Shareholder rights are under increasing pressure from state, regulatory, and legal challenges. Opponents of responsible business want to limit shareholders’ ability to engage companies through the U.S. shareholder proposal process and seek professional advice from proxy advisors. This webinar highlights practical steps to protect shareholders’ ability to communicate directly with companies on financially relevant issues through proxy voting and other engagement forums. Expert panelists discuss how this direct dialogue with companies has led to stronger business practices in overall strategy, risk management, and board oversight.
Specifically, panelists explore:
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission policy developments related to no-action letters, mandatory arbitration, and planned rulemaking (i.e., Rule 14a-8).
A U.S. administration executive order targeting the proxy advisor industry and a Federal Trade Commission probe of proxy advisors’ practices.
Texas, Delaware, and other state actions aimed at limiting investors’ ability to submit shareholder proposals at companies.
Ongoing litigation that could dismantle the U.S. shareholder engagement process.
This is moderated by Steven M. Rothstein, Chief Program Officer, Ceres, who also oversees the Freedom to Invest initiative.