Companies are reviewing performance pay in light of shareholder feedback Property developer Stockland has just announced that executive bonuses for 2012 will be cut following
Improving Gender Diversity
Following on from our article in the March newsletter “Gender and Diversity in the Boardroom” where we revealed that female directors constitute a relatively small proportion of all directors, we have expanded our research to study the repercussions for organisations with women directors.
Disclosure of Executive Remuneration for Industry Super Fund Boards
A recent Financial Services Council report has set a new benchmark for increased governance and transparency for retail and corporate superannuation sectors
Applying Proposed Clawback Rules
Listed companies will be required to disclose to shareholders through the remuneration report the steps they have taken to clawback bonuses and other remuneration where a material mis-statement has occurred in relation to the company’s financial statements.
“Say-on-Pay” of Proxy Advisers & Institutional Investors
Questions are being asked whether proxy advisers have now gained too much influence as a consequence of the new “Say-On-Pay” reforms
Changes to “Two Strikes” Rule
An unintended consequence of the two strikes rule was that undirected proxies (where shareholders appoint the Chairman to vote on their behalf) were not counted last year.
Implications of a “No” Vote: Non-Binding?
Under the two strikes test (applying from 1 July 2011), shareholders are empowered to vote out a company’s directors if the remuneration report receives a “No” vote from a 25% or greater number of shareholders voting at two consecutive annual general meetings.
Board Gender and Diversity
Women in the boardroom is still an important issue and one which demands greater attention. provinding an alternative perspecitve is always a valuable outcome, especially in the boardroom environment.
UK Reforms on Executive Remuneration Continue
The Business Secretary Vince Cable gave a speech to the House of Commons in January 2012 outlining new proposals for executive pay.
Shareholder Voting in the US
In the US, a new directive has been issued by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on the use of proxy votes by brokers who previously had the capacity to vote on behalf of shareholders without any proxy directions.