Author Archives: Sarah Wilson

Recent quotes by Manifest on topical corporate governance issues:

Protest vote against Prudential chairman >>
Financial Times, May 19 2011

Conservative MP leads charge for tougher audits >>
Financial News, May 18th 2011

Backlash grows over power of proxy >>…

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Advocates for audit and accounting reform made great strides this week. Although much of the attention will be directed at the OFT’s conclusion that the audit market isn’t working, a slightly less well covered but equally welcome development emerged from …

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The UK’s competition watchdog, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has concluded that the audit market is not competing effectvely and is now considering a referal to the Competition Commission.

Taking a lead from the House of Lords Economic Affairs …

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Fourteen companies in the US S&P 500 have agreed to repeal their classified board status thanks to the joint engagement efforts of The State Board of Administration of Florida (the “SBA”), the investment manager of the Florida Retirement System, the …

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Short-dated EGMs – don’t ban them, fix the voting

Pity poor Hammerson plc who last week became the first FTSE 100 company  in many years to lose a routine resolution because it failed to achieve the necessary majority. We say …

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Procedures for voting at the upcoming AGM of Volkswagen AG have raised a few eyebrows at Manifest today (Tuesday 12th April).

Unashamedly putting the Shareholders’ Rights Directive (SRD) record back on the record player, and turning the volume up to …

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The European Commission released the eagerly-awaited Green Paper on Corporate Governance this week. It follows on from the Green Paper in June 2010 on Corporate Governance in Financial Institutions, as a result of a strong response pointing out that many …

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Just Say NoHere at the Manifest blog we try to keep a balance of news and stories for the informed Stewardship community – which includes shareholders and issuers. Today’s piece is addressed directly to the issuer community. It’s a simple message: when …

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“The Big Four’s domination of the large firm audit market in the UK is almost complete: in 2010 they audited 99 of the FTSE 100 largest listed firms, which change auditors every 48 years on average. It is clearly an …

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The UK’s new default retirement system, NEST, may not have invested a single penny in contributions but when it does, is determined to be a good Steward on behalf of the nation’s investors.

At a presentation to launch NEST’s Statement

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