Disruption in the Market for Information: MiFID II and Investor Relations

Our study addresses the complex processes by which actors in the market for information reposition themselves and recalibrate their work in response the introduction of the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) II, which regulated a wide range of issues on information flows and payments for research in capital markets. Using interviews and surveys of UK investor relations (IR) professionals we explore how the activities and practices of IR professionals, and their relations with sell-side analysts and investors, have changed. We find that the operational processes within the market for information have been materially disrupted and observe an increase in the importance and relevance of the IR function both internally (within their organizations) and externally (in the field of investment advice). We provide evidence of extensive ‘jostling for position’ in the field which is perceived to have resulted in the (at least partial) disintermediation of the sell-side and increased direct ‘interlocking’ of investors and IR professionals in their engagement and information communication practices. We report on a changing information market paradigm (sequencing of communication) - where the traditional information and relational intermediation roles of sell-side analysts are now increasingly contested and assumed by IR professionals.