Hot Issues Archives

Minerva Briefing – Biodiversity & Stewardship

May 14, 2021

Today, investors are increasingly aware that all forms of capital, including natural capital, contribute to long-term sustainable growth. To mark Earth Day 2021, Minerva published a Briefing on Biodiversity and Stewardship …

Uyghur human rights dispute sees investors step up engagement

Global brands “intimidated by the Chinese government”, says action group

Diplomatic tensions over the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China has led to a group of investors renewing their commitment to engage with portfolio companies over suppliers that may be …

ESG regulation – US lawmakers take swipes as plans emerge

Democrats to use majority status to revoke Trump-era rulings

ESG regulation is once again at the heart of legislative tensions in the US Senate as Republicans and Democrats lock horns over the recently ESG Enforcement Task Force. Democrat legislators …

A festival of consultations for the investment industry

The countdown to festivals finally reopening this summer after lockdown has begun, but investors and financial services professionals are in …

UBS faces questions over ties to Uighur-linked firm

Surveillance company linked with persecution of the Muslim minority group in China

Swiss bank UBS’s business relationship with Hikvision, a surveillance company linked with the persecution of Uighurs in China, has come …

Guy Jubb: AGMs have lost their sense of purpose

Ex-Standard Life Investments governance head argues meetings should be complemented by continual dialogue

Guy Jubb, former head of governance at asset management giant Standard Life Investments, claims AGMs have lost their …

BlackRock and Vanguard support human rights proposal

Proposal tabled at Tyson Foods’ AGM following 39 employee deaths from Covid-19

BlackRock and Vanguard have voted in support of a human rights due diligence proposal, tabled at the recent Tyson Foods AGM.

Filed by the American Baptist Home Mission …

M&S takes action on China over human rights

The company will no longer use cotton from China’s Xinjiang region

Marks & Spencer has become the first top-tier UK clothing company to formally announce it will cut all ties with suppliers that are connected to the forced labour of …

DOL throws curveball into its approach to governing shareholder rights

DoL questions purpose of shareholder voting

The US Department of Labor (DoL) has thrown a new curveball into its approach to governing shareholder rights, questioning the need for asset owners to have their voices heard by companies at all.

Following …

China finance forum urges US cooperation

A group of senior Chinese regulatory officials and financial experts is calling on their home nation to co-operate with the US to avoid further escalations of the ongoing trade war.

The China Finance 40 …