Turning Words Into Action
For 7 years, The Rights & Responsibilities of Institutional Investors meeting has offered objective analysis of the issues facing active owners and provided insightful examination of the vital issues confronting European investors. During those years, the dialog has both deepened and broadened.
For instance, we have observed a growing acceptance of the benefits of active engagement among a broader range of European institutions. We have also noted increasing, deepened interest among those institutions in moving the conversation from one primarily about "soft" issues to a discussion of the quantifiable objectives of protecting assets through responsible fiduciary practices. Recently, however, as investors have continued to respond to the fallout of the financial crisis, we have seen the rise of a certain tension between plans’ investment objectives and the continuing — perhaps growing &mdah; need to focus on corporate governance and asset recovery issues.
We are pleased to announce that the 2012 meeting will endeavor to address both sets of issues facing investors today: ensuring that institutions have the means to exercise their full rights as shareholders and yet also have the information and the tools they need to meet their unique investment objectives. In its simplest form this goal means that we will be offering parallel tracks of sessions over the course of this single day meeting, but more importantly it means addressing the full, broad spectrum that pension plans and their managers and advisors are confronting. For example, what are the investment practices and strategic guidelines that will help institutions achieve their investment and risk management objectives while exercising their fiduciary duties, including benefiting from responsible investment practices and active engagement.
In 2012, The Rights & Responsibilities of Institutional Investors, again co-sponsored by Institutional Investor and Kessler Topaz Meltzer Check LLP, will offer investment, compliance and legal officers from European public pension and insurance funds and mutual fund companies the information they require on how to turn principles into sound fiduciary and investment practice.
