The board of retailer Next has been forced to call a general shareholder meeting next month after finding a technical infringement of the Companies Act 2006 in respect of the payment of the dividends. The issue relates to the dividends paid in February 2014 and three dividend payouts in 2015. The company said it always had […]
Read MoreAs the global rich and powerful gathered for the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting, Oxfam released a report which it claimed showed 62 people own as much as the poorest half of the world’s population. An Economy for the 1%, shows that the wealth of the poorest half of the world’s population – 3.6 […]
Read MoreCurrent ethical audits of clothing and other manufacturers are not effective and tend to reinforce existing business practices, while also weakening governmental oversight, according to a new study by Sheffield University’s Political Economy Research Institute. The report’s authors argue that the audit regime is ‘working’ for corporations, but failing workers and the planet. Labour abuses, poor working […]
Read MoreThe gender gap could widen in the economy of the future according to a World Economic Forum report published as global business and political leaders gathered for its annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. Among the topics discussed at the meeting was the economy and society of the future. The WEF suggested that we are embarking on a Fourth […]
Read MoreThe New York City Pension Funds have filed new shareholder resolutions in their continued campaign to get investors the right to nominate a director to the boards of US companies. The Boardroom Accountability Project, which was launched in November 2014, has already seen 115 companies compared with six originally, adopt a bylaw which gives shareholders owning 3 percent […]
Read MoreDespite recent policy changes by the last UK Coalition Government chief executive (CEO) pay has still been rising and, according to a recent report by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, current executive reward practice is based on misplaced assumptions about the motivating force of money. The research, The power and pitfalls of executive reward: A behavioural perspective, […]
Read MoreThe Bank of England is proposing to strengthen the remuneration requirements on buy-outs of variable remuneration for those regarded as material risk takers at banks, building societies and designated investment firms regulated by the Prudential Regulatory Authority. These proposals are, the Bank of England said, an important addition to the current remuneration rules which seek […]
Read MoreCompliance with the UK Corporate Governance Code remains high,with 90 per cent of the FTSE 350 complying with all but one or two provisions, according to the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) in its report, Developments in Corporate Governance and Stewardship 2015. Data compiled by Manifest on behalf of the FRC shows that, in respect of board and […]
Read MoreIn a move to assist investors, the French government has adopted clear standards for products that fund managers regard as socially responsible investments. These investments products will need to be certified by accredited certification bodies to be sold under the SRI label. Requirements to be labelled as SRI include the need to take environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues […]
Read MoreThe Singapore Exchange (SGX) is undertaking a consultation on amendments to its Listing Rules to align them with the amended Companies Act passed in October 2014. The Listing Rule changes will be able to send companies to send company notices and documents to shareholders electronically and the consultation asks if there is any concern about allowing companies to do […]
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