Capitalism Revisited | Responsible Enterprise

Capitalism Revisited | Responsible Enterprise

  • 15 September 2022
  • •
  • Milan

Watch the presentations here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0ysOguv9W0ITLPccaD09HD10K6MiqZB_

This was a a hybrid event hosted by Assonime at Borsa Italiana on 15 September 2022

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Part One
 

Capitalism Revisited

A two day event on Responsible Capitalism

Responsible Enterprise

Italian Conference for Responsible Enterprise

Hosted by Assonime, with the support of

Thursday, 15 September 2022
09:45 – 16:30 CEST
 

Location
Borsa Italiana, Palazzo Mezzanotte, Piazza Affari 6, Milan

 Programme | Download the Programme
 

Queries: admin@ecgi.org

 

ABOUT THE EVENT

This event was co-organised by Assonime (the association of Italian public companies), the European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI) and Bocconi University. 

The event brought together senior academics and thought-leaders in business to discuss a range of current topics. It was part of the ECGI initiative on Responsible Capitalism. The event brought together academics and practitioners to discuss purpose and family enterprise from a comparative perspective.

Session 1: Business Purpose and Benefit Corporations

There are divergent views on what the purpose of business is or should be and, while discussions have been in progress for a long time, their intensity and significance are increasing. The reasons for this are that there is growing recognition of mounting problems in relation to the environmental, human, and social impacts of companies but little consensus about their causes and even less about their appropriate remedies. To some, these problems reflect a deficiency of the design and enforcement of traditional tools of antitrust, regulation, and taxation. To others, conventional tools are not adequate, sufficient, or efficient means of dealing with the problems. The session will discuss and contrast these different views.

Session 2: Corporate Control

Institutional investors generally oppose dual class share structures and tenure voting because they make corporate control incontestable. In contrast, control enhancing mechanisms can prevent “amoral drift”; incumbents can pursue socially desirable actions that do not maximise shareholder value without the threat of a hostile takeover or losing board control. Should “pro-social” investors promote the use of dual-class shares? Should institutional shareholders have countervailing powers, like representation on the nominations committee or voting lists?

Session 3: Family Enterprise

Family businesses represent a key driver for supporting the transition toward a sustainable economy as they globally dominate some of the key sectors that have a significant environmental and social impact. Considering their governance features and ownership structure, are family enterprises more oriented to pursue the company's sustainable success in the long run? What governance measures could support and preserve their commitment toward a long-term sustainability of their businesses? A significant part of family enterprises is represented by SMEs: how do they tackle sustainability opportunities and risks and what are the obstacles they encounter along this path?

 

 

Main Sponsors

Sponsors

The programme was developed in collaboration with:

Information

Address:
Borsa Italiana, Palazzo Mezzanotte
Contact:
Elaine McPartlan
ECGI
elaine.mcpartlan@ecgi.org

Thursday, 15 September 2022 | 09:45 CEST

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Business Purpose and Benefit Corporations

Time:
10:15h

There are divergent views on what the purpose of business is or should be the purpose of business and, while discussions have been in progress for a long time, their intensity and significance are increasing.  The reasons for this are that there is growing recognition of mounting problems in relation to the environmental, human, and social impacts of companies but little consensus about their causes and even less about their appropriate remedies. To some these problems reflect a deficiency of the design and enforcement of traditional tools of antitrust, regulation, and taxation. To others, conventional tools are not adequate, sufficient, or efficient means of dealing with the problems. Session 2 will discuss and contrast these different views.

Speakers

Discussants

Conference Documents

11:45

Coffee Break

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Corporate Control

Time:
12:10h

Institutional investors generally oppose dual class share structures and tenure voting because they make corporate control uncontestable. In contrast, control enhancing mechanisms can prevent “amoral drift”; incumbents can pursue socially desirable actions that do not maximise shareholder without the threat of a hostile takeover or loosing board control. Should “pro-social” investors promote the use of dual-class shares? Should institutional shareholder have counterveiling powers, like representation on the nominations committee or voting lists?

Speakers

Discussants

Conference Documents

13:40

Lunch

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Family Enterprise

Time:
14:45h

Family businesses represent a key driver for supporting the transition toward a sustainable economy as they globally dominate some of the key sectors that have a significant enviromental and social impact. Considering their governance features and ownership structure, are family enterprises more oriented to pursue the company's sustainable success in the long run? What governance measures could support and preserve their commitment toward a long-term sustainability of their businesses? A significant part of family enterprises is represented by SMEs: how do they tackle with sustainability opportunies and risks and what are the obstacles they encounter along this path?

Speakers

Discussants

Conference Documents

Speakers

Presentations

Back to all presentations

Business Purpose and Benefit Corporations

Time:
10:15h

There are divergent views on what the purpose of business is or should be the purpose of business and, while discussions have been in progress for a long time, their intensity and significance are increasing.  The reasons for this are that there is growing recognition of mounting problems in relation to the environmental, human, and social impacts of companies but little consensus about their causes and even less about their appropriate remedies. To some these problems reflect a deficiency of the design and enforcement of traditional tools of antitrust, regulation, and taxation. To others, conventional tools are not adequate, sufficient, or efficient means of dealing with the problems. Session 2 will discuss and contrast these different views.

Speakers

Discussants

Conference Documents

Back to all presentations

Corporate Control

Time:
12:10h

Institutional investors generally oppose dual class share structures and tenure voting because they make corporate control uncontestable. In contrast, control enhancing mechanisms can prevent “amoral drift”; incumbents can pursue socially desirable actions that do not maximise shareholder without the threat of a hostile takeover or loosing board control. Should “pro-social” investors promote the use of dual-class shares? Should institutional shareholder have counterveiling powers, like representation on the nominations committee or voting lists?

Speakers

Discussants

Conference Documents

Back to all presentations

Family Enterprise

Time:
14:45h

Family businesses represent a key driver for supporting the transition toward a sustainable economy as they globally dominate some of the key sectors that have a significant enviromental and social impact. Considering their governance features and ownership structure, are family enterprises more oriented to pursue the company's sustainable success in the long run? What governance measures could support and preserve their commitment toward a long-term sustainability of their businesses? A significant part of family enterprises is represented by SMEs: how do they tackle with sustainability opportunies and risks and what are the obstacles they encounter along this path?

Speakers

Discussants

Conference Documents

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Closing Remarks

Time:
16:15h

Speakers

Panel Discussions

Panel Discussion

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Session 2 | Chaired by

Time:
03:27h

Moderator

Panel Discussion

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Session 3 | Chaired by

Time:
03:27h

Moderator

Panel Discussion