Governance
Shareholders, 14 April, 2020
Warnings over risk of investor activism as boards focus on survival
Stock price falls have put some companies in a vulnerable position, while boards distracted by Covid-19 may not be prepared for activist intervention.
International, 14 April, 2020
Auditing global progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Better assessment is needed to deliver the “decade of action” on the UN SDGs ahead of us. Supreme Audit Institutions aim to meet this global challenge.
Strategy, 9 April, 2020
Investors ‘expect boards to take a long-term view’ amid crisis
Open letter from the Investment Association details how members will help to “keep corporate Britain working”, with guidance on executive pay, dividends and financial reporting.
INSIGHT: Leadership, 8 April, 2020
Succession planning in the spotlight amid ‘genuine shock’ of PM’s illness
Succession planning is fraught with difficulty at the best of times. But seeing Boris Johnson laid low is a stark reminder to boards of its importance.
Interview: Professor Colin Mayer on purposeful business, 7 April, 2020
No more business as usual: Professor Colin Mayer, Saïd Business School
The British Academy fellow on how business purpose has moved from the slipstream to the mainstream—and how firms with defined values are best placed to survive the current pandemic.
Risk management, 3 April, 2020
Covid-19 adds to an unprecedented landscape of risk
Audit committee chairs have already drawn risk management lessons from the pandemic. But their attention is also fixed on the issues that will remain long after the crisis is resolved.
Investor engagement, 3 April, 2020
Collaboration is key for the challenging AGM season ahead
With shareholder activism on the rise, boards must ensure they engage fully with investor concerns and demonstrate how they are addressing crucial issues.
Finance, 1 April, 2020
Pushback on buybacks as global brands postpone plans
Both WPP and Adidas have delayed plans to employ the controversial capital management tool, reflecting ongoing concerns in the UK and US about its use.
COMMENT: Covid-19 pandemic, 30 March, 2020
Who is an ‘essential worker’ at times of crisis?
Many workers deemed essential are on low wages and zero-hour contracts. This crisis is a reminder that we should value workers in all parts of the economy.
Regulation, 26 March, 2020
FRC warns firms to be candid about prospects of corporate failure
Watchdog says investors expect companies “to articulate their expectations of the possible impacts on their specific business” amid Covid-19 crisis.