Governance
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NEWS: Executive pay, 23 February, 2022
UK shareholder pay revolts increase by 56% in 2021
Last year saw the highest number of notifiable shareholder revolts on pay for five years—and investors seem willing to maintain the pressure.
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COMMENT: Culture, 22 February, 2022
BP and Shell windfall tax row reveals lack of progress on purpose
Claim that windfall tax would hurt clean energy investment shows the change in mentality towards purposeful business isn’t taking root.
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NEWS: Research, 21 February, 2022
Language used in financial press releases ‘reveals M&A prospects’
Study finds that sentiments expressed in press statements by a target firm can be a good indicator of how well a takeover bid will go.
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INSIGHT: Governance, 18 February, 2022
Audit committees and ESG: ‘It’s a difficult journey to navigate’
The rise of ESG as an investor concern is creating new demands of audit committees. A recent CACID event looked at the challenges.
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COMMENT: Listing rules, 15 February, 2022
Could dual-class shares resuscitate the London Stock Exchange?
US evidence has shown that dual-class firms outperform their one share, one vote brethren. London needs to take a more global view.
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NEWS: Governance, 11 February, 2022
Research reveals Silicon Valley’s growing appetite for dual-class shares
US tech companies are less likely than S&P 100 firms to have dual CEO-chairs, but they continue to push ahead on dual-class shares.
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NEWS: Webinar, 10 February, 2022
Climate risk and supply chains revealed as AGM hot topics for 2022
A recent webinar hosted by Diligent and Board Agenda saw experts unpick the big issues on the agenda at shareholder meetings this year.
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NEWS: Supply chains, 9 February, 2022
Companies protest delay in EU human rights due diligence legislation
Companies including Ikea, Danone and Aviva Investors have signed a letter calling on the EU to accelerate its work on human rights proposals.
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NEWS: Corporate culture, 3 February, 2022
Rio Tinto report reveals culture of sexual harassment, bullying and racism
Over a third of young female workers have been sexually harassed, with bullying “systemic” and racism "normalised" in some parts of the firm.
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NEWS: Regulation, 2 February, 2022
Audit committee chairs ‘are confusing quality of audit and quality of service’
FRC report also warns that audit committee chairs have a "negative perception of joint audits", despite this being a key reform proposal.
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NEWS: Governance, 1 February, 2022
Senator Marco Rubio calls for workers to sit on US boards
The proposal is expected as part of a bill by Republicans Rubio and congressman Jim Banks to create "employee involvement organisations".
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INSIGHT: Culture, 31 January, 2022
GE whizz: Jack Welch’s focus on corporate culture was ahead of his time
To judge GE only on its recent performance is to vastly underrate its achievements—in particular, its strong, consistent corporate culture.
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NEWS: Regulation, 27 January, 2022
Jan du Plessis gives first insights into FRC governance and audit reform
The prospective FRC chair acknowledged that the watchdog's own governance needs reform, and that audit scandals have damaged its reputation.
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NEWS: Governance, 24 January, 2022
Stakeholder capitalism ‘won’t work’—but investors need to do more
London Business School/Investor Forum report backs the shareholder model, but urges investors to take responsibility for stakeholder issues.
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NEWS: Governance, 20 January, 2022
BlackRock CEO letter: stakeholderism ‘is not woke’, it’s capitalism
Larry Fink declares stakeholder governance is not an "ideological agenda" but "capitalism, driven by mutually beneficial relationships”.
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INSIGHT: ESG, 19 January, 2022
It’s time for boards to make new resolutions on ESG performance
Recognition that significant change is needed and determination to drive progress are vital if boards are to improve sustainability.
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INSIGHT: Board expertise, 18 January, 2022
Steps for a smooth and successful CEO transition
A succession plan is only the start: an effective CEO transition requires clear KPIs, objective assessment and ongoing board support.
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COMMENT: Investment, 14 January, 2022
Are UK corporate governance rules leading to market malaise?
A recent article argued the UK needs "more directors who understand risk-taking, not virtue signalling" if London is to regain its status.
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NEWS: US governance, 13 January, 2022
US corporate governance improvements ‘slowed or stagnated’ in 2021
Report suggests crisis "fatigue" is eating away at gains made during 2020, with employee issues and ESG highlighted as concerns.
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INSIGHT: Corporate governance, 12 January, 2022
Board priorities 2022: a checklist for directors
The pandemic continues to impact agendas, but climate, data security and succession are some of the other priorities demanding board focus.