Governance
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Corporate governance, 27 April, 2020
Social factors ‘now key to good corporate governance’ says ICGN
The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted social failures and "deep" inequality which must be addressed by business, warns the global governance body.
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Legislation, 24 April, 2020
Investors call for mandatory human rights due diligence
Some of world’s biggest asset managers, including Aviva, Federated Hermes and Robeco, have signed up to the Investor Alliance for Human Rights.
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Regulation, 22 April, 2020
‘Going concern’ regulation puts firms and auditors under the microscope
New standard ISA UK 570 requires auditors to challenge management’s assessment of going concern more robustly—and firms to be as transparent as possible amid current uncertainty.
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Stakeholder capitalism, 21 April, 2020
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.
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Due diligence, 20 April, 2020
Businesses ‘must consider human rights’ amid pandemic response
Campaign groups have warned that due diligence on human rights should remain central to organisations' response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Corporate governance, 20 April, 2020
Will Covid-19 accelerate the shift towards stakeholder governance?
The current challenging context will reveal to companies which of their shareholders have a long-term view—and which do not.
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COMMENT: Leadership, 17 April, 2020
The role of the board in times of distress
If companies are to survive the coronavirus crisis, corporate boards need to exercise collaborative, proactive leadership.
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Remuneration, 16 April, 2020
Asset managers urge restraint on executive pay during pandemic
Schroders and Hermes EOS warn boards that top executives must "share the pain" of the economic downturn, with pay "aligned with the experience of the wider workforce".
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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COMMENT: Corporate governance, 24 March, 2020
Regulators must grant boards flexibility during Covid-19 crisis
The Institute of Directors would like to see urgent temporary measures implemented relating to board decision-making, company reporting and AGMs.
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INSIGHT: Crisis management, 24 March, 2020
Boards must harness tension to succeed in a time of disruption
Boards need to learn to look inward and harness "positive tension" to avoid becoming dysfunctional during a crisis.