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Mercer quizzes fund managers over controversial tar sands BP/Shell AGM resolutions

Mercer quizzes fund managers over controversial tar sands BP/Shell AGM resolutions

Consultant asks managers to indicate which way they will vote and why.

Swedish govt fund vows to vote down short-term excessive bonuses

Swedish govt fund vows to vote down short-term excessive bonuses

Board pressure to be applied on sustainability and female representation.

Former New York pensions CIO pleads guilty to fund asset corruption

Former New York pensions CIO pleads guilty to fund asset corruption

Decisions were driven by politics and greed, says NY state Attorney General.

UK MPs call for Parliament pension fund to back investor tar sands campaign

UK MPs call for Parliament pension fund to back investor tar sands campaign

Call for Parliament fund to get active with its share voting rights.

US pension fund adds to exec comp lawsuits against Goldman Sachs

US pension fund adds to exec comp lawsuits against Goldman Sachs

Lawsuit alleges corporate waste over Goldman compensation pool.

Norwegian Global Fund hires specialist water manager

Norwegian Global Fund hires specialist water manager

Water Asset Management picks up undisclosed sum for investment brief.

Giant Norway fund relaxes controversial exclusion policy

Giant Norway fund relaxes controversial exclusion policy

Norges Bank to favour initial lobbying engagement where possible.

UK trades unions and NGOs unite for pension fund e-mail campaign over BP/Shell tar sands

UK trades unions and NGOs unite for pension fund e-mail campaign over BP/Shell tar sands

Website lists pension funds and managers with shares in oil giants.

Shell freezes exec salaries and includes sustainability performance after shareholder pressure

Shell freezes exec salaries and includes sustainability performance after shareholder pressure

Oil giant cites ‘open and constructive’ shareholder dialogue

UNPRI coalition targets 86 major companies on Global Compact failure

UNPRI coalition targets 86 major companies on Global Compact failure

Group targets reporting “laggards” that risk ejection.

Myners plans ‘long-only, long-term’ investor governance activist lobby group

Myners plans ‘long-only, long-term’ investor governance activist lobby group

NAPF launches governance guidelines in response to governance debate

Church of England funds sell millions in Vedanta shares boycott

Church of England funds sell millions in Vedanta shares boycott

Blacklisting follows failed engagement on human rights concerns.

TIAA-CREF calls for proactive institutional investors to prevent market crises

TIAA-CREF calls for proactive institutional investors to prevent market crises

Policy paper looks at lessons learned from financial crises.

Institutional investors input to new India governance recommendations

Institutional investors input to new India governance recommendations

White paper on shareholder rights and audit issued by Asian Corporate Governance Association

Norwegian fund sells off euro1.8bn in tobacco shares after government ban

Norwegian fund sells off euro1.8bn in tobacco shares after government ban

Ministry of finance approves tobacco manufacturer exclusion.

UK investor Stewardship Code consultation kicks off, backs long-term mandate review

UK investor Stewardship Code consultation kicks off, backs long-term mandate review

Financial Reporting Council sounds out investors on long-term performance for ‘market stability’

Institutional shareholders to quiz Shell board over Canadian oil sands at AGM

Institutional shareholders to quiz Shell board over Canadian oil sands at AGM

FairPensions co-ordinates resolution for May 18 shareholder meet.

Gore and Soros lead post Copenhagen investor gathering

Gore and Soros lead post Copenhagen investor gathering

UN hosts discussion on investments needed to solve climate change.

CalSTRS to push money managers on integrating climate risk into investment and voting

CalSTRS to push money managers on integrating climate risk into investment and voting

Report by Ceres says 71% of fund managers ignore potential climate risks.

Hewitt Associates settles in valuation lawsuit brought by Philips UK pension fund

Hewitt Associates settles in valuation lawsuit brought by Philips UK pension fund

Case illustrative of trend for funds to sue advisors over valuations.

TIAA-CREF sells PetroChina and Sudan-linked companies in Darfur protest

TIAA-CREF sells PetroChina and Sudan-linked companies in Darfur protest

US pension fund furthers dialogue with Malaysia’s Petronas.

Pension funds plan UK High Court ‘class-action’ style test suit against RBS

Pension funds plan UK High Court ‘class-action’ style test suit against RBS

North Yorkshire and Merseyside wait for legal advice on lawsuit.

Fund manager to €280bn Norway scheme in major governance hires

Fund manager to €280bn Norway scheme in major governance hires

Norges Bank Investment Management recruits head of core corporate governance and related analysts.

Dutch corporate funds progress on ESG but fall short of parents’ CSR policies: report

Dutch corporate funds progress on ESG but fall short of parents’ CSR policies: report

Benchmark compares company funds with industry-wide and public schemes.

US investors welcome Goldman Sachs’ ‘tipping point’ on say-on-pay

US investors welcome Goldman Sachs’ ‘tipping point’ on say-on-pay

Top 30 Goldman directors to take bonuses in shares and be subject to claw-back.

ESG improvements, but ‘striking’ disparity between best and worst UK managers: FairPensions

ESG improvements, but ‘striking’ disparity between best and worst UK managers: FairPensions

Environmental and social take up lags major governance improvements.

Exclusions, engagements and tax evasions top Norwegian Govt fund review

Exclusions, engagements and tax evasions top Norwegian Govt fund review

Ministry of Finance formally launches consultation and outlines debate for future responsible investment strategy.

Total hit as investors pull millions over Burma links

Total hit as investors pull millions over Burma links

Human rights campaigners list other companies with business in the military-led country.

RI global news round up

The RI news you may have missed this week.

$100bn investor coalition fights SEC on shareholder resolutions

$100bn investor coalition fights SEC on shareholder resolutions

Group aims to galvanise 500 institutional investors and thousands of retail investors and flood the SEC with e-mails

Hermes fund chief Anson quits

Hermes fund chief Anson quits

Former CalPERS CIO returns to the US after 18 months at UK activist manager

CalPERS calls for support on US director nominations

CalPERS calls for support on US director nominations

US superfund has Hewlett-Packard and UnitedHealth Group in its sights

Corporate governance agencies: the need for transparent voting decisions

Corporate governance agencies: the need for transparent voting decisions

Shouldn’t proxy voting groups be held to the same accountability as the corporates they challenge?

Could the wisdom of crowds help investor and regulator madness on governance and ownership?

Could the wisdom of crowds help investor and regulator madness on governance and ownership?

An anonymous survey of investor concerns might be the basis for neutral dialogue to prevent future systemic crises.

What hope for better investor ‘stewardship’ in Asia?

What hope for better investor ‘stewardship’ in Asia?

Why the ability of management to articulate their approach to governance and the environment is very revealing.

ERAFP chief talks about the growth of France’s €6.5bn 100% SRI pension fund

ERAFP chief talks about the growth of France’s €6.5bn 100% SRI pension fund

Asset diversification and more corporate activism top the to-do list of ERAFP managing director, Philippe Desfossés

Canadian investors rise to RI challenge despite legal limbo

Canadian investors rise to RI challenge despite legal limbo

Support for ESG considerations high, but caution on fiduciary responsibilities.

Bringing human rights into pension finance. Interview with Gro Nystuen, Norway Govt Pension Fund

Bringing human rights into pension finance. Interview with Gro Nystuen, Norway Govt Pension Fund

The chair of the Council of Ethics talks about exclusions, international norms and why Norway’s fund giant has become an ethical pensions leader.

Rachel Kyte, IFC: P8, Who cares wins and green investing in developing countries

Rachel Kyte, IFC: P8, Who cares wins and green investing in developing countries

IFC leads call for investor action to spur on Copenhagen agreement this year.

Why the fund management ownership model has failed

Why the fund management ownership model has failed

If pension funds want good governance they will have to invest in it.

Crisis to opportunity: policy suggestions for the inauguration of the Obama administration

Crisis to opportunity: policy suggestions for the inauguration of the Obama administration

Stronger governance, investor rights and a green-based economic revival.

Could institutional investors have prevented the credit crisis?

Could institutional investors have prevented the credit crisis?

Did a failure of active ownership contribute and if so, how can it be remedied?

Ethos’ six-month campaign: a new tactic in European say-on-pay

Ethos’ six-month campaign: a new tactic in European say-on-pay

Swiss investors adopt US-style publicity strategy to shame companies into action.

France’s FRR: blue skies thinking on engagement and ESG manager selection

France’s FRR: blue skies thinking on engagement and ESG manager selection

Reserve fund breaks the mould with planned corporate engagements and forthcoming ESG advisory hire.

Mn Services: The former Dutch politician now engaging with Wal-Mart

Mn Services: The former Dutch politician now engaging with Wal-Mart

RI talks to Kris Douma, who leads the governance of 2000 companies worldwide for Mn Services, the Dutch pension fund manager.

UN PRI Seoul special: interview with Donald Macdonald, PRI chair

UN PRI Seoul special: interview with Donald Macdonald, PRI chair

PRI signatories gather in Seoul for the annual progress meeting of the huge investor initiative.

Investor appeal for ‘packaged’ sustainability products: TBLI Asia report

Investor appeal for ‘packaged’ sustainability products: TBLI Asia report

Investors, entrepreneurs and NGOs converge on Bangkok for TBLI Asia 2008.

Asia’s state pension funds: en route to better governance

Asia’s state pension funds: en route to better governance

Funds in China, Korea and Thailand break ground on voting and corporate accountability, but there are still areas to develop.

Exxon and HSBC: hollow victories on pay and governance

Exxon and HSBC: hollow victories on pay and governance

Why important AGMs this week at ExxonMobil and HSBC will end up asking more questions than answers.

The importance of responsible investment: Views from the New Zealand Superannuation Fund

The importance of responsible investment: Views from the New Zealand Superannuation Fund

How New Zealand runs its NZ$13.5 bn (€6.8bn) national pension fund to protect the country’s reputation.

Dutch transport funds lay SRI tracks

Dutch transport funds lay SRI tracks

SPF Beheer outlines move from best-in-class to engagement.

Why sovereign wealth funds have provoked schizophrenia in western markets

Why sovereign wealth funds have provoked schizophrenia in western markets

Market saviours or dangerous political investors? Sovereign wealth funds have got governments in a funk.

US Special: Investors rally on say-on-pay and sub-prime votes

US Special: Investors rally on say-on-pay and sub-prime votes

Compensation concerns in focus as US meeting season looms.

Metallrente shows the way on RI in Germany

Metallrente shows the way on RI in Germany

Country’s fastest growing fund explains why RI is a gradual but growing process amongst German peers.

How a TV documentary on cluster bombs became an ESG benchmark

How a TV documentary on cluster bombs became an ESG benchmark

New ranking compares Dutch pension funds on pollution and human rights issues.

Environment Agency plans sequel to £1.5bn SRI success

Environment Agency plans sequel to £1.5bn SRI success

Fund investment committee to consider sweating the assets to take advantage of strong performance at lower risk.

Responsible pensions in BP pipeline

Responsible pensions in BP pipeline

Sally Bridgeland, CEO of BT pension trustees explains how the oil and gas company is exploring SRI within the scheme.

The lobby group fighting to make pensions fair

The lobby group fighting to make pensions fair

Alex van der Velden, executive director of FairPensions talks disinvestment, defined contribution, and benchmarking pension funds and asset managers for sustainability.

Sweden’s AP funds’ ethical umbrella

Sweden’s AP funds’ ethical umbrella

Council gives Swedish state funds responsible investment muscle.

ABP’s total responsible investment strategy

Rob Lake, senior portfolio manager for environmental, social and governance at ABP, the €221bn ($311bn) pension fund for Dutch civil servants, talks clean tech, engagement and cluster bombs.

The Janus-faced foreign investors in China

The Janus-faced foreign investors in China

Greenpeace says investors in China must act responsibly before we all pay the price.

Why being responsible does not mean underperforming in SE Asia

Why being responsible does not mean underperforming in SE Asia

Investment opportunities are ripe, but it pays to know the CSR terrain.

NYCERS: walkin’ the activist walk

NYCERS: walkin’ the activist walk

Michael Musuraca explains how the New York City Employees fund got active.

Good credit after bad

Good credit after bad

The subprime crisis shows the value of extra financial research.

USS shows enterprise in engagement

USS shows enterprise in engagement

David Russell, co-head of Responsible Investment at the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), the £31bn (€46bn) second largest UK pension fund, explains how its SRI strategy is not just about risk but also reward.

Can ‘Made in China’ be responsible?

Can ‘Made in China’ be responsible?

Theme of the month: Why investors must help clean up South East Asia’s companies.

The RI interview: Bob Monks

The RI interview: Bob Monks

One of the world’s most prominent corporate governance activists since the 1970s, Bob Monks talks about engagement, hedge fund activists, private equity and why ‘discouraged’ is not part of his vocabulary.