The ICGN CEO remarks on ICGN’s Proxy Season Round-up
- Type: News / press release
Modern slavery in all its forms, has climbed to the top of the legislative agenda in a dozen major jurisdictions worldwide. Governments are looking for a 'whole-of-society' response with investors and companies at the centre. In this response to the Australian Government's review of its 2018 Modern Slavery Act, ICGN advances the key role that corporate governance and enhanced accountability must play to fight this global scourge.
Type: News / press releaseICGN appreciates the Call for Evidence of SRD2 related to provisions on proxy advisors and the investment chain, which was issued to seek comments of relevance to investors, issuers whose shares are listed in Europe, intermediaries and proxy advisors.
Type: News / press releaseICGN is pleased to submit our comments on the Draft Revision of Cabinet Office Ordinance on Sustainability and Corporate Governance Disclosures (“Ordinance”).
Type: News / press releaseIn the last few years, the financial and systemic risks of biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation have risen to the top of the investor agenda. Destroying nature means destroying the natural capital upon which our economy is based. And the links to climate change are complex and deep. As the world gathers in Montreal to halt biodiversity loss and begin the process of restoring ecosystems, ICGN is releasing our recommendations to investors, companies, boards of directors, auditors and governments.
Type: News / press release , tagged withTagsThe International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN) is pleased to submit this letter to the Financial Services Agency (FSA) regarding quarterly corporate reporting requirements which, we understand, is under discussion at the Disclosure Working Group (DWG) convened by the FSA.
Type: News / press releaseMany businesses have been and are currently experiencing frequent or long-lasting supply chain disruptions for a variety of reasons, such as the recent Covid-related restrictions, labour shortages, geopolitical risks, or sanctions against third-party suppliers, often beyond their control. While these disruptions may not have been able to be averted, we believe that engaged Board oversight of supply chain risk and opportunity management can lead to better planning and ultimately better preparedness of companies in the face of such disruptions.
This Viewpoint sets out investor expectations regarding Board oversight of the company’s supply chain, with a view to supporting the Board’s objective of creating long-term value for investors and relevant stakeholders and protecting its workforce.
The ICGN Global Governance Principles tie a Board’s responsibilities of oversight for a company’s entire supply chain, not only as the company addresses current supply chain deficiencies, but to ensure that going forward, a comprehensive strategy is in place that accounts for the requirements of the workforce, investors, and relevant stakeholders.
The Viewpoint provides a state of play and section on implementing supply chain oversight to meet investor expectations. It also includes examples of successful supply chain oversight, including a Japanese company that has developed a supply chain plan by backcasting,[1]envisioning the ideal situation in 2050 from the perspectives of both business and social issues and reverse engineering the steps needed to get there. While identifying the need for consolidation of production sites and the mid-term review of the procurement policy from the business perspective, the evaluation of suppliers with human rights risks and power-saving initiatives is incorporated into the review plan for production/procurement approach.Type: News / press releaseBiodiversity loss has jumped onto the global agenda. Scientists, economists, policy-makers, corporate boards and investment institutions increasingly recognise humanity's role in driving biodiversity loss and how it impairs ecosystem services and damages the natural capital upon which our economy is based.
As we enter what some call the Sixth Mass Extinction, describing the risks presented as daunting may be an understatement. We need game-changers: concepts, processes, strategies, frameworks and legal regimes that will change how the economy and capital markets interact with the environment.
In this viewpoint, ICGN surveys the field and identifies 10 game-changing initiatives that can allow us to move rapidly and intentionally to tackle this challenge. We also provide ten sets of questions for boards to consider and for investment stewardship teams to use for engaging the companies in their portfolios.
It is early days for addressing this challenge. But efforts are ramping up quickly. Our hope is that this viewpoint can help boards and investors understand the impressive efforts underway and determine where and how they can get started.Type: News / press release , tagged withICGN appreciates the need to consider labelling requirements to distinguish sustainable investment products based on the objective they are seeking to achieve. Investors will likely search for investment products that meet their needs and keywords will be useful. It would be helpful to add that the labels are intended to highlight the most advanced sustainability-focused investment strategy, followed by the two other tiers.
Type: News / press releaseICGN welcomes the substantive draft edits as described in the Targeted update of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and their Implementation Procedures published in 2011.
Type: News / press release