Governance in Brief – June 3, 2021
A Dutch court has ordered Royal Dutch Shell (“Shell”) to reduce its CO2 emissions by net 45% by the end of 2030. The lawsuit was filed in April 2019 by NGO Milieudefensie and claims that Shell is “misleading the general public with regard to the (un)sustainability of its policies” and set “insufficient” climate ambitions.
Governance in Brief – June 3, 2021
A Dutch court has ordered Royal Dutch Shell (“Shell”) to reduce its CO2 emissions by net 45% by the end of 2030. The lawsuit was filed in April 2019 by NGO Milieudefensie and claims that Shell is “misleading the general public with regard to the (un)sustainability of its policies” and set “insufficient” climate ambitions.
Governance in Brief – April 15, 2021
Credit Suisse has announced far-reaching changes following the collapse of U.S. hedge fund Archegos Capital Management and UK supply chain finance company Greensill Capital. Archegos’ failure to meet margin commitments will cost Credit Suisse USD 4.7 billion, with the lender having liquidated USD 10 billion worth of funds managed with Greensill.
Governance in Brief – April 01, 2021
The UK Government has launched a public consultation on proposed measures to improve the audit and governance regimes of public interest entities. The process was prompted by a spate of corporate failures such as those seen at Carillion and Thomas Cook. The proposals address audit purpose and scope, auditing market competitiveness, director accountability, and the creation of a new regulator with increased powers
Governance in Brief – Mar 25, 2021
Starbucks shareholders revolt over executive pay Starbucks faced a rare rebuke at its 2021 AGM, where its advisory say-on-pay resolution was rejected following opposition by 53% of votes cast. The executive pay proposal included two special one-time retention awards granted in December 2019
Governance in Brief – Mar 11, 2021
A recent review commissioned by HM Treasury recommends a slew of measures aimed at boosting the attractiveness of the post-Brexit London Stock Exchange as an IPO destination. Under the recommendations, the LSE premium listing segment would allow dual class share structures with a maximum 20:1 voting rights differential for up to five years post-IPO.
Governance in Brief – Mar 11, 2021
A Delaware court has invalidated a poison pill that had been adopted by U.S. energy firm The Williams Companies in March 2020. While poison pills have been traditionally conceived of as takeover protections, Williams’ pill is meant to deter activist campaigns by imposing substantial dilution on any shareholder acquiring a specified stake without prior board approval.
Governance in Brief – Feb 25, 2021
The Carlyle Group has secured a USD 4.1 billion credit line that it describes as “the largest ESG-linked private equity credit facility in the US…and the first to focus exclusively on advancing board diversity.” The facility’s price of debt will be dependent on the firm achieving its goal of 30% board diversity across its portfolio companies within two years of ownership.
Governance in Brief – Feb 18, 2021
Regulatory inquiry calls out governance failures at Crown Resorts Four Crown Resorts directors, including the CEO, have resigned after a report commissioned by New South Wales (“NSW”) authorities found “serious corporate failures” at the firm and deemed it unsuitable to hold a license for its Barangaroo casino.
Governance in Brief – Feb 11, 2021
Investors push for leadership and strategy shift at Exxon More than 135 investors, with USD 2.2 trillion in assets, have teamed up to push Exxon to make leadership changes and to increase its focus on clean energy transition. The investors, acting under the “Coalition United for a Responsible Exxon” banner, expressed concern over the company’s current strategy of basing its upstream investments on an assumption of future price and demand increases for oil and gas.
Governance in Brief – Feb 04, 2021
Apollo Global Management to overhaul corporate governance On January 25, US private equity firm Apollo Global Management announced far-reaching changes to its corporate governance. The firm will separate the Chairman and CEO roles held by co-founder Leon Black, who will stay on as Chairman while co-founder Marc Rowan takes over as CEO.