News
Strategy, 12 February, 2020
US regulator orders tech giants to release data on acquisitions
Google, Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Microsoft face scrutiny from the Federal Trade Commission over whether acquisitions of small tech firms were “anticompetitive”.
COMMENT: Investor engagement, 12 February, 2020
Stakeholder debate should not be used to weaken shareholder rights
Investors play a vital role in holding boards to account—and well-governed companies safeguard the long-term interests of all stakeholders.
INSIGHT: Board appointments, 11 February, 2020
Questions non-execs should ask before joining the board
Before you accept the nomination, conduct an informal audit to ensure you understand the board dynamics, your responsibilities and how you can add value.
Gender diversity, 10 February, 2020
FTSE 100 hits target on female board directors—but challenges remain
Hampton-Alexander Review CEO warns more work is needed, while new research shows women leaders experience “everyday sexism” on a disturbing scale.
Diversity, 6 February, 2020
Parker Review reveals slow progress on ethnic minority appointments
Latest update of Sir John Parker’s report finds 37% of FTSE 100 companies surveyed have no ethnic minority representation on their boards.
Governance, 4 February, 2020
LGIM to vote against combined CEO/chair roles worldwide
Asset manager says separated roles provide “a better balance of authority and responsibility”, which aligns with the long-term interests of investors.
Investor pressure, 3 February, 2020
CEO pay and director re-elections named top issues for shareholder dissent
The most common causes of shareholder rebellions in 2019 were pay packages and director re-elections, with climate inaction another growing concern for investors.
Board relationships, 31 January, 2020
Investor focus on results and remuneration ‘creating friction’ with boards
The Investor Forum warns short-term issues are “crowding out real conversation about long-term strategic value and broader stakeholder perspectives”.
Board responsibilities, 30 January, 2020
EcoDa: Stakeholder model should not turn boards into “bargaining bodies”
Putting competing shareholder and stakeholder interests on an equal footing risks hampering board decision-making, says ecoDa report.
Trust in business, 28 January, 2020
Public loses faith in capitalism while backing ‘stakeholder’ business
Majority think capitalism does more harm than good, while 93% say stakeholders are the “most important to long-term company success”.