A mock "notice-and-access" earnings release

FOLLOWING up on my earlier post about a “notice-and-access” concept for disclosure news releases as a way to cut costs for issuers, I thought it would be interesting to put together a mock release based on an actual company’s quarterly results.Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MRK), the pharmaceutical giant, reported Q3 2007 earnings earlier today in a traditional earnings news release sent out via a PR wire service. The original wire release is about 4,200 words, which likely costs in the range of $5,000 for U.S. circuit distribution.

I have taken that release and created a mock “notice-and-access” release that is 355 words. The cost of this release would be in the range of $400. (If Merck took advantage of Nasdaq’s trial offer of four free news releases, available to any US-listed company, there’d be no cost.)

Remember that I have simply taken a news release of a random company that reported today to show that this approach can work for any company.

Here’s the mock “notice-and-access” release:

Merck Reports Third-Quarter 2007 Financial Results

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MRK), has published its financial results for the third-quarter of 2007.

Access Merck’s Q3 2007 Results Information
All of Merck’s Q3 2007 earnings results information, including a news release, supplemental financial information, and a link to our conference call webcast, can be accessed by visiting the following page on Merck’s website:

http://www.merck.com/finance/quarterlyFinancials.html

Direct Links to Individual Disclosures
Merck Q3 2007 Earnings News Release
http://www.merck.com/newsroom/press_releases/financial/2007_1022.html

or

http://library.corporate-ir.net/library/73/731/73184/items/265730/
MRK_3Q07_NewsRelease_Final.pdf (PDF 115KB, 13 pages)

Other Financial Disclosures
http://library.corporate-ir.net/library/73/731/73184/items/265731/
MRK_3Q07_Other_Financial_Disclosures.pdf (PDF 68KB, 3 pages)

Filings on SEC website
Should you require it, Merck’s Q3 2007 earnings release can be obtained in a Form 8-K filing on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website:
http://sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?action=getcompany&CIK=0000064978&owner=include&count=40

Earnings Conference Call
Investors are invited to a live audio webcast of Merck’s third-quarter earnings conference call today at 9 a.m. EDT http://www.merck.com/newsroom/webcast/. Institutional investors and analysts can participate in the call by dialing (706) 758-9927 or (877) 381-5782. Journalists are invited to listen in on the call by dialing (706) 758-9928 or (800) 399-7917. A replay of the webcast will be available starting at 11 a.m. EDT today through 5 p.m. EDT on Oct. 29. To listen to the replay, dial (706) 645-9291 or (800) 642-1687 and enter ID # 1990767.

A text transcript of the call and an MP3 file will be posted within 12 hours of the conference call’s conclusion.

Get Merck News Direct
You can receive news direct from Merck via RSS or email.

Subscribe to our RSS feeds:

http://www.merck.com/rss/

Subscribe to our Investor Email Alerts:

http://www.merck.com/finance/email_alerts.html

About Merck
Merck & Co., Inc. is a global research-driven pharmaceutical company dedicated to putting patients first. Established in 1891, Merck discovers, develops, manufactures and markets vaccines and medicines to address unmet medical needs. The Company devotes extensive efforts to increase access to medicines through far-reaching programs that not only donate Merck medicines but help deliver them to the people who need them. Merck also publishes unbiased health information as a not-for-profit service. For more information, visit www.merck.com.

Contact:
Merck & Co., Inc.
Media:
Amy Rose, 908-423-6537
or
Chris Garland, 908-423-3461
or
Investors:
Graeme Bell, 908-423-5185

Source: Merck & Co., Inc.

There are a number of other links that companies could include in their notices or on their websites. However, in this case I am simply using what Merck currently makes available. I would change some things on Merck’s website to improve the format of the demo notice release, such as using shorter URLs or redirects, but the model still works, particularly now that Yahoo! Finance is starting to support XHTML.

In fact, I think it’s better than the release the company sent out via Business Wire today because it drives people to the full slate of information, and because it encourages people to stay in touch with the company directly. Oh, and it’s 10 times cheaper, too.

Again, I welcome your comments and suggestions on this concept.

A “notice-and-access” model for news releases