Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Leading academics, senior members of the bar and the vice-chair of the Ontario securities regulator held a roundtable Nov. 21 on proxy contests.

Professors Anita Anand and Edward Iacobucci of the Faculty of Law presented their views on whether special compensation arrangements for director nominees in a proxy contest should be regulated or left to shareholder voting. They also explored the need for disclosure of these types of arrangements.

Panel members, Stephen Erlichman, executive director, Canadian Coalition for Good Governance, Charles Penner, JANA Partners LLC, James E. A. Turner, vice-chair, Ontario Securities Commission and moderator The Hon. Henry N. R. Jackman commented on vote buying, shareholder activism, director compensation, and the role of the regulator in the context of proxy contests. Academic papers on these issues will be prepared.