NIRI Orange County Announces the Winners of Its 15th Annual Report Competition

Business Wire, July 1, 2008

IRVINE, Calif. -- The Orange County Chapter of the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI OC) announced the winners of its 15th Annual Report Competition at its NIRI Awards Banquet on June 25 at the Orange County Museum of Art in Newport Beach, CA. The Annual Report Competition has been conducted for the past 15 years to recognize the best annual reports of publicly traded companies in Orange County. All NIRI OC members and Orange County-based companies were eligible to submit an entry.

The CFA Society of Orange County and analysts from ROTH Capital Partners judged the 28 printed annual reports submitted, and Powell Internet (PINT), a San Diego-based Internet consulting firm, judged the online annual reports submitted. The winners in each category were as follows:

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Financial Section:
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-- Gold Award - American Vanguard Corporation
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-- Silver Award - Sunstone Hotel Investors
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Shareholder Letter:
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-- Gold Award - Calavo Growers, Inc.
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-- Silver Award - Beckman Coulter
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Writing:
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-- Gold Award - Qualcomm
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-- Silver Award - Allergan
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Theme:
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-- Gold Award - CB Richard Ellis
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-- Silver Award - Quiksilver
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Cover:
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-- Gold Award - Leap Wireless, Inc.
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-- Silver Award - California Water Service Group
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Design:
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-- Gold Award - Sunstone Hotel Investors
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-- Silver Award - Beckman Coulter
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Visuals:
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-- Gold Award - Southwest Gas Corporation
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-- Silver Award - Leap Wireless, Inc.
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Online Version of the Annual Report:
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-- Gold Award - Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
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-- Silver Award - Qualcomm
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People's Choice Award:
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-- California Water Service Group
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Best Overall 10K Wrap or Summary Annual Report:
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-- CB Richard Ellis
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Best Overall Annual Report:
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-- Edwards Lifesciences Corporation

"This event brings together the best of Orange County's financial communications professionals and showcases the efforts of those involved in the creation of annual reports," said Tami Stegmaier, NIRI OC board member and Chair of this year's competition. "The participants received critical comments from judges on their submissions which allowed for solid, objective analysis."

The event was sponsored by various companies that support the investor relations function as follows:

Platinum Sponsors:


-- Curran&Connors (Designer)


-- Southern California Graphics (Printing and paper)





Silver Sponsors:


-- Business Wire


-- InterCall


-- IR Strategies


-- NYSE Euronext


-- PondelWilkinson


-- Thomson Reuters

"I'd like to extend a special thank you to all of our sponsors for their support of investor relations at this event and throughout the year," concluded Stegmaier. "Their support is greatly appreciated by the entire NIRI OC chapter."

About the Orange County Chapter of the National Investor Relations Institute

The Orange County Chapter of the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI OC) was established in 1990 and comprises some 100 professionals representing more than 90 corporations and consulting firms in Southern California. The NIRI OC Chapter holds meetings and networking events throughout the year, featuring programs on topics of professional interest to investor relations practitioners. For more information, visit www.nirioc.org.

About the National Investor Relations Institute

Founded in 1969, NIRI is a professional association of corporate officers and investor relations consultants responsible for communication among corporate management, the investing public and the financial community. Our members represent the majority of the largest publicly held corporations in the U.S. as well as many small and mid-sized companies. With over 4,400 members in 33 chapters around the country, NIRI sets the highest standards in education to advance the practice of investor relations and meet the growing professional development needs of those engaged in the field. For more information, visit www.niri.org