GEO INSIGHTS

The article discusses the results of the Singapore Governance and Transparency Index (SGTI) for 2023, which evaluates listed companies' disclosures and governance practices in Singapore. The average score for companies has improved from 70.6 to 74.8 compared to the previous year, indicating enhanced transparency and governance. The SGTI assesses companies in five areas: board responsibilities, shareholder rights, stakeholder engagement, accountability & audit, and disclosure & transparency. The highest average score is in the shareholder rights category, with an 87 percent average, showing a 4 percentage point increase. The lowest average score is for board responsibilities at 64 percent, although this is up from 60 percent in the previous year. Disclosure & transparency has also increased from 63 percent to 67 percent. Notably, there has been a significant rise in disclosure rates for indicators related to board practices and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) practices. The SGTI's findings suggest that companies are disclosing more information about areas like board independence, competence, and selection of directors. ESG disclosure has also improved, with several indicators showing 8 to 10 percentage points of yearly improvement. The article mentions upcoming changes to further enhance the SGTI's scores. Singapore will implement new regulations regarding board independence and executive remuneration. SGX RegCo will enforce limitations on the tenure of independent directors and require companies to provide detailed breakdowns of CEO and certain director pay packages.

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The article discusses pay hikes for technology professionals in startups, particularly in the early-stage startup environment. It notes that techies in early-stage startups have received wage hikes in the range of 8 to 12 percent, while those in small startups with fewer than 40 tech employees have seen increases of 15 to 20 percent for entry- and mid-level roles. The report also highlights that while some tech professionals have received significant hikes of 20 to 25 percent, this has been the case for only about 10 percent of the workforce. The article mentions the increasing importance of equity compensation, particularly employee stock option plans (ESOPs), in startups. It notes that around 70 percent of companies have seen a positive shift in outlook towards ESOPs, and senior-level executives are more willing to accept ESOPs compared to entry- and mid-level employees.

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This article discusses the efforts of the Asian Utilities Engagement Programme (AUEP), led by the Asian Investor Group on Climate Change (AIGCC), to emphasize the connection between executive compensation and climate-related Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in its second year. The AUEP engages with Asian utilities as focus companies, urging them to adopt governance frameworks for climate issues, establish decarbonization timelines, disclose climate information aligned with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), address physical climate risks, and align lobbying activities with climate objectives. The article highlights that several focus companies are already incorporating climate considerations into pay calculations, including Japan's J-Power and Chub Electric, exploring sustainability KPIs for director pay, and Malaysia’s Tenaga Nasional, which has integrated them for senior management compensation. The program's engagement also extends to discussions with regulators across markets, and future expansion is on the agenda.

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The article provides a comprehensive guide to the Australian minimum wage for employees as of August 9, 2023. It explains that the minimum wage is the lowest legal payment an employee can receive and outlines the differences between the national minimum wage and industry award minimum wages. The article covers how the minimum wage varies for different age groups, including juniors and apprentices, as well as for employees under the Supported Wage System. It also discusses penalty rates, allowances, superannuation, and the importance of addressing minimum wage breaches. The article emphasizes that the information provided is based on the available data at the time of writing and recommends seeking local resources for the latest updates.

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The article discusses how few companies offer equity ownership to most employees, despite its potential benefits for engagement and wealth equality. It highlights the need for well-designed plans, policy support, and financial education to make this practice more widespread. Turning more stakeholders into capitalists can align with stakeholder capitalism principles.

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This article discusses how Taiwanese bike companies are sharing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) data, which provides insights into their environmental impact, social practices, and governance structures. Taiwan's companies are embracing ESG reporting as the European Union plans to impose carbon tariffs on imports, making carbon reduction a priority for future competitiveness. While Western companies often emphasize visual elements in their ESG reports, Taiwanese companies primarily focus on providing numerical data in spreadsheets filed with the stock exchange. The article analyzes ESG reports from six Taiwanese bike suppliers and highlights their environmental metrics such as carbon emissions, water usage, and waste production. It also examines social indicators like average salaries, female representation in executive roles, and occupational accidents, along with governance aspects such as the number of independent directors and female board members.

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The article discusses the enforcement of Dodd-Frank clawback policies under foreign law, focusing on executive compensation. The US SEC's Rule 10D-1 mandates the recovery (clawback) of incentive-based executive compensation in the event of accounting restatements. The NYSE and Nasdaq proposed listing standards to comply with this rule. The article explores how clawback policies could be enforced in various countries including Brazil, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. It addresses aspects such as enforceability under local law, deducting amounts from future compensation, and provisions to enhance enforcement. The application of these policies varies across jurisdictions based on legal frameworks and regulatory guidelines.

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The article discusses the practice of awarding "mega grants" to CEOs, which are large, one-time equity awards with long vesting periods, often granted in addition to or in lieu of annual awards. Mega grants are intended to provide significant incentives for CEOs to achieve long-term targets. The practice of mega grants has resurged in recent years, with CEOs receiving nine-figure awards, even though they were less popular due to shareholder criticism in the past. The article explores the reasons behind this change, including notable instances such as Tim Cook's mega grant at Apple and Elon Musk's performance-vested stock-option package at Tesla. The controversy surrounding mega grants is examined, along with proxy advisory firms' skeptical views and shareholder reactions. The article also delves into the characteristics of mega grants, such as recipient types, tenure, grant size, equity type, term, performance triggers, and more. It also explores the rationale behind issuing mega grants and the role of compensation consultants in recommending them. Finally, the article discusses the stock price reaction to mega grant announcements and raises questions about the impact of mega grants on CEO incentives and company performance.

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