International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN)’s Post

We will be starting the ICGN AGM at 14:15, back in the main auditorium. Only ICGN Members can vote at the meeting, but non-members are welcome to attend. All AGM papers are available at: https://lnkd.in/e_9g8AKe and the results of voting will be shared following the meeting. Following the AGM, we will be presenting the winners of the ICGN Global Stewardship Disclosure Awards 2024! #stewardship #governance #corpgov #ICGN2024 #investors #assetowners #assetmanagers

ICGN CEO Jen Sisson is on stage now, giving her Welcome Remarks and reflecting on the current stewardship landscape: "We're seeing a renewed focus on the value driver that stewardship can be" and that with updates to the UK and Japan Stewardship Codes, "it's also a time of opportunity". Investors and boards should all be on the same team "so stewardship shouldn't be combatative...we need honest, open dialogue". #GSF #stewardship #governance #corpgov #ICGN2024 #investors #assetowners #assetmanagers

Thanks to Katie Schmitz Eulitt, INSEAD MBA, GCB.D for that really useful update on the next round of #ISSB standard-setting! Her conversation with Jen Sisson covered questions including how the adoption of S1 and S2 is going, the scope of new research projects on Human Capital Management, BEES and enhancements to the SASB Standards, the link with TCFD and how Katie sees the future of ISSB standards. Jen emphasised ICGN's support for the ISSB standards and their adoption in as many markets as possible, in as complete a form as possible; this is reflected in recent consultation responses on Chile, Hong Kong and Switzerland (all available at: https://lnkd.in/drUVA8kx). That's important to creating a global benchmark and genuinely comparable disclosures, which investors are the main users of. Katie noted that it's "critically important for investor voices to be heard" in the standard-setting and adoption process; we encourage members to engage and give their feedback as investors, and will be holding an ICGN Member roundtable with the ISSB in Tokyo in November. The recording of today's ICGN Interview will be available to all ICGN Members shortly at: https://lnkd.in/eCyKRyTn (login required) #governance #corpgov #stewardship #investors #assetowners #assetmanagers #standards #ecosystems #humancapital #biodiversity #membership #membershipbenefits #tokyo #nihon

ICGN Members are organisations from the investment and corporate community who are passionate about preserving and enhancing long-term value. Led by investors responsible for assets under management of around US$77 trillion, ICGN advances the highest standards of corporate governance and investor stewardship worldwide in pursuit of long-term value creation, contributing to sustainable economies, societies, and the environment. All ICGN Members benefit from: - Access to all ICGN responses and comment letters, shared in advance wherever possible, to inform your own positions - Joining country-specific calls to discuss issues and trends in your region - Regular Policy newsletters, monitoring key regulatory announcements and public consultations globally - Applying to join Policy Committees, helping to advance global standards - Building in-house capability and capacity with our bespoke training delivery - Discounts on ICGN events and professional development, plus exclusive access to recordings and transcripts of all our events - ICGN Interviews, our member-exclusive conversations with regulators and standard-setters. Find out more about membership could benefit your organisation: https://lnkd.in/eYTzE6mz or contact Bradley Rood. #assetmanagers #assetowners #investors #governance #corpgov #stewardship #membership #membershipbenefits

Private funds are amongst the latest options emerging on the wealth and investment scene, utilised by sophisticated investors, including UHNWs and family offices. Our latest white paper, The IQ-EQ Guide to Private Funds: Why, When, and Where, delves into the importance of private funds and when (and why) a private fund should be used and the preferred jurisdictions to set one up. Click here to learn more: https://lnkd.in/ebSb_F7q #oneiqeq #familyoffice #privatefunds Ilias Georgopoulos, Alex Dean, Jacques Vermeulen, Romain Mifsud, David J. Giannone, Bram Eijsbouts, Mirek Gruna, Pazani Vaitilingon, Andrew Elder, Neil Synnott, Paul Griffith, Sharon Dunn

Our new guide delves into the importance of private funds and when (and why) a private fund should be used and the preferred jurisdictions to set one up. Find out more with our team Ilias Georgopoulos and Alex Dean. #oneiqeq #privatefunds #insights #familyoffice

The IQ-EQ Guide to Private Funds is here! Why, When, and Where, delves into the importance of private funds. Click below to learn more ⬇ #oneiqeq #privatefunds #familyoffice

📢 Important Update from CySEC on Fractionalisation of Shares 📢 CySEC has issued a new circular that provides guidance on the fractional exposure in shares of companies and how it qualifies as direct exposure to shares themselves. This development has significant implications for Cyprus Investment Firms (CIFs). Key Highlights: - The circular clarifies that investment and ancillary services related to fractional shares will now fall under the regulatory obligations laid out in MiFIR, ensuring compliance with share trading and holding requirements. - It applies to CIFs allowing clients to make fractional investments in shares issued under the laws of EU Member States and third countries, using trust arrangements. - The circular outlines the necessary steps for CIFs, including documentation and the establishment of a trust arrangement, which may involve voting rights, dividends distribution, residual interest, and transferability. This new guidance reinforces the importance of compliance and proper structuring for CIFs engaging in fractional share investments. Stay ahead of the regulatory landscape! If you need assistance navigating these changes, feel free to reach out to us at Muinmos. #CySEC #FractionalShares #RegulatoryUpdate #InvestmentFirms #Muinmos #Compliance

ICGN has written to the President of the European Commission to present its Recommendations to the European Institutions on Shareholder Rights. As the new College of Commissioners defines its priorities and work programme for the coming years, we wanted like to offer the perspective of institutional investors. Stewardship is a fundamental aspect of an investor’s fiduciary duty to protect and enhance long-term value for beneficiaries and clients. Good stewardship contributes to corporate resilience, capital market efficiency and integrity, and sustainable economic growth. Investors’ ability to act as responsible and effective stewards is reliant on them having rights and protections, such as the right to vote on major issues affecting the company, the right to participate in annual general meetings and the right to information. We observe that some barriers to the exercise of shareholder rights remain in the European Union. These include legal and regulatory obstacles, as well as operational obstacles (such as local specificities creating complexity for foreign investors and reliance on manual processes). Our recommendations are: 1.           Remove obstacles to shareholder voting 2.           Harmonise AGM practices 3.           Harmonise standards on shareholder proposals 4.           Introduce safeguards for multiple-class shares 5.           Ensure investors can rely on high-quality corporate sustainability disclosures 6.           Removed perceived obstacles to collaborative engagement. Please read our full letter for further details: https://lnkd.in/d8BznBYF If you are an ICGN Member and would be interested in joining ICGN’s new EU working group, please contact us at policy@icgn.org #governance #corpgov #stewardship #eu #eucommission #standards #disclosure #investors #assetowners #assetmanagers

Geopolitical tensions and economic headwinds posed significant challenges and uncertainties for Private Equity in 2023, but is there room for more optimism in 2024? We partnered with IPEM (International Private Equity Market) on their sixth annual PE survey to analyze the outlook for 2024. Partner and Managing Director Nicolas Beaugrand together with Antoine Colson, CEO of IPEM unpacked the results at IPEM’s Cannes opening plenary session, and explained why now is the time for renewed (if cautious) optimism in Private Equity. Learn how forward-thinking firms are turning the industry’s challenges into opportunities in this clip from Nicolas and Antoine: