Asia Corporate Governance

Course overview Corporate governance is currently the single most debated problem in commercial affairs, as can be seen by the daily discussion of it in the international financial press. At the time of printing, institutional investors with more than US$30 trillion under management have pledged that they will integrate Corporate Governance thinking and CSR more broadly, into investment analysis and decision-making. This training course will help you to put forward the business case for robust corporate governance policies at your organisation so that the company management will view corporate governance as an investment, not just a cost. It also deals with the issues that have proved to be challenging for companies, investors and other stakeholders in the recent past, and it offers practical approaches for implementing effective corporate governance in different company structures with an Asian perspective. Summary of course content The distinct roles of Boards of Directors The rights of shareholders and other stakeholders The special role of institutional investors Governance scandals which have driven demands for change How to integrate economic, social and governance criteria in investment analysis and decision-making Best practice in corporate governance in Asia and in other regions Methodology At each point in the course, learning is consolidated through practical case studies. Active participation is encouraged to ensure understanding and reinforce concepts. Who should attend? Board Directors Executive Management Company Secretaries In-house Lawyers Investors Analysts Regulators Commercial Lawyers Senior Government Officials Financial Journalists
Day 1: Corporate Governance Moves Centre Stage Why Is Corporate Governance So Important? The Definition of ‘Corporate Governance’ Why Should We Be Concerned? A Brief Overview of the Business Case Corporate Governance Scandals What Are the Principal Issues of Corporate Governance? Putting Corporate Governance into its CSR Context Case Study: The Enron Collapse The Business Case for Corporate Governance Opinion-Based Research Focus List Research Governance-Ranking Research The World Bank Group Changing Consciousness concerning Corporate Governance and the Development of Governance Codes Corporate Governance Becomes a Prominent Issue The Influence of the Higgs Report and the UK Governance System The OECD Principles World Bank Involvement The Convergence of National Governance Systems What is so Special about Corporate Governance in Banking? The Role of Banks in Resource Allocation The Claimed ‘Special Circumstances’ Opaqueness: Information Asymmetries The Regulatory Environment Day 2: Influencing Executive Management Thinking The Distinct Roles of the Board of Directors The Board as ‘Watchdog’ The Board as ‘Pilot’ The Board as ‘Advisor’ Case Study: The WorldCom Collapse Board Dynamics The Role of the Chairman Executive vs. Independent Non-Executive Directors The ‘Tensions’ Related to Independent Non-Executive Directors Qualities to Look for in Independent Non-Executive Directors The Role of the Company Secretary Shareholders Shareholders ‘Own’ the Company Ownership vs. Control: The Agency Problem The Growth of Institutional Share Ownership Shareholder Tools of Corporate Governance Shareholder Activism in the Future The Roles of the Wider Community of ‘Stakeholders’ Background Identifying a Company’s Stakeholders: The Contextual Problem Case Studies: Toyota: The Recall Nestlé: The problem with Greenpeace over Palm Oil The BP Oil Spill Proctor & Gamble: A New Product Launch and the Problem with Bloggers Financial Services: The Role of the Media during the Financial Crisis Partnerships with Stakeholders The New Emphasis on Executive Remuneration The Executive Remuneration Debate Key Elements of Executive Remuneration Performance Measures The Role of the Remuneration Committee The Role of Compensation Consultants Day 3: Insights from International Experience Family Firms and Corporate Governance Family Firms as the Dominant Form of Business The Claimed Advantages of the Family Firm Governance Challenges for Family Firms in Asia Developing Appropriate Governance Structures An Overview of Corporate Governance Systems in the Industrialised World Dealing with Dimensions of Governance: Director Independence; Diversity of Experience; Remuneration; Transparency and Disclosure; Availability; Evaluation The Perspective on Trends in the Industrialised World: United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Japan, and Singapore An Overview of Corporate Governance in Emerging Markets: Asia in Perspective Governance Themes in Emerging Markets Governance in the BRICS: Brazil, Russia, India and China Asia in Comparative Perspective: India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand Day 4: Learning from the Financial Crisis Governance Lessons from the Financial Crisis Lessons concerning Poor Risk Management Lessons concerning Misaligned Remuneration and Incentive Systems Lessons concerning Regulatory Inadequacies Case Studies: Royal Bank of Scotland; Lehman Brothers; Bear Stearns Assessing Corporate Governance in Your Company The World Bank’s Template for Assessment The Responsibilities of the Board The Rights of Shareholders The Equitable Treatment of Shareholders The Role of Stakeholders Disclosure and Transparency Strategies of Change The Broader Picture: Governance as a Dimension of Corporate Sustainability The Broad Dimensions of Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility Labour Issues Human Rights Issues Environmental Concerns Corporate Philanthropy Ethical Business Practices such as Product Safety and Anti-Corruption The Business Drivers for Corporate Sustainability and CSR Investor Relations and Access to Capital Competitiveness and Market Positioning Employee Relations: Recruitment, Retention and Productivity Minimisation of Legal Risk Enhanced ‘License to Operate’ Socially Responsible Investment Investment Strategies Negative Screening Positive Screening Shareholder Activism UN Principles for Responsible Investment Review of the Principles Analysis of Current Practice Recent Developments Equator Principles in Development Project Finance Review of the Principles Recent Developments A Paradigm Shift in Investment Strategies?