Europe: Say-on-climate voting is on the up, but support falls

Say-on-climate voting is on the up, but investor support falls by Gavin Hicks Support for say-on-climate proposals has dropped off year on year, though the number of votes— which are currently voluntary—has greatly increased, according to new research. There is also an emerging divide among shareholders. European fund managers appear to be increasing their dissent,…

Shareholder participation on the rise in the UK | Financial Times

UK retail investors are taking a more active role in their holdings, according to data showing a surge in voting participation among shareholders. Some 210,000 shareholder votes were processed by fund supermarket Interactive Investor in 2022, a 30 per cent increase on the previous year. The boost came in the first full year since the…

The ‘G’ In ESG: Exploring the impact of corporate governance

Despite this, ESG goes beyond an isolated consideration of ‘E’ and ‘S’. In fact, by leaving governance factors out of the decision-making process altogether, organisations risk missing a crucial opportunity to fully leverage the power that comes with embedding sound corporate governance and risk management systems into their corporate pillars.This can spell disaster in a…

Audit watchdog to overhaul UK corporate governance code | Financial Times

The UK’s corporate governance code will be overhauled for the first time in four years with new rules to make boards more responsible for fraud and their company’s finances, and strengthen accountability for bad behaviour. The Financial Reporting Council, which oversees the audit industry, on Tuesday laid out plans to carry out recommendations made by…

Larry Fink Is Wrong About the Impact of the Russian Invasion on Globalization

In his annual letter to shareholders, Blackrock’s Larry Fink says that the response of the business community to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine signals “an end to globalization.” He’s wrong. It’s just the opposite. He writes: The Russian invasion of Ukraine has put an end to the globalization we have experienced over the last three decades….

Say on Climate: Investor Distraction or Climate Action? – MSCI

Investor engagement on climate change increased markedly in 2021. One key development was the emergence of say-on-climate votes: management-backed resolutions that ask shareholders to approve a company’s climate plan or climate-action report proactively, either on a one-time or recurring basis. In most cases, say-on-climate votes are nonbinding and advisory; even if a vote fails, the…

Proxy advice law which sparked fears it would reduce investor activism defeated in the Senate – ABC News

Australia’s parliament has thrown out the new restrictions on proxy advisory firms. Three days after they were introduced into federal parliament, the Senate has overturned Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s regulations on proxy advisers. Proxy advisers are the people who advise big investors, including superannuation funds, on how to vote on issues impacting the re-election of company directors. Board…

OECS invites comments on its Stakeholder Engagement Strategy

Stakeholders are being invited to input into development of a Stakeholder Engagement Strategy for the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). Development of this Strategy will fulfil a mandate from the OECS Council of Ministers for Environmental Sustainability (COMES) and contribute to efforts aimed at the management and sustainable use of marine and terrestrial biodiversity…