Financial Times, 23rd July 2010
Pensions Week, 21st June 2010
Investment & Pensions Europe, 15th June 2010
Financial Times, 14th June 2010
Financial Times, Lombard column, 14th June 2010
The Observer, April 4th 2010
Financial Times, March 31st 2010
Responsible Investor, March 29th, 2010
Professional Pensions, 22nd March 2010
Local Government Chronicle, 19th March 2010
Professional Pensions, 20th November 2009
Responsible Investor, 12th October 2009
Asset managers in the UK recognise the risks and opportunities of climate change but say action is hindered by the low price of carbon and a lack of demand from their institutional clients, according to a new survey.
Financial Times, 12th September 2009
The Local Authority Pension Fund Forum is preparing to renew its opposition to corporate governance at Marks & Spencer, as the retailer begins its search for a new chief executive.
Daily Express, 9th July 2009
Angry investors in Marks & Spencer gave the iconic high street retailer a rap on the knuckles yesterday over plans to keep its controversial management regime in place for up to two years.
The Independent, 9th July 2009
Marks & Spencer suffered one of the biggest shareholder rebellions in its 125- year history yesterday after hordes of investors voted against its succession plan and the re-election of the executive chairman Sir Stuart Rose at the annual meeting in London.
Daily Mail, 8th July 2009
Shareholders gave Marks & Spencer executive chairman Stuart Rose’s succession plans a roasting at a packed and lively annual meeting in the Royal Festival Hall in London.
The Guardian, 8th July 2009
Investors sent a clear message to Marks & Spencer executive chairman Sir Stuart Rose today that they want big changes in the way the retailer's boardroom is run.
The Times, 8th July 2009
Sir Stuart Rose survived one of the biggest tests of his tenure as head of Marks & Spencer this afternoon.
Dow Jones, 8th July 2009
U.K. retailer Marks & Spencer Group PLC Wednesday survived calls by some shareholder groups to appoint a new independent chairman a year earlier than planned, giving embattled Chairman and Chief Executive Stuart Rose some breathing space and time for succession planning.
CNBC, 8th July 2009
British retailer Marks & Spencer survived a big shareholder rebellion over its management succession plan on Wednesday, a 38 percent of investors called on it to appoint an independent chairman by next July.
Financial Times, 9th July 2009
Marks and Spencer suffered an investor revolt at its annual meeting on Wednesday with a strong shareholder vote in favour of a resolution calling on Sir Stuart Rose to stand down early as chairman.
Financial Times, Lex, 8th July 2009
The investor disquiet at Marks & Spencer has been distorted into an argument over whether shareholders are for or against Sir Stuart Rose. Yet it has always been about sound governance.
Financial Times, 7th July 2009
Sir Stuart Rose, executive chairman of Marks & Spencer, on Tuesday dismissed a looming showdown with shareholders at the high street chain’s annual meeting on Wednesday as “just a re-run” of past issues.
The Scotsman, 6th July 2009
MARKS & Spencer's shareholders will have their annual chance to grill executive chairman Sir Stuart Rose about the style of dresses it sells – but Wednesday's annual meeting could also force changes on the retailer's board.
The Times, 5th July 2009
Marks & Spencer is headed for a bloody battle with investors on Wednesday after it emerged that the high-street bellwether plans to ignore a big protest vote demanding the appointment of an independent chairman by July 2010 to check the power of boss Sir Stuart Rose.
The Herald, 29th June
An influential umbrella group for local authority pension schemes yesterday said its attempt to seek the separation of chief executive and chairman roles at Marks & Spencer, which is currently headed by executive chairman Sir Stuart Rose, is a "safety valve" for disgruntled investors.
The Scotsman, 28th June
The row over the future of Marks & Spencer boss Sir Stuart Rose will intensify this week as one of its largest shareholders steps up its campaign to split the role of chairman and chief executive. Sources close to the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF), whose members have combined assets of more than £95 billion, say its chairman Ian Greenwood will tomorrow try to outflank M&S's board. He is expected to issue a public statement distancing the LAPFF from Rose and reiterating his call for an independent chair to be in place by July next year.
Daily Telegraph, 24th June
Marks & Spencer's boardroom woes have deepened, with corporate governance bodies coming out in support of a resolution to split Sir Stuart Rose's joint role as chairman and chief executive.
The Guardian, 24th June
The pressure on Marks & Spencer boss Sir Stuart Rose increased today when another shareholder advisory group threw its weight behind a proposal to force Rose to vacate the chairman's seat. Pensions and Investment Research Consultants is backing a resolution to be put before the annual meeting next month calling on the retailer to appoint an independent chairman within 12 months.
Pensions Week, 8th June
Most passive equity managers fail to vote regularly on their assets, according to the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum.
Professional Pensions, 28th May
A significant proportion of equity holdings managed within passive funds are not subject to high levels of environmental, social and governance risk management, an audit reveals.
Financial Times, 12th May
Rolling up his sleeves for a tussle this annual meeting season is Ian Greenwood, chairman of the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum. Acting for 46 local authority pension schemes with total assets of about £75bn, the LAPFF has pulled on the gloves against Terry Smith, calling on members to oppose the remuneration report at his Tullett Prebon.
The Times, 27th April
Council pension funds with £75 billion of investment firepower are being urged to oust a director of KBC bank this week as part of a wider campaign to shame companies seen to operate poor boardroom standards. KBC, the large Belgian bank that owns Peel Hunt, the broker, has refused to divulge many pay details of its executives and declines to put a ceiling on bonuses or reveal performance hurdles.
Professional Pensions, 6th April
The Local Authority Pension Fund Forum has called on its members to oppose the remuneration report of US-based asset manager T. Rowe Price.
New York Times 30th March
Marks & Spencer boss Stuart Rose faces a new shareholder vote on his controversial dual management role after an investor filed a resolution to the firm's annual general meeting calling on him to share power.
The Guardian 30th March
A group of Marks & Spencer shareholders will today call on Sir Stuart Rose to give up his controversial executive chairman role a year early, and is to lobby the company's other investors to support the move.
Daily Telegraph, 30th March
Local authority pension funds have called on Marks & Spencer to appoint an independent chairman but given the troubled retailer 15 months to do so.
Financial Times March 30th 2009
Marks and Spencer shareholders would have the chance to vote on whether an independent chairman should be appointed by July next year under a resolution proposed by the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum yesterday.
Responsible Investor, 6th March 2009
The UK Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF) is urging companies to link pay under long-term incentive plans to the achievement of both financial and non-financial performance targets.
Daily Telegraph, 25th July 2008
Marks & Spencer's decision to appoint Sir Stuart Rose as executive chairman and chief executive has come under fire from the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum.
The Guardian, Friday 25 July 2008
Sir Stuart Rose will face a fresh challenge to his position as executive chairman of Marks & Spencer after enduring one of the biggest investor rebellions in recent years this month.
Professional Pensions, 25th November 2008
THE Local Authority Pension Fund Forum has become a member of the Investor Network on Climate Risk.
Professional Pensions, 18th February 2009
THE Local Authority Pension Fund Forum is set to team up with US investors to push for greater disclosure from major US companies on climate change.
Pensions Week, 25th February 2009
The Local Authority Pension Fund Forum is asking US companies to disclose their approach to dealing with the risks of climate change.
Pensions Week, 25th February 2009
The Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF) has appointed David Sellors to the position of chief operating officer.
The Independent 14 April 2008
The Local Authority Pension Fund Forum has added its name to the growing list of critics of Marks & Spencer's plan to promote its chief executive Sir Stuart Rose to the post of executive chairman.
Financial Times 15 April 2008
Marks & Spencer faced fresh shareholder criticism from local authorities on Monday even as a new blue-chip buyer emerged as a top-five shareholder.
Professional Pensions 6 February 2008
Bradford City Council leader Ian Greenwood has been appointed chairman of the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum following its annual general meeting.
Global Pensions 29 November 2007
UK - Pension funds have been encouraged to engage with companies over merger and acquisition activity by the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF).
Thomson Investment Management News 22nd October 2007
The Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF), whose members have assets of £85 billion, said it has signed the UN principles of responsible investment.
Global Pensions 13th August 2007
UK - A quarter of the UK's larger companies do not provide proper reports to shareholders on audit practices, according to the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF).
Professional Pensions, 26 June 2007
THE Local Authority Pension Fund Forum has urged the Institutional Shareholders Committee to recommend fund managers to publicly disclose comprehensive data on how they exercise voting rights.
Global Pensions, 9 July 2007
UK Local authority pension funds have urged the government to adopt more rigorous targets than those set out in the draft Climate Change Bill.
FT, 26 March 2007
Some shareholders in BP are threatening to vote against the oil company's executive pay proposals in protest at the size of Lord Browne's remuneration package when he leaves in July.
Guardian, 26 March 2007
BP faces a showdown with its shareholders over the pay packet of the out-going chief executive, Lord Browne, and the failure of the oil company to link its directors' pay to health and safety issues.
The Telegraph, 26 March 2007
A group of pension funds is to vote against the remuneration report at BP's annual meeting next month because they say the company will not link executive pay to improving its safety record.
Jonathan Stapleton in Professional Pensions, 12 March 2007
The Local Authority Pension Fund Forum has released a guide on assessing investment manager engagement with companies over labour standards in China.
Pensions Week, 12 March 2007
Pension funds investing in Chinese companies can monitor their fund managers’ engagement with company labour standards, following the publication of public sector guidance.
Financial Times, 12 February 2007
The Local Authority Pension Fund Forum has called on BP to take steps to improve its safety record, and warned that its members would vote against the board if there was insufficient progress.
The Times, 12 February 2007
The Local Authority Pension Fund Forum, which controls £70 billion of assets and has £700 million invested in BP, has demanded that BP effect stronger controls on remuneration and internal investigations after a series of safety failures.
Public Finance, 9 February 2007
Public sector pension funds have launched a campaign against inflation-busting bonuses for executives at US and multinational companies, using their substantial assets as leverage.
Local government, transport and education pension schemes have joined forces with international public bodies and asset managers to call for compulsory shareholder votes on future US ‘executive compensation’.
Professional Pensions, 5 February 2007
Local authority pension funds are set to initiate a major shareholder engagement campaign in a bid to improve company audit practices.
Financial News, 6 February 2007
Council pension funds with a combined £70bn (€106bn) in assets have launched a shareholder campaign to put pressure on UK companies to improve their audit controls.
The Guardian, Thursday 18 January 2007
Shareholders are calling for Lord Browne and other BP directors to have their bonuses more closely tied to the company's safety and environmental performance in the wake of problems such as the Texas City refinery fire.
Financial Times, 9 October 2006
UK local authority pension fund trustees are dissatisfied with the quality of shareholder activism being conducted by fund managers working on their behalf, a new report has claimed.