Governance

Proxy voting error results in Emeco AGM double-count

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 9 MAR 2012  |  NEWS
A double-counting of proxy votes by a custodial shareholder that led to an initial, apparent vote of 26.4% against the remuneration report of heavy earthmoving equipment solution provider Emeco highlights flaws in the proxy voting system. Because of ...

GRI releases oil and gas sector guidance

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 2 MAR 2012  |  NEWS
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has released a new guidance for the oil and gas sector, providing a framework for disclosure of sustainability performance on metrics including environmental management, health and safety and emergency preparedness.

AMP Capital, VFMC publish 2011 proxy voting record

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 29 FEB 2012  |  NEWS
Concerns over executive remuneration and incentive plans led institutional investors AMP Capital and the Victorian Funds Management Corporation (VMFC) to cast proxy votes against resolutions during 2011.

Proposed disclosure measures for corporate bonus clawbacks

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 22 FEB 2012  |  NEWS
Listed companies will be required to disclose to shareholders the steps they have taken to clawback bonuses and other forms of remuneration if they were the result of a material misstatement in the company's financial statements, under proposed legislation ...

Corporate Social Responsibility as driver of innovation

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 17 FEB 2012  |  NEWS
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) can be a vehicle for innovation and not just risk mitigation, and the challenge for CSR practitioners is to find the areas where businesses can use social needs as a source of profit generation.

Managing regulatory impacts priority for CSR practitioners

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 17 FEB 2012  |  NEWS
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs are predominately driven by the view that its value is derived from enhancing corporate reputation, reducing risk and facilitating regulatory compliance, according to the Australian Centre for Corporate ...

Chloe Munro named head of Clean Energy Regulator

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 10 FEB 2012  |  NEWS
Chloe Munro has been appointed chair and chief executive officer of the Clean Energy Regulator.

Call for working group on shareholder resolution reform

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 10 FEB 2012  |  NEWS
Ethinvest, an investment advisory firm, is forming a working group to lobby for changes to address what the managing director calls a lack of clarity around the process of putting shareholder resolutions to an annual general meeting (AGM).

Ken Henry to speak at ACCSR annual conference

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 8 FEB 2012  |  NEWS
Former Treasury Secretary Ken Henry will give a keynote address at the Australian Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility (ACCSR)'s fifth annual conference on the state of corporate social responsible in Australia.

Finsia: ESG consistent with superannuation fiduciary duties

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 3 FEB 2012  |  NEWS
Integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into investment processes is "entirely consistent" with the fiduciary duties of superannuation trustees, the Financial Services Institute of Australasia (Finsia) said in a newly published ...