Obscure securities lending practices have been a cause for concern for the governance community in recent years as the ability to recall shares at short notice can negatively impact investors’ ability to vote at general meetings.

The US Senate is …

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“The investing community desires change”. Not something we weren’t aware of, surely? However, when it’s a summary of the almost unanimous response to the most comprehensive regulatory review of the US proxy system the SEC has undertaken  in 30 years, …

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The SEC is seeking investor input on its proposals to give shareholders a non-binding vote on executive compensation and some “golden parachute” severance arrangements.

Under the proposed rules, publicly traded companies would have to provide shareholders with an advisory vote …

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Just as the governance community is beginning to feel it might explode if another consultation comes its way, the battle for regulatory attention over the parlous state of the proxy system is hotting up in the US.

Computershare, the global …

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The US Securities and Exchange Commission looks set to debate its “concept release” on the mechanics of the US proxy system next week.  According to an SEC announcement, the commission is scheduled to meet on July 14 at 10am …

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Mary Schapiro, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission is a step closer to straightening out America’s proxy plumbing. In a speech made at the Stanford University Law School Directors College on June 20th, Schapiro outlined the Commission’s current thinking.…

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CalPERS and 20 other public pension plans have written to key US lawmakers urging them to keep corporate governance provisions in the final version of a proposed financial regulations reform bill.

The US House of Representatives and Senate have each …

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The SEC has confirmed that it will be issuing a green paper on proxy reform later this year. Speaking at a Business Roundtable quarterly meeting last week, SEC Chairman, Mary Schapiro said: “the mechanics of the proxy process have not

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The US is moving forward with a series of comprehensive financial reforms in a new bill, “The Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2009”. In 1,279 pages, the new bill pulls together a total of six reform proposals …

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Leading US mutual fund manager Oppenheimer Funds has written to the SEC supporting improved disclosure of commercial relationships which might create a conflict of interest.

In a Sept.24 letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission commenting on the SEC’s proposed …

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