Back in 2013, after nearly 50% voted against the remuneration policy, CEO Graeme Stephens said the board would tackle shareholders’ concerns. Things improved a little in the following year, but after 2015’s 31% vote shareholders might have hoped the remuneration committee would engage their concerns more vigorously. Whatever changes the committee made obviously didn’t do the trick. When a full 65.5% of shareholders vote against the remuneration policy you should know you’re on the wrong track. It is a nonbinding vote, so the directors don’t have to take shareholder concerns too seriously. King IV, which comes into effect in 2017, will put a little more pressure on the remuneration committee, but nothing too difficult. The code recommends the remuneration policy should record the measures the board commits to take if there’s a 25% or more vote against. The steps taken to tackle "legitimate and reasonable objections and concerns" should also be disclosed. The unimpressive performance ...

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