This year investors are emphasizing climate risk as part of their push to get companies to address global warming, while treading more carefully around issues related to pay linked to sustainability goals, according to market watcher. …This year so far, investors have filed 19 climate change-related resolutions that mention climate risk at S&P 500 companies… Continue reading Climate Resolutions See Sustained Support, Despite ESG Backlash
Tag: Shareholder Proposals
Political Proposals Pile Onto Proxies
A number of boards are facing votes related to their companies’ political activities this year as the temperature surrounding companies in the political sphere keeps heating up. Already this year, shareholders have voted on two proposals as big companies — Hewlett Packard Enterprise and The Walt Disney Company — related to political activity, which garnered… Continue reading Political Proposals Pile Onto Proxies
Labor Issues Poised to Trigger More Oversight Lawsuits
Shareholder proposals aimed at labor-related issues have more than tripled over the last year, bringing with them additional risks for boards and companies. The growing spotlight on labor could bring battles that unfold on proxies or in court — and a recent Delaware Chancery Court case could further the trend. In 2022, shareholders across all… Continue reading Labor Issues Poised to Trigger More Oversight Lawsuits
Shareholders Ratchet Up Pressure on Labor-Related Proposals
Labor-related shareholder proposals are on the rise with initiatives aimed at working conditions more than tripling last year. These resolutions have received a high average rate of support, and investors are maintaining pressure on the subject. Therefore, sources say, directors should view these measures with prudence. …Shareholders filed at least 29 proposals in 2022 related… Continue reading Shareholders Ratchet Up Pressure on Labor-Related Proposals
Companies Under Fire Over Plastic Use
Plastic use and the risks associated with it are garnering more heat from stakeholder groups, including shareholders, the federal government, the United Nations and ESG accounting standard setters, which have targeted single-use plastics. Boards should ensure that appropriate internal stakeholders are prepared for increased focus on the issue, which has generated popular shareholder proposals this… Continue reading Companies Under Fire Over Plastic Use
Special Meeting Proposals Almost Doubled in 2022
The number of shareholder proposals requesting the ability to call a special meeting appears to have almost doubled this proxy season, according to new data from shareholder services provider Georgeson. The spike in proposals related to special meetings reflects continued efforts by shareholders to make it easier to have more of a say on certain… Continue reading Special Meeting Proposals Almost Doubled in 2022
Many New Climate Proposals Flew Too Close to the Sun
The climate-change related shareholder proposals popping up in 2022 proxies are far more prescriptive or “constraining” than the ones BlackRock supported last year, the asset manager said in a report earlier this month, noting they “may not promote long-term shareholder value.” Sources say that’s a key reason many climate proposals have struggled to get the… Continue reading Many New Climate Proposals Flew Too Close to the Sun
E+S Proposals Soar as Covid-19 Upends Proxy Season
The coronavirus pandemic has turned investor dialogue upside down ascompanies go dark on negotiations and investors reset priorities at the start of an unprecedented proxy season.
Shareholders have filed a host of proposals for the 2020 proxy season, once again largely focusing on environmental and social issues. Indeed, issues such as climate change, gender pay equity and political spending are cropping up in proxies, although sources say investors may be hesitant to vote for proposals as companies focus efforts on navigating the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to a recent report from Proxy Impact and As You Sow, proponents filed 429 proposals on ESG issues for the 2020 proxy season as of February 21, up from 366 last year. Most of the proposals (53%) involved social issues; 31%, environmental issues; and 16%, governance or other issues.
However, it is early in the season. Only 96 proposals appeared in proxy statements at 59 Russell 3000 companies as of April 3, according to data from public company intelligence provider MyLogIQ. Of those, 24 have gone to a vote and four have passed.