Resource Center

Netflix ‘s shareholders expressed discontent over the streaming giant’s governance structure and unresponsiveness towards past shareholder proposals.

The U.S. SEC will not enforce the changes to its proxy advisory regulations that it adopted in July 2020. Moreover, it will consider “further regulatory action” following a review of both these rules and related guidance documents issued in 2019.

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.

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.

Mizuho Financial Group, Japan's third largest bank by assets, will cease financing new thermal coal mining projects starting June 1.

The US 2021 proxy season has seen an early surge in failed say-on-pay votes amidst greater scrutiny on executive compensation.

The Hong Kong Stock Exchange has issued a consultation paper covering proposed amendments to its Corporate Governance Code and related listing rules

Canadian National Railway (“CN”) has made an unsolicited bid to acquire U.S. rail carrier Kansas City Southern (“KCS”), sparking a bidding war with its largest domestic competitor Canadian Pacific Railway (“CP”).

Royal Dutch Shell’s May 18 AGM agenda includes an advisory vote on the company’s “Energy Transition Strategy,” which sets a goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.

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.

The shares of UK-based food delivery firm Deliveroo Holdings Plc dropped around 30% in their trading debut on the London Stock Exchange (“LSE”), on the back of investor concerns over the company’s business model and ownership structure.

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

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

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.

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.

Petrobras will hold an EGM to vote on a proposal by the Brazilian federal government, which controls 50.5% of voting rights, to remove CEO Roberto Castello Branco from the board and replace him in this capacity with former military general Joaquim Silva e Luna.

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.

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.

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.

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.