Blog - Page 141 of 205 - Minerva-Manifest

Guest post: Is it time for sustainability communication consultants to take a vow of silence?

by Dr Rory Sullivan A huge industry has grown up on how companies can integrate sustainability into their communications with their investors. Many consulting firms and other organisations now offer advice on how to demonstrate organisational commitment to sustainability, on how to report, and on how to communicate effectively with investors. The specific recommendations being […]

Canada weighs in proxy analysts, more missing of “the point”

April is probably not the ideal month to launch a consultation for anyone involved in corporate governance, nevertheless the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) issued a call for comment on its proposed best practice guidance for the proxy research industry. The consultation was scheduled to close on June 23rd, however following representation from stakeholders, the CSA has granted […]

Australian shareholders ask for easier resolution procedures

The Australian federal government has mooted a draft bill which, if it succeeds, will remove the right of a 100 shareholders to call an extraordinary general meeting (EGM). According to the announcement from Mathias Cormann, acting assistant treasurer, the draft bill contains proposed changes to the Australian corporations act that are aimed at removing “unnecessary […]

FRC asks for more engagement; proceed with caution

As we tweeted last week it’s AGM season, so that means it’s time for more consultations. Consultations are generally a good thing, even if the timing is a little inconvenient for shareholders. This article takes a look at the key takeaways from the UK’s latest consultation but then poses some tricky questions about the evolving nature […]

Canada proposes guidance, not regulation, for proxy analysts

Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA), the umbrella organisation for Canada’s mosaic of markets regulators, is seeking feedback on its proposals for a policy on proxy advisory firms. “National Policy 25-201 Guidance for Proxy Advisory Firms” is the result of its 2012 consultation paper which looked at possible issues with the shareholder voting research industry. The CSA says […]

EU Shareholder Rights Directive Part II

The European Commission has published its formal proposal for the much-leaked update to the 2007 Shareholder’s Rights Directive. It forms a part of the “road map” for the Commission’s 2012 company law and corporate governance action plan which is aimed at “enhancing transparency and engaging shareholders”. The draft directive identifies 5 specific objectives: Improvement of […]

Manifest Publishes Global Regulatory Review

Manifest has this week published a Global Regulatory Review, keeping customers abreast of the latest developments in corporate governance and related disciplines around the world. Global capital markets and investors expectations towards them have changed radically over the past 20 years. Sir Adrian Cadbury could probably never have guessed what his dryly-titled “Report of the […]

Inundated with the wrong PRI-orities?

As we approach the busiest time of year for those of us involved in share voting, it will come as little comfort that the current round of PRI reporting is weighing heavily in investor in-boxes. It includes requirements relating to vote confirmations and seeks to identify whether investors have: obtained confirmation that votes have been […]

Manifest webinar for Issuers – Proxy Season 2014: Governance Best Practice

Wednesday 26th February, 12:30-13:30pm A “hot topics” webinar for issuers only! An opportunity for company secretaries and IR personnel to hear from and engage with the UK’s most objective, independent and transparent proxy research specialists about what 2014 has in store for everyone. Agenda Proxy Analysts – Re-drawing The Battle Lines? The Best […]

When is a shareholder announcement not a “Shareholder Announcement”?

Answer: when it’s a selective mailing sent out to a privileged few under embargo before the formal announcement date. Today we have the case of Novartis, which yesterday (Thursday, 30-Jan-14) faxed (yes, faxed) an advance copy of its AGM meeting notice to selected names on their share register ahead of the formal dispatch to ordinary […]