Index launched for investors seeking to divest from fossil fuels

The London Stock Exchange-owned FTSE Russell has launched the FTSE Divest-Invest index which will reduce investors exposure to fossil fuel companies while also increasing exposure within the index to companies engaged in the transition to a green economy.

FTSE Russell …

Rio Tinto avoids large pay vote rebellion

Mining group, Rio Tinto, which is dual-listed in the UK and Australia, avoided a large scale rebellion over its remuneration report although there was a higher level of dissension than in previous years. The voting results were announced following the …

UK’s Pre-emption Group releases monitoring report on updated principles

The Financial Reporting Council’s pre-emption group (PEG) has released a report showing the progress of implementation of the Statement of Principles (principles), which were updated in 2015 to reflect market changes. The PEG found that the revised principles were largely …

Has the UK’s pay simplification project hit the buffers before leaving the station?

Last week’s unprecedented result at the AGM of Weir plc – 72.3% against the remuneration policy vote and 72.24% agains the vote on LTIP amendments (both binding …

More companies face investor concerns at AGMs

Shareholders have again showed their discontent over excessive executive pay packages with large votes opposing remuneration reports and policies. Engineering company Weir lost its binding vote on its remuneration policy – with a 72% vote against – while at building …

AIM market governance concerns dominate LSE AGM

ShareSoc, which represents individual investors, raised concerns about the regulation of the AIM smaller company market at the recent London Stock Exchange (LSE) AGM. The organisation’s director, Mark Bentley, accused the LSE of failing in its function as operator and …

Shell audit conflict raises eyebrows at Standard Life

…as the UK’s Financial Reporting Council finalises auditor rules

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has published final drafts of the latest UK corporate governance code and the associated guidance on audit committees so they will meet the requirements of forthcoming …

Mitsubishi Motors admits to falsifying emissions data in Japan

The share price of Japanese car manufacturer, Mitsubishi Motors, has plunged as the company admitted that incorrect emissions data had been submitted to its government since 1991. Mitsubishi has apologised to shareholders, customers and stakeholders for the deception.

The company …

Women gain more places on European company boards

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 …

UK 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 …