Companies Archives

Second Irish company proposes say-on-pay vote

United Drug has followed the lead of DCC in proposing a vote on its remuneration report as a separate voting item at its upcoming AGM on 9 February. The notice of meeting acknowledges that there is no legal obligation on …

Change to Pre-emption Guidelines urgently required

British investors take their pre-emption rights very seriously – and rightly so. However, the trickle of UK companies trampling over these precious rights is threatening to become a flood as “cash-box” placings become ubiquitous.

Cash-box placings channel capital raised through …

Former iSoft directors summonsed

The 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 …

Swiss Exchange investigates UBS

The regulatory function of the Swiss stock exchange has begun an investigation into UBS for possible breaches of the rules regarding the publication of price sensitive information. The investigation relates to the period from 2007 to the end of 2008. …

Boardroom warfare at Fairfax Media ahead of AGM

With the AGM of Fairfax Media due to be held on 10 November, Fairfax directors John B Fairfax and his son Nicholas have released a public statement indicating that the will vote against the re-election of the Chairman, Ron Walker, …

AWB bribery class action calls for Australian government papers

In a pre-trial debate, AWB has stated that it does not consider “transport fees” paid to a Jordanian transport company, which had close connections to the Iraqi government, to be a bribe. The Age has reported that the pre-trial debate …

Deutsche Bank 2008 AGM ‘Void’?

Press reports today suggest that Leo Kirch is likely to participate in mediation talks with Deutsche Bank in an effort to resolve his long-running dispute with the company.

Earlier this week, the Landgericht in Frankfurt (a local court), found …

Annual Reports – a failure to communicate

Annual reports are the bread and butter for corporate governance analysts. Here at Manifest we eat our way through almost 4,000 of them every year. You don’t need to take our word for it that they are of, shall be

Quintain Estates leads by example at AGM

The AGM of Quintain Estates & Development plc, to be held on 9 September, will again include a separate resolution to approve the report of the Audit Committee. Furthermore, shareholders will be asked to vote on the re-election of the …

NSW Supreme Court bans former James Hardie directors

The New South Wales Supreme Court has imposed bans and penalties on former directors and officers of James Hardie following the ruling in April 2009 by Justice Ian Gzell that the ten had breached their duties to the company in …