La langue de la diplomatie (the language of diplomacy)

Over the same weekend that the UN wrestled with the question of whether to intervene in the internal affairs of Libya, the French financial markets regulator, the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF), issued a stunning piece of surprise, summary intervention in the proxy advisory market.

Having consulted with “the professionals concerned” according …… continue reading >>

US proxy reform: It’s completely broke, please fix it!

“The investing community desires change”. Not something we weren’t aware of, surely? However, when it’s a summary of the almost unanimous response to the most comprehensive regulatory review of the US proxy system the SEC has undertaken  in 30 years, this finding is  highly significant.

In short, the Securities Transfer Association analysis …… continue reading >>

UK to investigate take-overs, long termism, better governance

Vince Cable, the UK’s Secretary of State for Business used the Confederation of British Industry’s annual conference to launch an an investigation into possible failures of market and corporate governance which have discouraged a long-term approach to investment.  The paper, ‘A Long Term Focus for Corporate Britain’, is …… continue reading >>

Commission threatens action on shareholder rights laggards

The European Commission has recently announced it intends to initiate processes for taking action against EU Member States over implementation of the Shareholders Rights Directive (SRD). The Directive, which was passed in 2007, establishes Europe-wide principles for ensuring certain basic rights of shareholders at European listed companies. These rights relate to improved registration, participation …… continue reading >>

Budget: Mandatory vote disclosure? Who will take hold of the wheel?

Coming so late in the life of the current parliamentary term, the City may be forgiven for already turning attention from yesterday’s budget statement to post-election budgetary announcements for substantive financial and fiscal policy developments. However, hidden in the text of yesterday’s Budget Report is a potentially highly significant statement, which could make …… continue reading >>

Barnier eyes up pan-European ownership regulation

The prospect of new regulation at the ownership end of corporate governance mechanisms in Europe is beginning to take shape.

The new Member of the European Commission responsible for Internal Market and Services, Michel Barnier, has recently been making increasingly clear his views on the future directon of regulation in response to …… continue reading >>

Tough self-questioning in Dublin

Whilst the future shape of shareholder engagement responsibility is debated in London, Brussels and across continental Europe, the debate in Dublin is a fierce as anywhere.

In what is traditionally a very close-knit investment and business community, the Irish Stock Exchange (ISE) and the Deputy Prime Minister participated in a full and frank …… continue reading >>

Australia’s Productivity Commission delivers report on exec pay

Australia’s Productivity Commission will submit its final report on executive remuneration to the Federal Government on 19 December. The Productivity Commission was asked to undertake a public inquiry into the regulatory framework around remuneration of directors and executives of companies regulated under the Corporations Act. It was asked to make recommendations on …… continue reading >>

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