Companies under fire over all-male boards
Two companies preparing for London-based flotations have come under pressure over the lack of female representation on their boards.
Lord Davies, who oversaw the coalition government’s initiative to increase the participation of women on boards, told The Guardian that investors should “take into account” the all-male boards of insurer Hastings and payment processing company Worldpay before deciding whether to back the floats.
The peer said he was surprised that shareholders in Hastings and Worldpay had not raised the women issue as one of major concern.
Worldpay is set to be the largest float since 2011, as it has set to be valued at £3.5bn. The Hastings IPO (initial public offering) has been valued at around £15bn.
According to data collected by Financi
For thoughtful journalism, expert insights on corporate governance and an extensive library of reports, guides and tools to help boards and directors navigate the complexities of their roles, subscribe to Board Agenda
Related Stories
-
Covid and liquidity boost ‘mega’ M&A deals
This year has seen 111 mega deals, up on last year’s 97, despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and uncertainty over Brexit.
-
Government bail-outs indicate ‘shift in mindset’ towards societal purpose
Denmark is leading a trend to impose restrictions on bail-outs, favouring business models that focus on stakeholders rather than shareholders.
-
Big Four auditors ‘prepared’ if regulators push for split
The Big Four audit firms have prepared contingency plans for being broken up, if regulators insist on making big interventions in the market.
