The Changing Dynamics of Governance and Engagement

As anticipated, the 2015 proxy season has been the “Season of Shareholder Engagement” for U.S. public companies. Activist attacks, high-profile battles for board seats, and shifting alliances of major investors and proxy advisors have created an environment in which shareholder engagement is near the top of every well-advised board’s to-do list. There is no shortage of advice as to how, when, and why directors should pursue this agenda item, and there is no doubt that they are highly motivated to do so. Director engagement is a powerful tool if used judiciously by companies in service of their strategic goals. As companies and their advisors study the lessons of the recent proxy season and look ahead, it is worth examining recent shifts in corporate governance dynamics. With an awareness of the general trends, and by taking specific actions as appropriate, boards can prepare and adapt effectively to position themselves as well as possible to achieve their strategic objectives.

Governance Dynamics Trends

Since 2000, the corporate environment has changed in many ways. A thoughtful white paper by The Conference Board discusses five of the most significant legal, social, and market trends during this time period that have contributed to the changing dynamics of corporate governance.¹ These trends have been transformative, and, taken together, they are foundational to shareholder-director engagement today. The first is the increased influence of institutional investors. This is due primarily to the concentration of stock ownership in institutionally-held investment and savings accounts, and to a lesser extent to changes in voting rules and practices and proactive steps by institutional investors to influence corporate governance and direction. The second trend is a shift toward a purely commercial understanding of the purpose of a corporation. Though mid-20th century America generally agreed that a corporation had responsibilities to society as well as to its shareholders, in recent years the prevailing view held by many investors is that public corporations exist primarily to maximize shareholder value. Conflicting interpretations of this goal have produced a further debate as to whether the appropriate timeframe for doing so is the long- or short-term horizon.