ESG

Environmental, Social & Governance

Investor Relations

Introduction

Issuer Direct was formed in 2006, as a private company focused on building disclosure and financial reporting software. Eventually becoming public in 2008 and joining the New York Stock Exchange in 2014.
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Issuer direct supports community and industry partnerships and programs that align with our business, create value, and help build better communities worldwide.

This is only the beginning for Issuer Direct’s ESG journey as we strive to improve and expand our ESG policy with the partnership of our employees and communities.

ESG can make business better if done openly and collaboratively. There is a direct link between businesses that have great leadership, corporate stewardship, and long-term fundamental focus. By thoughtfully integrating ESG policies and practices throughout the organization, it becomes subconsciously natural, which is our objective as we continue to build our company with passionate employees, great customers, and committed shareholders.

Our Key Environmental, Social and Governance Topics

The following are ESG topics identified as the most relevant to our business and of greatest interest to our stakeholders

Environmental

Developing solutions that drive action on climate change and generate other positive environmental impacts
Minimizing the environmental impacts of our physical operations
Partnering with organizations to support community sustainability

A group of people are putting their hands together

Social

Acting in the best interest of our customers
Addressing human rights-related issues
Continue investing in our human capital
Promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion

Rows of wooden chairs are lined up in an auditorium

Governance

Cultivating a strong risk and control environment
Fostering a culture of transparency and ethical behavior
Maintaining effective Board leadership and management processes
Participating in public policy that impact the industry and our communities
Safeguarding privacy and cybersecurity

Shareholder Engagement

Employees

We share information with our employees and gather input through surveys; regular small group meetings; focus groups; blogs, articles, newsletters; and other forums. In 2020, we developed a range of resources to answer employee questions on COVID-19 and keep them informed on our company policies, plans, and safety measures for returning to work. We also have a variety of mechanisms through which employees can report any known or suspected violation of our Code of Conduct, company policies or laws that govern our business.

Customers

Customers have many opportunities to communicate with us directly, if that’s via surveys, website and various social media channels, and by phone or mail. We also solicit feedback from our partners, and other channels, including individual meetings, conferences, and other forums.

Shareholders

We communicate to shareholders through our Annual Report and Proxy Statement, SEC filings, press releases and company website. In addition, we engage with shareholders through multiple channels, including quarterly earnings calls, and investor/quarterly meetings and conferences. We conduct a formal shareholder outreach program focused on topics including corporate governance, shareholder rights, executive compensation, and sustainability. In these meetings, management and/or Directors share information and provide updates, address questions, and solicit shareholder feedback.

Other engagements outside these more formal communications provide us with useful feedback considered during the development of the company processes, practices, and strategic direction.

Communities

Within the communities we have physical presence, we engage with organizations on issues important to our employees, customers, and our business for supporting our constituent base. We will look toward establishing a community engagement team to further focus on deepening our community brand and supporting local business, civic and nonprofit leaders to support the need of our mutual communities.

Suppliers

We frequently interact with suppliers through various channels, including regular business reviews, ad-hoc meetings, phone, and email. Through these interactions, we engage in dialogue on important topics, including our efficient and effective operations, delivering products and services that meet customer needs, managing risk and controls, and driving our diversity, equity and inclusion agenda. We are committed to holding our suppliers to the highest standards of business conduct and integrity, and we work together to make a positive impact in the communities where we do business.

The Three Key Areas of Our Policy

Statement on Operational Sustainability

Since 2020, we have been committed to driving down our energy and carbon impacts, as climate change is one of the greatest risks to our world, knowing that buildings contribute 40% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Our sustainability program is committed to environmentally sustainable initiatives that deliver near-term efficiency, value, and health for our business and community.

Today - We have committed to a short-term objective of having at least 80% of our eligible office space “ENERGY STAR Certified” by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). We have committed to a long-term objective and policy that each office footprint we occupy in the future must adhere to EPA standards.

Technology

Digital technologies enhance decarbonization efforts in multiple ways. ISDR already uses many of these digital tools to ease progress toward strategic goals - making it fairly seamless to digitize their approach to climate action as well.

Use of foundational technologies to support daily tasks of measurement, reporting, and basic analytics for data-driven insights. Examples include enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, customer relationship management (CRM) systems, and supply chain tracking systems. Helping the business run smoothly and avoid starting from scratch - this is a sustainability solution.

Use of decision-making technologies as part of the daily course of doing business, where machine learning can be leveraged, for example, to imitate how humans learn and ingest new data, which can improve decision-making accuracy. Such technologies also allow organizations to use historical data to forecast future events, or provide actionable recommendations to inform actions around decarbonization, enabling technologies that support ISDR to operate more efficiently. Examples include cloud computing and mobile communication, which allow us to scale our resources on-demand.

We seek to comply with current state and federal environmental legislations and work to minimize the impact of our activities on the environment by:

Reducing waste by providing in-office recycling facilities and composting
Encouraging employees to reduce energy consumption within the office environment
Committing to planting 1000+ trees annually to help our environment recover from deforestation
Local community cleanup activities

Overview

A deep commitment to social responsibility is core to our company’s identity. We believe people are at the heart of our business and take pride in our outstanding work culture. We strive to be an optimal employer to our workforce as well as a valued partner to our communities.

‍Compensation and Benefits

We recognize that the first step in hiring and retaining the best talent is to create safe and inspiring workplaces where people feel valued. Issuer Direct has established a variety of employee benefit programs designed to assist employees and eligible dependents. This includes a corporate bonus policy that allows employees to earn a percentage of their annual salary as bonus based on set corporate and performance KPIs.

Our employees deserve a rich and competitive benefit package that meets their individual needs.

‍‍Benefits Package

Medical: 100% covered for all full-time employees
Dental & Vision
Life and Disability Insurance: 100% covered for all full-time employees
Supplemental Life & AD&D Insurance
Paid Parental Leave
Flexible Spending Account
Healthcare Savings Account
401(k) Plan with Match
Commuter Benefit Plan
Paid Fitness Center & Wellness Programs
Employee Assistance Program (Mental & Emotional Wellbeing)
Paid Vacation, Sick Time, and Wellness Time
Professional Development

We also offer a very generous equity compensation program that empowers our team leaders to act and feel like owners, not just employees.

‍Culture, Engagement and Growth

We create fun, spirited work environments rewarding innovation and collaboration at all levels. Leaders are obligated to demonstrate an “open door policy” and employees are encouraged to provide feedback through all company communication channels. We hold periodic employee appreciation events, such as celebrating Heritage Months, holding annual costume contests, and annual holiday and summer celebrations. We also aim to foster both personal and professional growth for employees at all levels through annual performance reviews, role-specific and corporate trainings, and professional development opportunities. We reward employees through our Employee Recognition Program and value the contributions, knowledge, and experience of invested employees.

‍Diversity and Inclusion

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion applies to the highest levels of the organization, including at the board level, where we recognize that diversity strengthens board performance and promotes long-term shareholder value. Our ideals strive to expand minds, heighten awareness, promote empathy, and foster empowerment of all individuals.

We are committed to:

Diversity, equity, inclusion & belonging through our practices with integrity and transparency.
Striving to cultivate and uphold an inclusive culture that inspires our employees. Embracing and valuing diversity in all its forms, whether gender, age, sexual preference, ethnicity, or cultural background.
Seeking to maintain a positive workplace, free from discrimination and harassment.
Championing pay equity and mutual respect, promoting an environment of fairness and equality.

Equal Employment Opportunity is integral to our recruitment process, as we aim to develop a community of diverse talent.

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In addition, we have established a diversity and inclusion committee. We welcome individuals with unique personalities, goals, backgrounds, and views. As a first step towards achieving a diverse and inclusive environment, we are regularly conducting cross-cultural awareness training and surveys company wide.

‍Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy

We are committed to a work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. Individuals have the right to work in a professional atmosphere that promotes equal employment opportunities and prohibits discriminatory practices, including harassment. Therefore, we expect that all relationships among individuals in the workplace will be business-like, and free of bias, prejudice, and harassment.

‍Health and Safety

The health and safety of our employees and vendors is of the utmost importance to us. We comply with relevant occupational health and safety laws and regulations as well as our internal requirements to develop the operations, procedures, technologies, and programs conducive to such an environment.

‍Strengthening Our Communities

We have a long history of providing meaningful, and often transformational support to the communities. We support local events and charities financially and through contribution of staff time.

Examples include:

Organizing virtual events to solicit donations from our shareholders and customers for local charities
Offer paid time off to employees for volunteering in the local community
Pro bono communications support for local and national charitable organizations.

Our governance structures and processes strive to promote accountability, transparency, and ethical behavior. We apply regular evaluations and enhancements to help operate at the highest levels of performance in everything we do.

‍Board of Directors

Our Board brings a strong combination of executive experience and skills aligned with our business and strategy. Apart from our CEO, all our Directors are independent, under the standards established by the New York Stock Exchange and the company’s Corporate Governance Principles. As of June 2022, there are 6 Directors on our Board, including one female Director.

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Our Board oversees the company through its committees:

Additionally, the board as a whole works collectively to represent the following Governance related Committees:

Nominating Committee >
Risk Committee

The company’s Corporate Governance Principles and the charters of the Board’s standing committees establish a framework for the governance of the Board and oversight of the company. Each of the Board’s committees play a role in reinforcing our commitment to doing business in accordance with our corporate standards and Business Principles. Our annual Proxy Statement includes information about the membership and responsibilities of these committees.

In addition, each of the Board’s standing committees oversee a range of matters pertaining to ESG topics, in accordance with the scope of their charters. For example, the Compensation Committee reviews and approves the company’s compensation and benefit programs and oversees the company’s culture, including reviewing diversity programs. The Board also provides oversight of the company’s positions and practices on public responsibility matters such as community investment, fair lending, sustainability, consumer practices, and other public policy issues.

As directors retire, our robust succession program identifies new Board members who can bring additional qualities and experience to help us continue to innovate and succeed. Each year, the Board undergoes a self-assessment process to evaluate performance of the Board and Committees. As part of the self-assessment process, the Board considers which attributes and skill sets are important to ensure optimal performance of the Board. The information learned through this process is utilized when considering outside director candidates. The Board is committed to sustaining a board that achieves balance between depth of experience in the oversight of Webster and fresh approaches to oversight and strategic deliberations, particularly as Webster's business and best practices of corporate governance, as well as corporate sustainability, evolve.

Together with our Board of Directors, our leadership team, and all of our colleagues, we have built a solid foundation from which we are accelerating our ESG goals and deepening our commitment to responsible business practices.

Senior Management

Our management structure is intended to encourage effective leadership consistent with our corporate standards/values and promotes a strong corporate culture. Our company’s most senior management body is the Operating Committee, which is responsible for developing and implementing corporate strategy and managing operations. As of Dec. 31, 2021, women held 60% of the seats on the Operating Committee.

Issuer Direct's Commitments

Our Human Rights Policy reflects our longstanding dedication to the preservation of basic rights and human dignity in our workplace and beyond. We seek to create positive social impacts by mitigating human rights related risks and promoting respect for human rights across our operations and activities. In addition, Issuer Direct:

Recognizes its responsibilities regarding workplace health and safety, employee privacy and freedom of association;
Prohibits the use of forced labor and child labor;
Does not tolerate any form of harassment or discrimination; and
Works to ensure compliance with applicable labor and employment laws.

Our teams are composed of individuals from different geographies, cultures, ethnicities, religions, races, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and generations. We are committed to integrity and operating at the highest ethical standards.