BP 'disappointed' after shareholders refuse to back pay deal - live

Graeme Wearden (now), Julia Kollewe and Angela Mon

from on 2016-04-14 18:36 (#1AEVW)

Institute of Directors urge oil giant not to ignore its shareholders, after almost 60% reject its pay plans

7.36pm BST

And finally (I think), here's our updated news story on today's AGM drama:

Shareholders sent a warning through Britain's boardrooms at the first annual general meeting of the season by voting by a massive majority against bloated executive pay packages at BP.

7.28pm BST

It's been a busy day for shareholder activists, with several annual meetings taking place:

It's been quite a day for the #AGMArmy. We've been at #RioTinto, #PersimmonHomes &, of course, #BP_plc. High five! pic.twitter.com/gU9JCxySAH

7.16pm BST

Smith & Nephew says it 'notes' that it, like BP, has suffered a shareholder revolt on pay today.

Investors were angry that S&N used 'discretion' to boost bonuses to top executives by a total of 2.1m

Looking ahead, as mentioned in our 2015 Annual Report, the Remuneration Committee is undertaking a thorough review of remuneration arrangements during 2016, ahead of putting a revised Remuneration Policy to shareholder vote in 2017. Over the summer, they will consult with a broad range of shareholders to solicit their views on how best to align executive reward with shareholder interests.

6.47pm BST

BP has issued a statement to the City, confirming that shareholders rejected Bob Dudley's 14m pay deal -- although that vote is not 'binding'.

The final voting tally shows that 59.29% of shareholders voted against the remuneration report. That makes it the second biggest pay revolt ever, after RBS (see earlier table).

After an outstanding operational year for the company in a very difficult oil price environment, we were pleased that we had the support of our shareholders on all the binding votes at today's meeting.

We were disappointed that the advisory vote for this year's remuneration report was not carried. We have already spoken to a number of shareholders and have a continuing dialogue. They are seeking changes to our remuneration policy for the future. We will continue that engagement and will bring a revised policy to our next AGM in 2017.

6.40pm BST

Revolution is in the air tonight, as a second FTSE 100 company suffers a bloody nose over its pay plans.

Smith & Nephew, the medical engineering company, reports that 53% of shareholders voted against its remuneration report. Here's the official statement.

6.39pm BST

Chris Hughes of Bloomberg also argues that BP's remuneration committee are culpable.

He writes:

For starters, the remuneration committee could have applied much more discretion last year and taken Dudley's award down further. Instead, it seems to have absolved itself of responsibility by deferring too much to the shareholder-ratified pay policy. That shows poor judgement.

When shareholder discontent became evident in recent weeks, BP could have taken pre-emptive action and sought to persuade Dudley to return some of the award. This was a trick deployed effectively by British banks ahead of similar AGM rows, when CEOs pre-empted show-downs by sacrificing part or all of what they had been awarded.

BP's boss should have done the decent thing on pay, like the banks https://t.co/sw9GwJ1kBI

6.34pm BST

Our City editor, Nils Pratley, argues that BP is guilty of deep corporate blindness.

The remuneration committee should surely have realised that Dudley's massive pay package was unacceptable, when the oil company was also posting a whopping loss?

Read the remuneration report and there is barely a hint of awareness that paying its chief executive, Bob Dudley, 14m in a loss-making year might cause a spot of bother with the owners. Ann Dowling, the chair of the remuneration committee, concludes by saying she is pleased that BP's pay policy has "appropriately recognised" the company's excellent performance.

Dowling's remarks only make any vague sense within BP's narrow view of how it measures its progress. Shareholders are thrown statistics of how few accidents happened last year, how many big development projects were completed on time and how much cash was generated against budget. These factors, rather than the oil price, are the things management can affect and thus should be measured against, runs the argument.

5.35pm BST

David Pitt-Watson, Executive Fellow at London Business School, hopes that today's rebellion could spur more shareholders into action:

"This is an interesting and unexpected result. However, rejection of pay awards which are widely regarded as unjustified should not be the exception. It should be the norm. Those who cast their vote didn't "own" the shares. They hold those shares on our behalf. (Almost everyone in Britain who has a funded pension will have a share in BP). And this pay award was regarded as unreasonable.

"The question now is whether we will see this result repeated at other companies like WPP. If so, maybe "fiduciary shareholder democracy" is working.That is what was intended when the shareholder vote was put in place.

If not, directors' pay will remain out of control because we have no other practical way to bring it under control."

5.32pm BST

Sacha Sadan, L&G's director of corporate governance, has explained why his firm rejected BP's pay deal today:

"LGIM voted against the remuneration report as we felt there was poor alignment between long-term shareholder returns and executive remuneration.

In LGIM's view the remuneration committee should have used discretion to scale back bonus payments and long term Incentive awards (LTIP) to Executive Directors during the year.

5.03pm BST

BP also faced criticism today over its plans to drill in the Great Australian Bight - the area to the south of mainland Australia.

Environmentalists fear a repeat of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, which caused huge pollution in the Gulf of Mexico.

Driving home the #FightForTheBight & the risks of #climate change with chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg at the #BPAGM pic.twitter.com/JJ3klYhvkL

We took the mic at the #BPAGM to ask the board about their latest risky project. #FightfortheBight pic.twitter.com/wAthhVjeHQ

4.52pm BST

The High Pay Centre, which campaigns against excessive boardroom pay, has hailed today's vote.

Here's their statement:

The 59% vote against BP's remuneration report is a remarkable and welcome development.

Remuneration committees have got to use what is called "discretion", that is, do their job.

The @HighPayCentre's immediate response to the BP shareholder vote https://t.co/JKWFL4Sxq9

4.51pm BST

Sky New's Mark Kleinman also suggests Professor Dame Ann Dowling may be forced off the BP board.

After all, it was her remuneration committee that came up with Bob Dudley's package.

Extraordinary, humiliating day for BP with 59% of investors voting against remuneration report. Position of remco chair must be untenable.

4.49pm BST

Catherine Howarth, the head of the investor activist group ShareAction, attended BP's AGM.

She reckons Ann Dowling, the Cambridge academic who chairs BP's pay committee, had a rough day:

This woman looked miserable during #BPAGM. Blathered horribly when asked 'is it moral?' Felt for her. #59%SayNo pic.twitter.com/VBCr22GV6F

4.10pm BST

BP investors gasped when the initial voting figures were displayed on screens at today's AGM, at the ExCel exhibition centre in east London, Reuters reports.

But it's not clear whether BP are going to heed the vote, or simply revise its pay policies for 2017.

"We will...review the overall remuneration package.

"I will report on this next year with our conclusions and with a new proposed policy based on the outcome of this review."

3.57pm BST

UK satirists are weighing in too:

BP boss Bob Dudley tells his workforce he needs his 14m salary to afford the confectionery and drinks in his local petrol station.

3.54pm BST

Vince Cable, the former business secretary, also believes BP board members must step down.

Vince Cable, the former Business Secretary, tells me "BP's shareholders will now have to demand heads or face ridicule".

3.51pm BST

The Institute of Directors has has warned BP's board not to ignore shareholders' anger over their pay policy.

Simon Walker, the IoD's Director General of the IoD, says it's vital that today's vote is heeded.

"How the board of BP reacts to this rebellion will determine the future of corporate governance in the UK. The shareholders have spoken, and BP cannot shrug of this significant expression of disapproval with the CEO's pay package.

British boards are now in the last chance saloon, if the will of shareholders in cases like this is ignored, it will only be a matter of time before the Government introduces tougher regulations on executive pay."

3.49pm BST

Ashley Hamilton Claxton, corporate governance manager at Royal London Asset Management, is urging the BP board not to ignore today's shareholder vote:

"We welcome the decision by a majority of BP shareholders to vote against the remuneration package for its executive directors. We believe the vote reflects a serious discontent between the board's decision and the expectation of shareholders.

"The 59.1% vote against the executive directors remuneration is extraordinary and shows a lack of discretion by BP's board.

3.46pm BST

Barry Sheerman, Labour MP for Huddersfield, has called for Bob Dudley to resign:

Bob Dudley must now do the honourable thing and resign as CEO of BP @BBCNews

3.44pm BST

The Wall Street Journal call today's vote a "stinging" rebuke to Bob Dudley and BP, even though the decision is 'non-binding' (so the board could technically ignore it).

Here's their take:

3.42pm BST

This really is a dark day for BP; it's pretty rare for blue-chip firms to suffer this kind of humiliation at their investors' hands.

BP joins "elite" group of FTSE 100 companies to have pay deal voted down - Shell, GSK, Burberry, WPP, Xstrata. Very rare

3.38pm BST

More City reaction is coming in now:

On the BP pay row, Royal London says it reflects "serious discontent between the board's decision and the expectation of shareholders"

3.35pm BST

Business pundit Nick Hood thinks heads should roll on the BP board, for offering Dudley such a huge package and failing to heed the warning signs.

Dame Ann Dowling, who chairs the remuneration committee, is one candidate.

@SimonNeville @ByRobDavies Chairman of #BP remuneration committee must surely resign?

.@ByRobDavies @SimonNeville Frankly, if they didn't see this coming, all the f'ing non-execs should fall on their swords!! #BP

3.11pm BST

More shareholder discontent at housebuilder Persimmon.

Guardian reporter Frances Perraudin was at the AGM in York and brings this report:

Persimmon has been forced to defend the appointment of non-executive director Nigel Mills after questions were raised about his links to the company's financial advisers, Citi.

Shareholders elected Mills, a senior adviser at Citi, to the position by a narrow margin - with 107m votes in favour, 96m votes against and 730,000 votes withheld - despite investor bodies raising concerns that he would not be independent.

3.06pm BST

US markets are roughly flat in early trading :

2.46pm BST

It looks as though the BP vote could be the second biggest shareholder rebellion. Other notable revolts in the past are listed below.

Votes against pay at FTSE 100 companies

2.40pm BST

Institutional investor L&G says it was among shareholders voting against BP pay:

L&G's fund management arms says voted its 3% stake against the BP remuneration report

2.39pm BST

Guardian reporter Sean Farrell has been speaking to Roger Lawson of ShareSoc, the small shareholder's group, about BP.

Lawson points out that the big vote against Dudley's 14m package does not necessarily mean BP will radically alter it.

They need to totally review Mr Dudley's remuneration package, rebase it and redesign the bonus and LTIP arrangements. That's the only real solution.

They can try to get away with fiddling with it but it depends how forceful the institutional investors they talk to are. In my experience the concessions you get after a company loses a remuneration vote are not very large.

2.20pm BST

We will be bringing you more reaction to the incredible shareholder revolt at BP as it comes in.

Vinyl is no longer the preserve of baby-boomers who grew up with the format. It now also appeals to a new generation of engaged younger fans and millennials.

2.14pm BST

Read our full story on the BP shareholder revolt here.

2.04pm BST

The Guardian's Energy editor Terry Macalister is at the AGM and has described the vote as "astonishing"...

Astonishing 60% of shareholders vote AGAINST BP remuneration report.

1.54pm BST

BREAKING: 59.1% of BP shareholders vote against Bob Dudley's 2015 pay.

1.49pm BST

Over in the US, new jobless claims fell unexpectedly last week, revisiting a level last seen in 1973 when Richard Nixon was President and Gladys Knight & the Pips had a number one hit with Midnight Train to Georgia...

1.32pm BST

Shareholders at BP's tense AGM are asking why lower oil prices are not exerting downward pressure on executive pay at the company...

1.28pm BST

Church of England rep asking if 14 m pay for BP CEO is "morally right"

1.14pm BST

BP's chairman has told shareholders at the oil company's AGM it will respond to concerns about the near-14m pay package awarded to chief executive Bob Dudley. Here's our full story.

Svanberg told the AGM:

Later in the meeting we will discuss and vote on the resolution on the director's demuneration Report. That vote is advisory.

We know already from the proxies received and conversations with our institutional investors that there is real concern over the directors' pay in this challenging year for our shareholders.

On remuneration, the shareholders' reactions are very strong. They are seeking change in the way we should approach this in the future. Let me be clear. We hear you. We will sit down with our largest shareholders to make sure we understand their concerns and return to seek your support for a renewed policy.

1.10pm BST

It looks like Persimmon could also face some difficult questions at its AGM...

Heading up to York for Persimmon's AGM on behalf of @ShareSocUK, as well as my own shareholding. Will be giving them hell over 100m's...

1.06pm BST

Standard Life abstained from vote on BP's Bob Dudley's pay.

Biggest cheer at BP AGM. Move meeting venue closer to the train station. Too far to walk.

1.04pm BST

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) argues that the bonus given to BP's chief executive Bob Dudley is justified - saying that his decision making will contribute to the company's long term success.

Peter Simons of CIMA says:

Campaigners against ultra-high executive pay frequently have valid perspectives - and our own research shows that 61% of bosses admit their organisation's incentive structures aren't encouraging the right sort of decisions. But in my opinion this example is different.

Much of Bob Dudley's proposed bonus relates to progress against major change objectives to ensure BP's long term success. This is the right way to use bonuses, to encourage sustainable business, not just reward short term performance. So, while investors and analysts are right to be wary of any bonus with lots of zeroes - we'd suggest that incentives are more important in the bad times than they are in the good.

12.59pm BST

Mining giant Rio Tinto is also holding its annual meeting in London today, the last AGM for chief executive Sam Walsh. The company will hold another AGM in Brisbane on 5 May.

Rio Tinto has posted a speech by John Varley, the former Barclays boss who chairs the miner's remuneration committee, on its website. He says about executive pay, always a sensitive issue -

Of course, we recognise that strong feelings exist about executive pay. We also know that there will never be a perfect consensus among our owners on this subject.

For this reason the remuneration committee seeks to maintain its constructive dialogue with our shareholders and we will continue these conversations in the months ahead.

12.52pm BST

The AGM season is getting under way. BP's chief executive Bob Dudley is facing shareholders in London amid anger over his 13.8m pay package, while housebuilder Persimmon is holding its AGM at the racecourse in York.

The builder could face questions over its generous share bonus scheme, approved in 2012, and the composition of its boardroom. The share plan could hand an estimated 600m to 150 directors by 2022/

One of BP's top ten investors tells me it has voted against directors' remuneration. Expects "up to 25%" of shareholders to do same.

12.41pm BST

Here is our full story on the Bank of England decision.

Katie Allen writes:

A vote to leave the EU could harm economic growth and have a serious impact on the pound and other UK assets, the Bank of England said on Thursday, as it took steps to prepare for June's referendum.

Minutes to the Bank's latest policy meeting showed its nine-strong monetary policy committee voted unanimously to leave interest rates at their historic low of 0.5%. The committee said uncertainty ahead of what is expected to be a close EU vote appeared to be weighing on investment decisions and policymakers said economic growth could slow as a result in the second quarter of the year.

12.37pm BST

Samuel Tombs, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, says:

The committee reiterated its judgment that "it is more likely than not that Bank Rate will need to increase over the forecast period" in order to keep inflation in check. It therefore clearly disagrees with the markets' view that interest rates are more likely to fall than to rise this year and will not reach 0.75% until 2020.

All in all, the committee still is in 'wait and see' mode; it will take stock after the EU referendum has been concluded in June, likely with a vote to remain. We continue to think that inflation will surprise to the upside later this year and throughout 2017, compelling the MPC to raise interest rates at least once before the end of this year.

12.27pm BST

Here's Ben Brettell, senior economist at Hargreaves Lansdown, on the Bank of England decision:

Consumer spending, aided by low inflation, low unemployment and rising wages, has been the engine of economic growth lately. But recent surveys suggest consumers reined in their spending in March - perhaps the first sign of nerves ahead of June's EU referendum.

Today's minutes from the Bank of England note that uncertainty over the referendum has begun to affect the real economy.

12.23pm BST

The BoE also admits that UK economic data will be hard to assess until the June referendum is over.

The key par from the BoE minutes: its not just businesses sitting on their hands ahead of the vote pic.twitter.com/yWkOMYLDdp

12.15pm BST

Bank of England policymakers have also warned that uncertainty over the European Union referendum is hitting economic growth.

The Monetary Policy Committee say that uncertainty relating to the EU referendum has begun to weigh on certain areas of activity.

Some decisions, including on capital expenditure and commercial property transactions, are being postponed pending the outcome of the vote. This might lead to some softening in growth during the first half of 2016.

The Committee considered the likely implications for monetary policy of a vote to leave the European Union. Such a vote might result in an extended period of uncertainty about the economic outlook, including about the prospects for export growth. This uncertainty would be likely to push down on demand in the short run. Uncertainty regarding the supply side of the economy might also increase, reflecting any alterations to product or labour market regulation, adjustments in labour flows or changes in the rate of technology adoption as a result of different arrangements governing foreign trade and capital flows.

A vote to leave could have significant implications for asset prices, in particular the exchange rate.

Ultimately, monetary policy would be set in order to meet the inflation target, while also ensuring that inflation expectations remained anchored. Whatever the outcome of the referendum, the MPC would use its tools to achieve its inflation remit.

12.06pm BST

The Bank of England says there has been "mixed news" on the prospects for global growth in the near term.

The minutes of this month's MPC meeting state that:

Immediate downside risks around Chinese activity have lessened; in the United States, indicators of GDP growth in the first quarter of the year have been disappointing, but those for the second quarter are more encouraging. Movements in the prices of risky assets suggest that investors have regained their risk appetite, possibly reflecting more positive global economic data and policy action by central banks.

Nevertheless, given weak supply growth, the Committee continues to expect global growth to be somewhat subdued by historical standards.

12.04pm BST

UK interest rates have now been hold for 85 months running, going all the way back to March 2009.

There are children at school who weren't even born when borrowing costs were last above 0.5%.

BoE on hold yet again. 85 months and counting. https://t.co/gqYLMmYti3 pic.twitter.com/vGtRI2qaYe

12.01pm BST

Breaking: The Bank of England has voted 9-0 to leave interest rates unchanged, at 0.5%.

That's largely as expected, despite some chatter that one policymaker might be tempted to vote for a cut.

11.53am BST

In all honesty, this isn't the most eagerly anticipated central bank decision in history:

You can feel the tension in the air ahead of this crucial #BOE meeting pic.twitter.com/QdmVQqpvlu

11.39am BST

Burberry's sales woes have dampened the mood in the City this morning.

Shares in the luxury retailer are still down 7%, as investors react to the 5% fall in like-for-like sales in the last quarter.

These Bank of England meetings have turned from a monthly must-see to a somewhat mundane ritual, given the clear remoteness of any near-term monetary policy shift. One thing that has changed is inflation is finally starting to pick up. Thus, any shift in tone from the committee will be closely tracked as a cue to draw forward rate hike expectations.

Burberry shares tumbled heavily at the release of a lacklustre set of earnings today, with the company representing the second luxury retailer this week to be hit by falling footfall in Europe. Interestingly, Burberry sales in China continue to grow, providing the latest sign that despite the economic slowdown, consumption is on the rise in the Chinese middle class.

11.17am BST

Having said that....Jeremy Cook of World First predicts that the Bank of England will vote 9-0 to leave interest rates unchanged at today's meeting.

2 votes for cuts? No incentive at a relatively meaningless meeting to rock the boat. Haldane and Vlieghe are doves but nothing doing here

11.16am BST

Which Bank policymakers could be tempted to vote to cut interest rates?

Chief economist Andy Haldane is one candidate. Twice last year, he suggested that borrowing costs could be cut from the current 0.5%, if economic conditions worsened.

11.02am BST

We have one hour to wait until the Bank of England releases its interest rate decision.

Sky News's Ed Conway suggests that some Bank policymakers are close to voting to cut interest rates.

Today the BoE will leave interest rates unchanged at 0.5%. Almost everyone expects the MPC to be unanimous on this. But...

I understand at least two members of the MPC are strongly considering a vote for a cut in interest rates

10.55am BST

Greece's economic plight has claimed another victim - electronics chain Elektroniki Athinon.

The company is shutting its 45 stores, after declaring bankruptcy. The Kathimerini newspaper reports:

In a statement released on Wednesday, the company cited the state of the local economy, the weakening of Greek consumers' purchasing power, the imposition of capital controls last year and a suspension of a restructuring plan among the reasons behind its insolvency.

According to Elektroniki, the company's 450 employees were not owed unpaid wages, while compensation would be paid in about 8 months.

Greek electronic appliances chain declares bankruptcy https://t.co/FpFFEeFm6o pic.twitter.com/mtsIXefYtZ

10.29am BST

A glimmer of good news from Europe -- the eurozone is no longer in deflation.

New data from Eurostat show that consumer prices were unchanged across the region last month, rather than falling by 0.1% as first estimated.

Euro area annual inflation up to 0.0% in Mar 2016 (flash estimate -0.1%) #Eurostat https://t.co/9wadOVCPSo pic.twitter.com/eg2SctKn9S

#Eurozone inflation revised up to 0% so out of #deflation but 15 EU nations still are/more than those with inflation pic.twitter.com/AYzCNqVTya

9.45am BST

Speaking of Royal Bank of Scotland....

RBS planning to axe 600 UK jobs - sources tell @AndyMacaskill

9.33am BST

More than seven years after the financial crisis, Britain's government should accept that it may never make a profit on its shareholding on Royal Bank of Scotland.

"My one experience of running banks is that the longer they stay in the public sector, the greater the likelihood that you will lose value."

Thursday's FT front page:
Outgoing Treasury chief warns of likely loss on 19bn RBS stake#tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/7nlqDteAda

9.16am BST

JD Sports has smashed City expectations, sending its shares up 2%.

My colleague Julia Kollewe explains:

JD Sports has reported a 45% surge in annual profits and booming sales in sports fashion as it rolls out stores across Europe.

Strong demand for trainers made by Nike and other leading brands, as well as for women's sportswear, meant that like-for-like sales at JD's sports fashion division rose by more than 10% for the second year running....

8.53am BST

There may be tears before bedtime at Mothercare.

International continues to be affected by ongoing economic and currency headwinds.

Retail sales in constant currency were down (9.7%) with currency further impacting retail sales in actual currency which were down (10.8%).

In the Middle East consumer sentiment was impacted by the sustained lower oil price, resulting in a significant decline in constant currency sales. In Asia, China in particular, was affected by weakening consumer confidence.

Europe and Latin America were impacted by adverse currency moves.

8.33am BST

Unilever hasn't impressed the City either, despite reporting underlying sales growth of 4.7% and hiking its dividend.

Shares in the consumer giant are down almost 1% in early trading, after it warned that markets remaining volatile.

"We expected tougher markets and we're finding tougher markets."

Underlying volume growth 2.6% and quarterly dividend raised 6% to a0.3201 per share https://t.co/CndTxQxt6v #UnileverQ1

8.18am BST

Shares in Burberry have slumped by 6% at the start of trading, after it hit investors with more bad news.

Burberry reported that like-for-like sales have fallen by 5% in the last quarter. And it also warned that profits for the current financial year are likely to only reach the bottom of analyst expectations.

Down goes Burberry...4Q retail sales dropped 5% on comparable basis. Warns FY profit be bottom end of analyst range pic.twitter.com/1HypmPlduk

8.06am BST

A swathe of emerging market currencies have slumped today, after Singapore surprised investors by announcing it won't allow its currency to strengthen.

Bloomberg has the details:

Singapore's dollar slumped the most since August, dragging down other Asia-Pacific currencies, as surprise easing by the central bank fueled speculation other policy makers in the region will follow suit.

New Zealand's dollar, Malaysia's ringgit and Indonesia's rupiah also weakened after the Monetary Authority of Singapore said it would seek a policy of zero appreciation against an undisclosed basket of currencies, returning to a neutral stance it adopted in the global financial crisis in 2008.

8.01am BST

Asian stock markets have posted solid gains today, picking up the baton after yesterday's strong performance in Europe and the US.

Japan's Nikkei surged by over 3%, while the Australian S&P/ASX rose by 1.2% and the South Koreas' market gained 2%.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.5%, reaching its highest level since Nov. 26. It has risen 5 percent since Friday, breakingabove several resistance levels to signal further gains.

7.37am BST

Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of the world economy, the financial markets, the eurozone and business.

Source	RSS or Atom Feed
Feed Location	http://feeds.theguardian.com/theguardian/business/economics/rss
Feed Title
Feed Link	http://feeds.theguardian.com/