Manifest - I

The High Pay Debate – Where Next?

Sarah Wilson — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:50:47 +0000

As the so-called “Shareholder Spring” moves into the summer, the question most people are asking is ”Where next?” Secretary of State Vince Cable has laid down a marker for...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Sustainable Stock Exchanges – Progress?

Paul Hewitt — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 17:32:40 +0000

This week saw the publication of the latest progress report as part of the Sustainable Stock Exchange Initiative sponsored by Aviva Investors. The report by Responsible Research surveyed 27 of the...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

The future of proxy advisors – is there one?

Sarah Wilson — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 17:59:44 +0000

Sarah Wilson, CEO of Manifest spoke at the ICGN London Meeting on 20th March 2012. Her presentation at the breakout session “the future of proxy advisory” was based on the following...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Cronyism: remuneration consultants – half as bad as bankers?

Sarah Wilson — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 16:46:27 +0000

In this guest article, Cliff Weight of remuneration consultants MM&K responds to a comment from David Brimacombe, senior advisor to Nestor Advisors on our January piece: ‘Remuneration...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

AMF Consults on French General Meetings

Paul Hewitt — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 18:51:03 +0000

The AMF, the French equivalent of the FSA, has finally published an English language version of its February 7th report on the conduct of General Meetings at French listed companies. The report...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

More shareholder rights or better plumbing?

Sarah Wilson — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 18:24:09 +0000

More rights for shareholders is one of those sure-fire political winners which would seem churlish to object to. But, with the publication of the UK’s proposals to fix the “payments for...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

BIS consults on enhanced shareholder powers on executive pay

Paul Hewitt — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 17:39:15 +0000

Vince Cable, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, this week announced the latest government consultation on executive pay, this time aimed specifically at enhancing shareholder...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

GES 1992-2012 – What works in ESG engagement?

Paul Hewitt — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 16:37:51 +0000

Manifest’s friends GES invite you to their London 20th anniversary seminar and new website. GES celebrates its 20th anniversary by hosting a high-profile seminar in London exploring the...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

NEST Appoints Manifest & Co-op in Responsible Investment Partnership

Sarah Wilson — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 14:48:35 +0000

The National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) has appointed The Co-operative Asset Management (TCAM) and Manifest to support its responsible investment strategy. In an innovative joint tender, TCAM...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Shareholder engagement on pay can work!

Alan Brett — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:45:56 +0000

Today’s announcement by Cairn Energy that it will withdraw resolution 2 at its General Meeting next week, demonstrates that shareholders can act on egregious pay awards when they really want...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

How would a super-majority support requirement impact UK Say-on-pay votes?

Alan Brett — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:03:23 +0000

One of the suggestions made by Vince Cable when answering his parliamentary question in the House of Commons yesterday in relation to his proposals to address executive pay, was that the remuneration...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Remuneration Committee “Cronysism” – digging deeper

Alan Brett — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:19:09 +0000

Since we published data on the number of executive directors in the FTSE 100 sitting on remuneration committees of other FTSE 100 companies, a common question we received was … what if...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Shareholder Nomination Committees – just a different form of cronyism?

Alan Brett — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:03:33 +0000

Last week, in a speech at a High Pay Commission seminar, the shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna and former Business Secretary Lord Myners both put forward arguments in favour of shareholder...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Crony capitalism or mass hysteria?

Sarah Wilson — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:37:46 +0000

Journalists and politicians must not have enough to do in the post-Christmas dip. “Action looms to curb executive pay” proclaims the FT on January 5 the day before the UK’s...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

“Remunerationgate” – the median isn’t the message

Sarah Wilson — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:56:11 +0000

Whether it’s a case of “In war, truth is the first casualty” or “Lies, damned lies, and statistics”, sound arguments for reform can easily be undone by the careless use...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

A surprise pre-Christmas bonus

Paul Hewitt — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 11:16:40 +0000

Holders of common shares in Millicom International Cellular are in line for a surprise pre-Christmas bonus, to the tune of $3 per share. Shareholders at Millicom’s EGM, convened specifically for the...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Consistency in Climate Change Disclosure – A Step Closer?

Rosie Clarke — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 14:38:04 +0000

Companies face increasing pressure from governments, investors and other organisations to measure and publish annual greenhouse gas (GHG) production. This rising demand is valuable to encourage...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

The heart of darkness in proxy voting?

Sarah Wilson — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 13:48:08 +0000

A shorter version of this article appeared in Financial News on Monday, October 10th 2011 The City might sometimes wish it otherwise, but voting rights are central to shareholders exercising...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Aussie proxy season gets into full swing

Sarah Wilson — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 20:05:03 +0000

Over 140 of the S&P/ASX 200 companies have June year ends and will hold their AGMs between late September and late November. The busiest dates for AGMs are between 24 and 28 October, with 9 &...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Manifest branches out in Australia

Publications — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 19:55:38 +0000

As Manifest continues its increase in global coverage, we are delighted to announce that from October 2011, Manifest has a branch office operating in Melbourne, Australia. We are delighted to be...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Is ‘Say on Pay’ really global?

Alan Brett — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 16:16:01 +0000

Manifest Research Manager Alan Brett highlights some of the key issues raised in a recent Manifest report “Say on Pay a Global Perspective”. With the volatility and uncertainty...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Managing Carbon Governance

Sarah Wilson — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 14:21:37 +0000

By Dr Rory Sullivan Companies need to respond to climate change – both mitigation (emissions reductions) and adaptation – as a strategic business concern, not simply as an operational issue. From an...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Social and new media: Improving ownership?

Paul Hewitt — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 16:24:17 +0000

The ICGN Conference in Paris last week included a session on the very interesting topic of new and social media, exploring what are some of the ramifications in the context of corporate governance....

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Kay hopes for “not just another governance review”

Sarah Wilson — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 20:49:59 +0000

Professor John Kay has formally launched his consultation exercise to examine UK equity markets and long-term decision making. In a launch event at the National Association of Pension Funds the...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

New guidance for issuers on risk

Sarah Wilson — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 20:19:09 +0000

Understanding corporate risk has shot to the top of the agenda for ESG-focussed investors in recent months. Under the newly expanded Section C of The UK Corporate Governance Code, boards are...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]