Governance and stewardship news

Banks holding shares on behalf of clients are still responsible for human rights due diligence at the companies whose shares they hold, according to the UN.

The Taskforce on Pension Scheme Voting Implementation (TPSVI) has published new recommendations to give pension savers a voice in how their savings are being looked after and encourages asset managers to engage with their clients.

Responding to Minerva's vital contributions to the new pooled fund proxy voting service from DWS, Investment Week has announced Minerva as the winner of the 'Best Sustainable & ESG Investment Initiative' for 2021.

With Australian AGM season around the corner, ESG issues look set to take centre stage as shareholder activism on environmental and social issues increases. This blog article is based on analysis from Minerva’s upcoming Australia Peak Season Preview briefing – contact hello@minerva.info for more information.

In an announcement on 30 September, the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) listed 30 individuals from the financial services, corporate, and consultancy sectors who will make up the taskforce's committees.

Investors in Japanese listed companies pushed boards on director independence, diversity, and climate change in this year's proxy voting season, according to a new review.

A group of leading Asian institutions with $4trn under management have launched a new collaboration aiming to lead the continent's push for decarbonisation in line with the 2015 Paris Agreement.

The Council of Institutional Investors (CII) has challenged the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) planned changes to shareholder proposal rules.

The Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) has published the ‘Green Claims Code’, containing guidance principles to assist businesses in complying with consumer protection law and avoid making misleading environmental claims. A full review of misleading claims will be conducted by the CMA at the beginning of 2022.

Minerva Analytics and our strategic partners at Solactive are proud to announce we are founding members of the Net Zero Financial Service Provider Alliance (NZFSAP).

Over 70% of listed, high-polluting companies around the world failed to adequately account for climate-related risks in their financial statements last year, according to research coordinated by the Climate Accounting Project (CAP) and issued by Carbon Tracker.

Barriers to addressing human rights breaches in investment pipelines remain despite significant strides made over the past decade, a UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights report has found.

The European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) has outlined its proposals for EU-wide sustainability reporting standards.

The Climate Disclosure Standards Board (CDSB) has launched a consultation on guidance for biodiversity-related disclosures.

Global Principles for Sustainable Securities Lending (Global PSSL) has published its revised and updated standards for sustainable securities lending, alongside 17 opening signatories - including Minerva Analytics.