Governance and stewardship news

Minerva has published its review of shareholder voting at the UK’s top 350 companies in the first half of the year. The analysis shows that average shareholder dissent in the first half of 2021 has continued the upward trend seen in recent years.

The chair of the US Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) has asked staff to develop a mandatory climate risk disclosure rule for listed companies.

Providers of data and ratings for environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors could come under an explicit international regulatory framework to ensure consistency, according to a new report from the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO).

US President Joe Biden has signed an executive order targeted at clamping down on “anti-competitive” practices in the corporate world and labour markets.

UK-based asset owners have warned that the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) portfolio alignment proposals could undermine efforts to transition to a low carbon economy.

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has hit out at “poor quality” product applications for ESG funds and set out detailed guidance for fund managers.

Businesses that encourage boardroom gender diversity achieve better financial results, new research has found.

With Australian proxy season preparations now underway, the Australian federal authorities are looking to introduce a public register of companies that use the government’s JobKeeper programme. Debates around the proposed bill centre over the impact and fairness of Covid furlough support and a lack of corporate transparency over the uptake and use of wage subsidies.

It may be “some time” before directors face charges for failings on climate risks despite the introduction of new reporting rules in this area, a leading expert has said.

The use of ESG integration strategies have increased by 15.4% year on year in Japan, despite a decrease in the country’s sustainable investment balance, a Japan Sustainable Investment Forum (SIF) White Paper has found.

This week, Minerva CEO Sarah Wilson spoke to Mallowstreet Editor Sandra Wolf for a feature on the growing reporting burden facing UK pension schemes.