ICGN Global Corporate Governance Principles
The Principles generally endorse the OECD Principles of Corporate Governance (2004) and in addition highlight elements that ICGN members take into account when making investment decisions.
Member Opinion Surveys
The ICGN conducts ad-hoc member opinion surveys on a range of issues. The survey analysis helps the ICGN to reflect market experience and opinion when forming responses to policy consultations. The latest survey was conducted in 2007 and focused on investor priorities for reform in financial reporting and auditing.
Commissioned Reports
The ICGN on occasion commissions reports to help support the development of ICGN best practice guidance which can be viewed by clicking on the links below:
Cross Border Proxy Voting: case studies from the 2002 proxy season (2002)
A report commissioned by the ICGN to examine how cross border proxy voting works in practice.
Share Lending vis-a-vis Voting – a report commissioned by the ICGN (2004)
A report on the impact of share lending on voting and other indicia of shareholder ownership and participation.
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Best Practice Consultations
ICGN guidance is kept under regular review to ensure they are timely and relevant. All initiatives are subject to extensive consultation with members before being put forward for formal adoption.
Using the guidance
“The ICGN/GPPC ‘Survey on Financial Reporting and Auditing’ opened eyes on both sides of the investor-auditor dialogue. It identified issues the global audit networks should address to be more effective in investor relations and it showed that investors can and should be more involved in the professional standards-setting process. It is an important initial contribution to improving our communications with each other.”
Jeff Willemain,
Global Managing Partner, Regulatory & Risk, Deloitte and Chairman, Global Public Policy Committee
Best Practice
The ICGN’s mission is to raise standards of corporate governance worldwide. To that end, ICGN Policy Committees bring together expertise and perspectives across borders to develop best practice guidance that provide practical help to market participants in continually raising standards in corporate governance. In addition, the ICGN actively promotes research in corporate governance by commissioning surveys on member opinion on key issues.
Latest Guidance: Global Corporate Governance Principles: Revised (2009)
The International Corporate Governance Network is glad to present its ICGN Global Corporate Governance Principles: Revised (2009) which were launched at the ICGN Washington Conference on 18-19 November 2009.
The Principles aim to assert standards of corporate governance to which the ICGN believes that all companies should aspire. The Principles are intended to be of general application around the world, irrespective of
legislative background or listing rules. These Principles are the ICGN’s overarching set of Principles.
ICGN Best Practice Guidance
Click on the links below to access ICGN Best Practice guidance.
Anti-Corruption Practices
The latest ICGN best practice guidance was launched at the ICGN Mid-year Meeting in Amsterdam in March 2009. It provides initial guidance for investors in the form of questions to ask company representatives around anti-corruption policies and procedures, enforcement, transparency and voluntary initiatives.
Statement and Guidance on Anti-corruption Practices (2009)
The Statement provides initial guidance to investors in the form of questions to ask company representatives around anti-corruption policies and procedures, enforcement, transparency and voluntary initiatives.
Statement and Guidance on Non-financial Business Reporting (2008)
The Statement sets out criteria to assist companies in meeting the expectations of investors on non-financial business reporting.
Securities Lending Code of Best Practice (2007)
The code clarifies the responsibilities of all parties engaged in stock lending. Read earlier editions and drafts.
Statement of Principles on Institutional Shareholder Responsibilities (2007)
The statement highlights the responsibilities of investors both in their external role as owners of equity and their internal governance responsibilities to their beneficiaries. Read earlier editions and drafts.
Executive Remuneration Guidelines (2006)
The guidelines focus on how companies should be structuring pay for the long term, disclosing policies and seeking shareholder support. Read earlier editions and drafts.
Global Corporate Governance Principles (2005)
The principles endorse the OECD Principles of Corporate Governance and provide guidance around issues of particular concern to the ICGN. Read earlier editions and drafts.
Principles for a Model American Depositary Receipts Agreement (2004)
A model contract developed to help shareholders ensure that their votes are cast across borders in line with their policy when using third party instruments.
Statement on Expensing of Stock Options and Share-based Remuneration (2003)
The ICGN’s position on the recognition of stock options and other share based payments as an expense on issuing company’s financial statements.