Hot Issues Archives

Still work to do to break up old boy networks says UK’s Equality and Human Rights Commission

UK companies continue to use personal networks when recruiting board members, which acts as a barrier to women becoming directors, according to an inquiry by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

The study found that while the overall target set …

US proxy season looks set to be dominated by pay & diversity

Anticipation that the US Securities and Exchange Commission is due to finalise three remaining Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act compensation rules as well as recent rulings from Delaware Courts will keep executive pay in the spotlight during …

Remuneration looks set to be an issue at upcoming UK AGMs

With the peak AGM season taking place in the next two months, Manifest’s analysis suggests investors may be concerned about the remuneration practices at some of the UK’s biggest companies holding their AGMs on 14th April.

Mining company, Rio Tinto …

Facebook to pay more tax in the UK while FTSE 100 tax take drops

It has been widely reported that social media giant Facebook is changing its tax structure in Europe which will result in it paying higher levels of tax in the UK. The profits from the majority of Facebook’s advertising revenue initiated …

International Women’s Day: Pledge for Parity

The theme of International Women’s Day this week (8th March) was a Pledge for Parity, trying to achieve equal opportunities for women globally.

The World Economics Forum said it will be 117 years before women have the same career prospects …

Rising numbers of female executives and board members across Europe

Although the pace of change is slow female representation on European boards and executive committees at 220 organisations across 11 sectors is growing, according to the latest research from think-tank New Financial.

The percentage of women on boards has increased …

Chemring Group could still face dissent over executive pay

Chemring Group, a specialist designer and manufacturer for the aerospace, defence and security industries, that was forced to engage with shareholders last year following a high level of dissent at its AGM over its remuneration practices may still not have

CEO succession planning disclosure needs improvement in the US

US companies who have successfully replaced their chief executives (CEOs) were far more likely to have provided shareholders with more disclosure about their CEO succession plans, according to a study by the Investor Responsibility Research Center Institute (IRRCi). However, these …

Institutional investors accused of not doing enough to curb excessive US CEO pay

Leading mutual funds and pension funds so far have taken little action to curb the pay of chief executives (CEOs) in the US according to a report by As You Sow, a non-profit organisation that promotes environmental and social corporate …

Investors seek improved proxy access at Apple

Activist investors in the US were watching the outcome of shareholder resolutions at the annual general meeting (AGM) of technology giant, Apple, on Friday (26th February). One of the proposals was seeking greater powers for investors to be able to …