Anne-Marie Clarke
Head of Corporate Governance
This month we are excited to introduce our new series “A conversation with...”. Throughout the year we will be taking the opportunity to speak with different people to hear their views and perspectives on a range of interesting topics.
Since our last update we’ve announced our 8 March webinar “AGM – 2023 themes that will drive voting outcomes”. If you haven’t registered already, please click on this link.
And, as always, if you would like to know more about the CGPro Network - or require support and advice on any Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) topic -, please do contact us here or by email here - cgpronetwork@equiniti.com.
To access the Governance Update Series, please visit here.
A conversation with Lisa Graham, EQ’s Head of Meeting Management
I recently took the time to speak with Lisa Graham, EQ’s Head of Meeting Management. So, do take a few minutes out of your day to get some useful insights and facts to help you with the upcoming shareholder meeting season.
Want to know more? We’ll be picking up on some of these themes again in our webinar on 8 March. This session will not be recorded, so register now to ensure you don’t miss out.
You may also be interested in our recent EQ Hybrid AGM showcase. It includes insights from Lisa and colleagues into the shareholder experience. It also details the key elements of a hybrid meeting. Click here to find out more.
WATCH: A conversation with... Lisa Graham
Early signs of the 2023 season
We are a few weeks into 2023 and are beginning to see areas of focus. For those with 31 December year-ends, activity levels are drawing to a close on remuneration policy consultations. Finalised policies and disclosures are nearing completion. Moving onto share authorities, we see companies considering the new PEG Statement of Principles for disapplication of pre-emption rights.
What is clear is that the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and climate change is becoming an embedded topic of discussion and disclosure. It remains to be seen whether 2023 will be a year of increased advisory resolutions put to the vote around climate change. We wait to see whether metrics in executive variable remuneration programmes will include those related to climate change, or broader ESG metrics.
As always, we are analysing many investor policy updates and advising our clients on topics of interest. Understanding investor policies on these key themes is important in predicting particular areas in which voting outcomes could be less than expected. Disclosures and rationale are key to explaining any areas of potential concern. Where appropriate, engagement to share all perspectives on these matters can be a useful mechanism to bring together a common understanding.
Round-up
We are seeing the key themes coming through and will discuss these further on our 8 March webinar. It will be an opportunity to explore these themes in greater detail, to take into consideration example company, investor, and proxy advisory agency perspectives. If you would like to join us, please click here to register for your place.
We’ll soon be back for some further exploration. Until then, best of luck to everyone heading into the 2023 proxy season. Should you like to speak to us about how EQ Advisory could support you, please contact us here.
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