VEA Vice Chair is quoted in a Board Agenda story about governance priorities in the Biden administration and new 50-50 Senate: If there is one country likely to see an expansion of corporate governance activity in 2021 it is the US, with the upcoming inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. The Trump years saw…
Category: international corporate governance
Lagarde’s ECB won’t let investors delay addressing climate risk
Lagarde: Giving the ECB a bigger role in fighting global warming. Not Rated Text Size: A A A Abu Samra border open, quiet World leaders condemn ‘assault on democracy’ Bloomberg/Frankfurt The European Central Bank has a warning for investors: Deal with the financial risks from climate change soon or we’ll do it for you. Under…
German cabinet approves tougher oversight after Wirecard scandal | Reuters
The German cabinet passed a package of reforms to financial and accounting rules on Wednesday aimed at avoiding another Wirecard scandal amid criticism from opposition lawmakers who say the government’s measures do not go far enough. Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives and the co-governing Social Democrats (SPD) agreed to extend the powers of the BaFin watchdog…
Co-Determinative Corporate Governance
A system of shared corporate governance between shareholders and workers, codetermination has been mostly ignored within the U.S. corporate governance literature. When it has made an appearance, it has largely served as a foil for shareholder primacy and an example of corporate deviance. However, over the last twenty years—and especially in the last five—empirical research…
Bringing shareholder voting into the 21st Century – The UK Association of Member Nominated Trustees
A report, authored by Professor Iain Clacher reaches three main conclusions: First, the barriers presented to split voting in pooled funds are not insurmountable, especially as some fund managers have already been doing this for some clients. Put simply, asset owners’ policies could be implemented by fund managers if there was the will to do…
Make climate risk reports mandatory for 480 FTSE firms, say investors | Environment | The Guardian
An influential group of investors is urging UK regulators to make climate risk reporting mandatory for nearly 500 FTSE-listed firms. The Investment Association (IA), which represents 250 members with £8.5tn in assets, has thrown its weight behind calls for compulsory environmental disclosures, amid concerns that listed companies are not being transparent about how climate risks…
The EU ESG Regulatory Regime: A Detailed Guide
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations have hovered on the periphery of the public conscious (and the minds of policy drivers and investment managers) for several decades. However, recently their importance has taken center stage with the convergence of several related developments, especially: A growth in support for Green political parties Enhanced social media coverage…
Work and Pensions Committee to examine impact of pension freedoms and protecting pension savers – News from Parliament – UK Parliament
We have been skeptical and critical of the shift from defined benefit to defined contribution pension plans. The entire idea of pension plans was to protect the retirement income security of working people by having their savings managed by expert professionals subject to the highest requirements of diligence and loyalty. What has been characterized as…
CPP Investments Sustainable Investing Policy: Update Reinforces ESG Role in Long-Term Value Creation | CPP Investments
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments) has published an updated Policy on Sustainable Investing, reflecting its increased conviction in the importance of considering environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks and opportunities amid an increasingly competitive corporate operating environment. Integrating ESG factors, including climate change, into investment analysis and asset management activities supports the organization’s…
25% gender quota introduced for Greek companies | Minerva-Manifest
Greek companies will soon be mandated to meet a 25% female quota on their boards following a landmark decision for gender diversity. The quota requirement has been included as an amendment to the bill transposing the EU Shareholder Rights Directive II (SRD II) into Greek law, and is the result of a consultation led by…