Manifest - I

Farewell Bond, will Dimon be forever?

Paul Hewitt — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:06:51 +0000

It’s being quite a few days for corporate governance. First, the unprecedented (at least since our records began in 1996) shock yesterday of Sir John Bond’s ejection as Chair of Glencore...

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Please sir, I’d like to have a vote?

Paul Hewitt — Wed, 08 May 2013 14:50:33 +0000

Perhaps the two least surprising observations about last week’s local government elections in the UK were the weakness of the incumbent national government party vote, and the continued fall in...

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ESMA & Proxy – chasing molehills, missing mountains

Sarah Wilson — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 15:58:13 +0000

ESMA has now released its final report on ‘The Proxy Advisor Industry’. It’s key recommendation, after long deliberation, is that there is “no current market failure related...

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Q:Why is proxy voting like a supermarket lasagne?

Sarah Wilson — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 21:50:37 +0000

A: Suspect ingredients, lack of traceability, bad labelling and poor retailer accountability. What on earth has dubious food processing got to do with proxy votes I hear you ask? The FT neatly sums...

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Shareblocking rears its ugly head – German AGMs at risk as foreign shareholders frozen out

Sarah Wilson — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 17:10:44 +0000

Europe’s much heralded Shareholders’ Rights Directive (2007) was meant to put an end to share blocking and immobilization and give all shareholders, irrespective of their locale, the same...

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Investors’ engagement crucial to more sustainable financial sector

Sarah Wilson — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 17:11:27 +0000

Guest post by:Magnus Furugård, President and Managing Director, GES International, a Manifest partner Asset owners and asset managers should engage more strongly on ESG performance with the banks in...

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Merry Christmas from Manifest

Paul Hewitt — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 14:53:42 +0000

Wishing all our friends and followers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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EU Action Plan on European Company Law & Corporate Governance

Sarah Wilson — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 10:49:34 +0000

The European Commission this week (12/12/12) set out its 16 priorities for promoting sustainable and competitive companies in the EU. After two years of investigation, the Commission has decided to...

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More simplicity with more flexibility in new remuneration guidance

Alan Brett — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 17:47:05 +0000

The Association of British Insurers have published the 2012 update to their Principles of Remuneration, with a number of key changes focusing on simpler remuneration structures while offering...

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De-mystifying Directors Pay

Sarah Wilson — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 11:20:16 +0000

What should directors be paid? When and how to motivate for sustainable returns are key questions for remuneration committees and shareholders alike. On the face of it they are easy questions to...

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What works for exec pay: Internal metrics or peer group benchmarks?

Sarah Wilson — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 19:47:07 +0000

Are executive pay peer group benchmarks the new credit ratings? New research from the Investor Responsibility Research Centre Institute (IRRCi) suggests that over-dependence on peer group...

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Kay Review Recommendations

Sarah Wilson — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 09:26:41 +0000

Professor John Kay has published his review of equity markets and long-term decision making which was commissioned by the UK’s Business Secretary Vince Cable. Here are the key recommendations,...

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More Regulation or Better Stewardship?

Paul Hewitt — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 16:01:52 +0000

Optimising the Means and Ends of Good Governance Manifest is proud to sponsor the 4th Cambridge International Regulation and Governance Conference on September 6th, at Queens College, Cambridge. In...

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AMF releases proposals for French General Meetings

Paul Hewitt — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 21:15:42 +0000

The AMF has this week (2nd July) released its final report on improving the exercise of shareholders rights at French general meetings. Following consultation during 2011, the proposals are expected...

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Rules, Regulations, Codes and Cultures

Paul Hewitt — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 21:15:13 +0000

Another week, another consultation deadline in the world of responsible investment - last week the FRC’s consultation on the Stewardship Code. With so many column inches being taken up with...

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Empty Voting: ESMA call for evidence finds …

Paul Hewitt — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 17:21:04 +0000

….no evidence. Last year, ESMA conducted a consultation on the topic of empty voting, designed to find out the nature and extent of the decoupling of voting rights from economic ownership....

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Proxy Advisors – regulators should act…

Sarah Wilson — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 16:06:26 +0000

…..on the facts. The world’s proxy seasons draw to a close with the last remaining Japanese vote deadlines on Tuesday 26th June. That’s one day after the European Securities...

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UK Government announces its remuneration policy at last

Sarah Wilson — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 18:08:43 +0000

Guest post by Damien Knight, Director, MM&K Ltd The Coalition Government, through the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), has been consulting regularly since September 2011...

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10% pay increases for CEOs – FTSE100 Top pay reaches £4.8 million

Sarah Wilson — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 08:15:42 +0000

The Manifest/MM&K Executive Director Total Remuneration Survey for 2012 was launched at a seminar in London on Tuesday, 12th June. The Manifest/MM&K Survey is the most authoritative and up...

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Peak Season for Share Voting Professionals – in Westminster

Paul Hewitt — Sun, 27 May 2012 21:47:47 +0000

Never mind the peak meeting season, the past few days has seen a flurry of activity in Westminster which will have a bearing on aspects of shareholder voting and corporate governance in the UK. On...

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Deutsche Bank – why you actually might not want to vote at all

Paul Hewitt — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:12:57 +0000

The upcoming AGM of Deutsche Bank AG is looming large in many shareholders minds now. With the long running succession planning debate at the company leading some proxy advisors to publicly recommend...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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