Global Payments (NYSE: GPN); Global Sources (NASDAQ: GSOL); GOL (NYSE: GOL); Grasim Industries (XETRA: GRS.DE); Grupo Mexicano de Desarrollo (MXK: GMDB); Hochtief (XETRA: HOT.DE); Homex (OTC: DHMXF.PK); IC Russ-Invest (NYSE: RUSIG); ICA (NYSE: ICA);ICICI Bank (NYSE: IBN); iGATE Global Solutions (NYSE: IGS.NS); IJM (OTC: IJMCF.PK); Indra (XETRA: IDA.DE); Infinity Bio-Energy; Infosys Technologies (NASDAQ: INFY); Japan Airlines (TYO: 9205); JDSU (NASDAQ: JDSU); JHSF (Bovespa: JHSF3); Kellogg (NYSE: K); Kesko (OTC: KKOYF.PK); Kotak Mahindra Bank (BSE: 600247.BO); Life Time Fitness (NYSE: LTM); Lupatech (Bovespa: LUPA3); M. Dias Branco (Bovespa: MDIA3); Marfrig (Bovespa: MRFG3); Masisa (NYSE: MYSZYPK); Mexichem (Mexico: MEXCHEM.MX); MTR Corporation (Hong Kong: 0066.HK); Natura Cosmeticos (Bovespa: NATU3); Natural Beauty Bio-Technology (HKG: 0157); Nedbank Group (XETRA: NCO.DE); Net Servicos (NASDAQ: NETC); Newmont Mining (NYSE: NEM); Nexen (NYSE: NXY); Nike (NYSE: NKE); Norsk Hydro (NYSE: NHYDY.PK); Novartis (NYSE: NVS); OHL Brasil (Bovespa: OHLB3); Partner Communications (NASDAQ: PTNR); PDG Realty (Bovespa: PDGR3); Peabody Energy (NYSE: BTU); Pengrowth (NYSE: PGH); Perdigao (NYSE: PDA); Petrobras (NYSE: PBR); Positivo Informatica (Bovespa: POSI3); PotashCorp (NYSE: POT); Powerchip Semiconductor (Taiwan: 5346.TWO); Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG); Profarma (Bovespa: PFRM3); PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (NYSE: TLK); QIAGEN (NasdaqGS: QGEN); Rossi Residencial (Bovespa: RSID3); Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG); Ryder System (NYSE: R); Sappi (NYSE: SPP); Satipel (Bovespa: SATI3); Satyam (NYSE: SAY); Shinsei Bank (XETRA: LCJ.DE); SLC Agricola (Bovespa: SLCE3); SMIC (Hong Kong: 0981.HK); Southwestern Energy (NYSE: SWN); Statoil (NYSE: STO); TAM (NYSE: TAM); Tata Motors (NYSE: TTM); TAV Airports (ISE: TAVHL); Tecnisa (Bovespa: TCSA3); Telecom Argentina (NYSE: TEO); Telekom Austria (Viena: TKA.VI); Telekomunikacja Polska (WSE: TPSA); Telkom (NYSE: TKG); Terna Participacoes (Bovespa: TRNA11); TIM Participacoes (NYSE: TSU); Tingyi Cayman Islands Holding (XETRA: TYG.DE); Total (NYSE: TOT); Totvs (Bovespa: TOTS3); TPI Triunfo (Bovespa: TPIS3.SA); Tractebel (Bovespa: TBLE3); Turk Economy Bank (ISE: TEBNK.IS); Ultra Petroleum (NYSE: UPL); Ultrapar (NYSE: UGP); Unibanco (NYSE: UBB); URS Corporation (NYSE: URS); VCP (NYSE: VCP); VimpelCom (NYSE: VIP); Vivendi (XETRA: VVU.DE); Vivo (NYSE: VIV); Wachovia (NYSE: WB); Wipro (NYSE: WIT); Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM) and Zurich Financial Services (XETRA: ZFIN.DE)

To learn more about the 2009 IRGR or to download the 2008 IRGR magazine with winners and best practices, please visit www.irglobalrankings.com/ or type IRGR <GO> into your Bloomberg Terminal.

For further information, please contact: IRGR Team, Email: irgr@mz-ir.com, phone: +1 (212) 813-2975

About IR Global Rankings: 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, MZ's methodology is highly detailed, transparent and fully accessible to all participants. The annual IR Global Rankings and Awards Survey has grown each year since its inception in 1999.

SOURCE MZ Consult NY LLC