The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced a major policy reversal on shareholder resolutions which is likely to lead to an increase in ESG risk and succession planning-related proposals. In a legal bulletin published this week, the SEC said that companies could no longer automatically exclude CEO succession planning or ESG risk-related resolutions using […]
Read MoreThe International Accounting Standards Board has defended its work on harmonising U.S. and international accounting rules into one single standard. In a letter addressed to G20 host, US President, Barack Obama, it outlines that the board has made “substantial progress” on meeting the objectives set out by the G20 at its Washington summit last Autumn. The G20 […]
Read MoreOver at CorpGov.net Jim McRitchie is doing his bit to raise some vital issues about the quality of the US proxy system. This time, Jim is airing doubts about the quality of informatiion presented to shareholders on 3rd party voting platforms, more specifically Broadridge, the monopoly US platform. The point he makes is this: SEC […]
Read MoreSo, it’s 16:22pm the day after after Infineon’s highly contentious AGM. We have the streaming video from the meeting, we have the presentations, we even have a press release announcing the votes “For” the board candidates. But do we have a definitive list of proxy voting results. No. Is the IR department concerned that the […]
Read MoreAn analysis of company-selected compensation peer groups at S&P 500 companies reveals some clear favorites. 3M Co. tops the list, selected as a peer by 11% of the 374 companies that disclosed in their 2009 annual proxy statements a peer group of up to 35 companies. Six other firms – Johnson & Johnson, General Mills […]
Read MoreThe US Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United v. the Federal Election Commission, has sent shockwaves through the US corporate governance community and re-awakes concerns that companies will use shareholder funds to influence US political elections. Nearly all restraint on corporate political spending has been lifted by the ruling, prompting the Center for Political Accountability to launch a […]
Read MoreThe Financial Services Authority (FSA) has confirmed that it has commenced criminal proceedings against four former directors of iSoft Group Plc. Patrick Cryne, Stephen Graham, Timothy Whiston and John Whelan have been summonsed to appear at City of Westminster Magistrates Court on 29 January 2010 to face charges of conspiracy to make misleading statements contrary to […]
Read MoreA private Member’s Bill was submitted to the Canadian Parliament this week by Robert Oliphant, MP, calling for amendments to the Pensions Benefits Standards Act, 1985, requiring public and private pension plans to disclose considerations given to environmental, social or governance factors during the selection, retention, or liquidation of investments under the plan’s responsibility. The […]
Read MoreWhilst the future shape of shareholder engagement responsibility is debated in London, Brussels and across continental Europe, the debate in Dublin is a fierce as anywhere. In what is traditionally a very close-knit investment and business community, the Irish Stock Exchange (ISE) and the Deputy Prime Minister participated in a full and frank exchange of views […]
Read MoreFour of the Swedish buffer funds (AP1, AP2, AP3 and AP4) this week announced the appointment of a provider of global voting services: “The First to Fourth AP Funds (The Funds) have carried out a procurement of a Global Voting Service. After extensive evaluation of different suppliers and their systems, we have decided to award Manifest […]
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