Proxy season began with a sharp focus on ESG, driven by large asset managers and vocal asset owners. COVID-19 further heightened attention to human capital and supply chain management. It’s against this backdrop that we took a quick look at 50 S&P 100 proxy statements filed as of mid-April to learn how boards and companies are communicating on ESG topics.
MORECompanies are being called on to prioritize the safety and welfare of workers as the pandemic underscores the hardships faced by employees.
MOREISS and Glass Lewis have issued guidance on their corporate governance voting policies that adds flexibility to reflect the realities of the impact of the COVID-19 crisis and the challenges in responding to it. Public companies will want to consider this guidance since many institutional investors are influenced in their voting by the positions taken by these leading proxy advisory firms. The guidance covers the following subjects:
MOREAfter 2018 and 2019, TDCC once again held a large-scale forum ahead of the shareholder meeting season this year. The forum was conducted online for the first time due to the pandemic, and there were over 300 listed companies, including about 600 practitioners signing up for the event.
MOREAfter 2018 and 2019, TDCC once again held a large-scale forum ahead of the shareholder meeting season this year. The forum was conducted online for the first time due to the pandemic, and there were over 300 listed companies, including about 600 practitioners signing up for the event.
MOREJapan’s Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) has brought fixed income and alternative assets, such as real assets, under the umbrella of its stewardship principles for its external asset managers.
MOREThe Financial Reporting Council (FRC) is to conduct a major review of how companies and auditors assess and report on the impact of climate change.
MOREBlackRock, Vanguard supported 7% of ESG proposals in 2019
MOREInvestors are more concerned about the implications of bad governance ratings than they are encouraged by evidence of improved governance, according to research from Paul Guest, professor of corporate finance, and Marco Nerino, a doctoral student, at King's Business School in London.
MOREVanguard, the world’s second largest asset manager, has refused to sign up to a group of major investors demanding that polluters respond to the climate crisis, despite its rival BlackRock relenting to pressure to do so.
MORE