stewardship Archives

Shell audit conflict raises eyebrows at Standard Life

…as the UK’s Financial Reporting Council finalises auditor rules

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has published final drafts of the latest UK corporate governance code and the associated guidance on audit committees so they will meet the requirements of forthcoming …

Principles for Responsible Investment considers impact after 10 years

Although the awareness of responsible investment is growing, implementing the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) is still proving a challenge 10 years on, according to an independent report assessing the impact of the PRI which was launched in 2006 as …

Railpen’s Head of Corporate Governance Retires

Railpen veteran, Frank Curtiss, who was most recently been its head of corporate governance, has retired. The pension fund has been at the forefront of active institutional investment and was one of the first to vote actively on its equity …

UK’s Investment Association explains how investors can boost productivity

The Investment Association (IA) has published an industry-wide Productivity Action Plan which it believes will boost the UK economy through long-term investment, helping to reverse the UK’s productivity problem. The action plan aims to encourage the provision of more long-term

Fund management mandates should include ESG criteria

The United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) initiative has launched a report, How Asset Owners Can Drive Responsible Investment: Beliefs, Strategy and Mandates, calling on asset owners to do more to reflect ESG risks and opportunities in their …

UK Financial Reporting Council pre-AGM alert to investors on company reporting

The UK’s Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has written to institutional investors highlighting the key issues they should be considering ahead of the peak season of company shareholder meetings.

The letter from Stephen Hadrill, FRC chief executive, reminded investors that this …

The global Corporate Human Rights Benchmark is launched

The first-ever ranking of the world’s largest publicly listed companies on their human rights performance, the Corporate Human Rights Benchmark (CHRB) has been launched beginning with a pilot benchmark process. The final scores will be available in November this year.…

Hong Kong to introduce its Principles of Responsible Ownership

Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has introduced voluntary principles to provide guidance on how investors should fulfil their ownership responsibilities when investing in Hong Kong listed companies.

The SFC has published revised principles and responded to a consultation …

ShareAction judges autoenrolment sustainability credentials

As automatic-enrolment workplace pensions are rolled out to more employees UK pressure group, ShareAction, which campaigns to achieve ‘an investment system that truly serves savers and communities, and protects our environment for the long term’, has produced its first …

Ferrovial faces backlash over proposed takeover of Australian firm Broadspectrum

Australian human rights campaigners are warning investors of the risks Spanish multinational infrastructure operator, Ferrovial, could face if its takeover bid of Australian firm Broadspectrum is approved. This company is the Australian government’s lead contractor in the operation of its …