STRUCTURE & OPERATION
Diversity
The diversity of the board is an issue that is familiar to the boards of North American companies and many already
take this into account when recruiting directors. However, LGIM raises this issue when engaging with companies.
Independence
The independence of non-executive directors is important and valued to ensure a balanced and well functioning
board.
LGIM supports the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)’s criteria on non-executive director independence but also
applies its own criteria. A non-executive director would not be considered independent if he or she:
• Has been an employee of the company or group within the last five years;
• Has, or has had within the last three years, a material business relationship with the company either directly, or as
a partner, shareholder, director, or senior employee of a body that has such a relationship with the company;
• Has received or receives additional remuneration from the company, apart from a director’s fee, such as the
company’s share option, performance related pay, or pension scheme;
• Has close family ties with any of the company’s advisers, directors, or senior employees;
• Holds cross-directorships or has significant links with other directors through involvement in other companies or
bodies;
• Represents a significant shareholder.
Re-election of directors
The board should ensure planned and progressive board refreshment and LGIM encourages the annual re-election
of all directors. This strengthens board accountability and allows shareholders to more easily express dissatisfaction
with board decisions.
Declassified board
The existence of a classified board in North America whereby directors are elected on a staggered basis every
three years, is still quite common and LGIM believes is not in shareholders’ interests as it not only reduces board
accountability but can act as a takeover defence. Furthermore, the annual election of all directors encourages
board members to focus on shareholder interests. Therefore, LGIM will encourage a company to move away from a
classified structure and will support shareholder proposals put to the company to declassify the board.
Majority vote
Most North American companies still elect directors by a plurality vote standard. Under this standard if one
shareholder holding only one share votes in favour of a nominee, then that nominee “wins” the election and takes
up a seat on the board. This standard was assumed by companies as they were concerned that one or more directors
would not receive a majority of votes resulting in failed elections. In recent years, more North American companies
have adopted a majority vote standard for board elections where a nominee would have to receive the support of
a majority of the shares voted in order to be elected. LGIM believes that this structure should be assumed by all
companies as it increases accountability to shareholders. The election of directors is a fundamental shareholder
right and so should be undertaken in a democratic way.
In general, companies with a plurality vote standard use “withhold” as the contrary vote option in director elections,
and companies with a majority vote standard use “against” but essentially these are both negative votes with
“abstain” not a valid option in this market.
Board mandates
The overboarding of directors in North American companies can be an issue and LGIM will suggest that a director
with a full-time CEO role at a large public company should not undertake more than three outside non-executive
directorships.
Board evaluation
There is no requirement for North American companies to perform external board evaluations. We would, however,
always encourage a company to perform such evaluations as they are beginning to be recognised as being beneficial
in identifying issues with directors rather than by receiving negative votes for director elections.