Beyond the Boardroom

Beyond the Boardroom is coming to an end and this is the last episode. Diligent will still be running The Corporate Director Podcast where you can still expect to hear the familiar voices from Diligent Market Intelligence sharing key findings from our special reports and research. All episodes will remain on your feed wherever you get your podcasts.

Kieran Poole and the team count down the top five wildest campaigns of the year so far as featured in our Proxy Season Review 2023.  Who will take top spot? Who will get silver? Who will miss out on a podium place? Listen now and then enjoy a more comprehensive analysis in the report. 

As a special bonus episode, Kieran Poole is joined by Steve Balet of Strategic Governance Advisors and Diligent Market Intelligence's Jason Booth to look back at one of the most significant activist campaigns this century... Carl Icahn at Apple. Hear how Icahn began the trend of using Twitter as an activist tool, whether his tactics have changed since, and even why he turned his hand at stand-up comedy. 

Kieran Poole is joined by Olshan Frome Wolosky's Ryan Nebel and Elizabeth Gonzalez-Sussman, as well as Diligent Market Insight's Rebecca Sherratt to discuss our Proxy Season Review 2023. Ryan and Elizabeth are vice-chairs of the law firm's shareholder activism group.Among the top findings: Activists refocus on financials: The number of capital structure, return cash to shareholder, and operational demands increased by 39.3%, 25.9%, and 17.4% globally, compared to a year prior, with activists keen to maximize investor returns amid depressed markets. ESG suffers a crisis of confidence: Amid increasingly vocal anti-ESG sentiment, support for ESG proposals has been decidedly mixed. Globally, nine (2.4%) E&S shareholder proposals won majority support, compared to 36 (10.1%) in the first half of 2022. Directors are subject to increased scrutiny: In the first half of 2023, shareholder support for global director elections has declined to 95.6%, compared to 96.4% and 96.1% throughout 2021 and 2022, respectively. Look out for our countdown of the wildest campaigns which will appear in your podcast feed soon. 

Simon Rawson of ShareAction joins Kieran Poole to discuss why the firm is urging major European banks to end the direct financing of new oil and gas fields by the end of 2023, being the first group to file a Living Wage resolution, and his time serving as a British diplomat. Plus, he tells us why we should all be watching Schitt's Creek.  

Jonathan Litt of Land & Buildings joins Kieran Poole to discuss the impact on real estate investing from the return to office trend, U.S. banks and their commercial real estate loans, and being the first activist to go all the way to a vote under the new universal proxy rules. Plus, he tells us why aboard a plane is the best place to watch a film.  Make sure to get your free copy of our latest report, ESG 2023.

Kieran Poole is joined by Insightia's Rebecca Sherratt, Antoinette Giblin, and Will Arnot to review some of the most notable proxy fights to have drawn to a close in the past few weeks.  Make sure to get your free copy of our latest report, ESG 2023.

Kieran Poole is joined by Jon Solorzano of Vinson & Elkins and Rodolfo Araujo of EY as well as Insightia's Rebecca Sherratt to discuss our latest report, ESG 2023.  Jon advises companies and their boards on ESG issues, sustainability, activism, risk management, securities law, and M&A. Whereas, at EY, Rodolfo leads the ESG strategy and investor engagement efforts.  Among the top findings:  Scope 3 reporting goes global: Emissions-intensive sectors face sustained pressure to enhance their net-zero commitments, with climate change shareholder proposals winning 32.4% and 36.7% average support in the U.S. energy and aerospace/defense sectors, respectively, in the first five months of 2023.  Pressure mounts on issuers to enhance ESG disclosure: Although average support for E&S shareholder proposals appeared to fall over the last two years, the number that passed remains elevated and more ESG requests are being withdrawn for agreements. 26 E&S proposals won majority support at S&P 500 companies in 2022, compared to 17 and 30 in 2020 and 2021, respectively.  ESG activism out of favor with hedge funds: Rising inflation has placed ESG activism on the backburner for traditional activist hedge funds. 27 activist campaigns launched by primary- or partial-focus activists have featured environmental and/or social demands in the first five months of 2023, compared to 43 in the same period a year prior.  Join the conversation about the report using the hashtag #InsightiaESG on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Mathew Saur of the law firm Woolery & Co joins Kieran Poole to discuss how rising interest rates and market volatility could lead to M&A and capital allocation activism seeing a significant shake-up in 2023.  Make sure to get your free copy of our latest report, Corporate Governance in Europe 2023.

Kieran Poole is joined by Insightia's Rebecca Sherratt, Antoinette Giblin, and Miles Rogerson to pick the most important stories of the month that you need to know about.  On the agenda are Hindenburg Research versus Icahn Enterprises, Shake Shack's vulnerability to activism, and executive pay in Europe.  Make sure to also subscribe to Diligent's The Corporate Director Podcast. 

Kieran Poole is joined by White & Case's Tom Matthews and Sonica Tolani as well as Insightia's Rebecca Sherratt to discuss Corporate Governance in Europe 2023.  Tom heads up the firm’s European shareholder activism practice, while Sonica is a specialist in public company M&A, ECM, and shareholder activism.  Among the top findings: Emissions reporting takes centrestage: CSRD has ushered in a new era of ESG accountability, mandating European issuers with upwards of 250 employees annually report on sustainability policies and targets, including their Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, starting in 2025.  The cost-of-living crisis drives investor revolts: FTSE 350 executive pay hit record highs in 2022, with total CEO realized pay averaging 3.03 million pounds ($3.76m), compared to 2.1 million and 2.6 million pounds in 2020 and 2021, respectively.   Activists push for sales amid depressed stock valuations: Activist intentions have shifted from blocking deals to demanding the sale of long undervalued companies, at a time when interest rates and inflation are limiting other growth options. Fifteen companies faced demands for a sale and/or acquisition of a third-party last year, an increase from 13 in 2021, while the number of companies facing opposition to M&A transactions fell to 15 in 2022, from 29 in 2021. Join the conversation about the report using the hashtag #InsightiaEurope23 on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Kieran Poole is joined by Insightia's Rebecca Sherratt, Antoinette Giblin, and Will Arnot to pick the most important stories of the month that you need to know about.On the agenda are Carl Icahn’s campaign at Illumina, boomerang CEOs, and Talos Energy's vulnerability to activism.  Make sure to also subscribe to Diligent's The Corporate Director Podcast. 

Edgar Hernandez of The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) joins Kieran Poole to discuss taking on the likes of Coca-Cola, Netflix, and Amazon. Edgar is assistant director of its department of strategic initiatives and has been at the firm since 2007. 

Kieran Poole is joined by First Advisers  Executive Director Victoria Geddes as well as Insightia's Rebecca Sherratt to discuss Corporate Governance in Australia 2023.  Join the conversation about the report using the hashtag #InsightiaAustralia23 on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Kieran Poole is joined by Insightia's Rebecca Sherratt, Antoinette Giblin, and Joe Lyons to pick the most important stories of the month that you need to know about. On the agenda are a short report targeting digital payment company Block, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink's annual letter to CEOs and investors, and recent activism in Israel.  Make sure to get your free copy of Corporate Governance in Asia 2023.

Bluebell Capital Partners co-founder Giuseppe Bivona joins Kieran Poole to discuss its current proxy fight at BlackRock, its success at Richemont, and how it owes its name to a child.  Plus, Insightia's Josh Black pops by to tell us about his London Marathon progress. You can follow and sponsor him here. 

Kieran Poole is joined by Kekst CNC's Jochen Legewie and Minako Otani as well as Insightia's Rebecca Sherratt to discuss Corporate Governance in Asia 2023. Jochen serves as its Japan head and chairman in Asia advising Japanese and multinational firms on complex positioning mandates. Minako primarily focuses on corporate and financial communications for multinational companies. Join the conversation about the report using the hashtag #InsightiaAsia23 on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Kieran Poole is joined by Insightia's Rebecca Sherratt and Antoinette Giblin for a brand new episode format. Together, they pick the most important stories of the month that you need to know about.  Look out for "news in brief" episodes at the start of every month and make sure to get your free copy of The Shareholder Activism Annual Review 2023. Plus, get your Early Bird tickets for Diligent's Modern Governance Summit in September. 

Diligent CEO Brian Stafford joins Kieran Poole to discuss the challenges faced this year, how activists are viewed by directors, and the future of modern governance. Plus, we answer the age-old question: Does pineapple belong on a pizza?  Diligent acquired Insightia back in January 2022.  Make sure to get your free copy of The Shareholder Activism Annual Review 2023. 

Kieran Poole is joined by Olshan Frome Wolosky's Ryan Nebel and Elizabeth Gonzalez-Sussman, as well as Insightia's Rebecca Sherratt to discuss The Shareholder Activism Annual Review 2023.  Ryan and Elizabeth are members of the firm's activist and equity investment practice focusing on shareholder activism, proxy contests, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance. Elizabeth also heads Olshan's ESG activist investing practice.Join the conversation about the report using the hashtag #SAAR23 on Twitter and LinkedIn.