The Swiss Federal Council recently published their “Proposal for an Ordinance against abusive remuneration practices” in response to the successful popular referendum on what has been dubbed the “Minder Initiative”. It is the first formal consultation stage ahead of the tabling of a formal legislative proposal, timetabled for November, in time for a January 1st 2014 implementation date. The […]
Read MoreIR Magazine has been looking at shareholder activism in Europe and quotes Manifest: A different style of activism?Historically, there have been obstacles to waging a successful activist campaign in much of Europe. Many markets are opaque, the proxy voting system has been leaky with votes often lost, and some countries still block any shares to […]
Read MoreIf 2008 was the year of crisis and 2009 the year of survival and steadying the ship, 2010 was the year of longer-term policy response. If one word stands out more than any other from the policy debates of last year, it is “Stewardship”. The word has so many aspects to its meaning, making it […]
Read MoreThe prospect of new regulation at the ownership end of corporate governance mechanisms in Europe is beginning to take shape. The new Member of the European Commission responsible for Internal Market and Services, Michel Barnier, has recently been making increasingly clear his views on the future directon of regulation in response to criticism of the […]
Read MoreNorges Bank Investment Management (NBIM), the investment arm of the Norwegian central bank and asset manager for the Norwegian Government Pension Fund and the Government Petroleum Insurance Fund managing over NOK1,000bn (£107bn) in equity investments, has filed shareholder proposals at four US companies calling for independent chairmanship. Meetings at Harris Corporation (23rd OCtober), Parker Hannifin (28th October), […]
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 MoreThe FSA’s letter to the Institutional Shareholders Committee regarding shareholder engagement was initially welcomed by many commentators although concerns were raised in some quarters at the narrow focus of the letter. In that letter, the FSA stated that they were “aware that concerns have been raised over the extent to which more active shareholder engagement […]
Read MoreSir David Walker’s review of the governance of UK banks, commissioned by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, has published 39 recommendations aimed at improving the governance of banks and other big financial institutions (BOFIs). The aim of the report was to find ways of minimising risky behaviour and improving the way companies and shareholder communicate and interact. Many of the […]
Read MoreThe Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) is urging shareholders to take advantage of the upcoming AGM season to assert their rights and to “not wait until they have been trampled on”. PSE director and co-chair of the recently established corporate governance committe, Jose Luis Javier, said: “The current global financial crisis has put the spotlight on […]
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