A study of European companies, Realizing Europe’s Potential: Progress and Challenges, for the EU-backed European Women on Boards (EWoB) network has shown a steady rise in the number of women on their boards following the imposition of quotas in some markets. However, there is a concern across Europe that many of these appointments are at the non-executive director or supervisory […]
Read MoreUK Pay for Performance not Fit for Purpose Increasing disparity between CEO & stakeholder rewards Scepticism and loss of public confidence in business Coming in the wake of some large votes by UK shareholders against executive pay, the Executive Remuneration Working Group launched by the Investment Association has produced its interim report providing recommendations that it hopes […]
Read MoreThe 10 largest global food companies have made commitments to improve social and environmental standards in their vast supply chains, according to anti-poverty charity, Oxfam. However, in an assessment of its three-year ‘behind the brands campaign’ Oxfam also said that much more power and much more of the value that the companies’ products generate needs to reach […]
Read MoreUK companies appointed more chief executives (CEOs) from outside their companies in 2015 than ever before according to a global survey of CEO succession conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). The study which tracks CEO succession in 2,500 publicly listed companies, including 300 in the UK, showed that over half (58%) of all CEO appointments to UK companies in 2015 were […]
Read MoreAlthough the awareness of responsible investment is growing, implementing the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) is still proving a challenge 10 years on, according to an independent report assessing the impact of the PRI which was launched in 2006 as a partnership between the UN Global Compact and UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI). The […]
Read MoreEnergy company, Drax, which operates the biggest power station in the UK, faced protest from environmental campaigners at its AGM on Wednesday (20 April 16). Groups including Biofuelwatch and the London Mining Network joined forces to protest about its business activities. Specifically campaigners claim that the coal-fired power station sources coal from mining companies that […]
Read MoreMining group Anglo American faced a 42% vote opposing its remuneration report at its AGM this week. Though not a complete rejection the company acknowledged that it needed to engage with shareholders further in advance of the remuneration policy vote next year which will be binding. Manifest gave Anglo-American’s remuneration a grade D in its […]
Read MoreThe United Nations (UN) held a ceremony at its headquarters in New York for countries to formally sign up to the climate change agreement that was made in Paris at the end of last year. The Paris Agreement enters into force once 55 countries representing 55% of global emissions have deposited their instruments of accession with […]
Read MoreThe 2016 AGM season started with major defeats for two FTSE100 companies. Last Thursday (14th April) oil giant BP and medical equipments supplier, Smith & Nephew saw their remuneration reports rejected by shareholders at their AGMs. At the BP AGM there was a 59% vote against the remuneration report and at Smith & Nephew 53% of shareholder votes […]
Read MorePersimmon seeks to blame proxy advisors for NED’s slim majority Construction firm, Persimmon, faced significant opposition in the vote to elect Nigel Mills as one their non-executive directors. There was a 47% vote against Mills’ appointment, due to independence concerns, at the company’s AGM last week, one of the slimmest margins for a director appointment for some […]
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