FRC publishes research on impact of proxy advisers and ESG ratings agencies on companies and investors
News types: Generic Announcement
Published: 15 June 2023
Annex 1- Online Survey Questions
Annex 2 - Interview Guides and List of Interviewees
The research, conducted by Durham University and Morrow Sodali, was commissioned in early 2023 to help progress the conversation on this complex and challenging topic.
The FRC was pleased to see the number of its stakeholders who agreed to participate in this research which it believes will be a valuable tool for the various consultations underway about the impact of proxy voting agencies’ activities on corporates, particularly on key issues such as remuneration policies.
Mark Babington, Executive Director of Regulatory Standards at FRC, said:
“There’s an ongoing debate on the role of proxy advisors and increasingly ESG ratings agencies and it’s clear from the research we’re publishing that the topic is a more complex and nuanced one that some have led us to believe.
“Proxy advisors, voting agencies, and ESG ratings agencies are an important resource for fund managers; however, there are always ways to improve engagement, stewardship, and shareholder communications for a better, more efficient, and competitive market.
“This is a timely piece of research which provides some interesting insights from our stakeholder universe on this important topic. We’re grateful to our many stakeholders for their contributions.”