The relative recent publication of the UK Stewardship Code 2020 by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) provides evidence that ESG (environmental social and governance) factors have moved into the mainstream for investors.

Assessment task details and
instructions

Task
details:

The
relative recent publication of the UK Stewardship Code 2020 by the Financial
Reporting Council (FRC) provides evidence that ESG (environmental social and
governance) factors have moved into the mainstream for investors.

Discuss

Instructions:

The UK Stewardship Code 2020 indeed states
that “The investment market has changed significantly since the publication
of the first UK Stewardship Code”. In this essay style assignment you will
need to identify how the investment market has changed since the first Code
was introduced in 2012 and the consequent changes that have been made in the
2020 Code. How effective do you think the new Code will be in improving the
performance of institutional investors and protecting the material interests
of the investors that they represent?

You will be expected to look beyond UK case
law and legislation. Review the teaching materials on shareholders generally
and institutional shareholders as well as information specifically related to
the UK Stewardship Code. As well as legal analysis, you should consider fully
the political, technological, philosophical and economic implications of the
debate over institutional shareholders and the concept of stewardship.  

Read carefully both the written and online
guides to the Oscola referencing. Improper referencing results in lower
marks.

Your answer must be word-processed using
Microsoft Word. All assessments must be written in Arial or Calibri font,
12pt with 1.5 spacing.  Please put page
numbers at the bottom of your script.

Word count

Your report
should be a maximum of 3,000 words, including references but excluding the bibliography.

You must include a word count with your work.

NB: The bibliography is NOT included within the
word count. However, footnotes ARE INCLUDED within the word count. 

There is a 10% leeway permitted if needed,
thus you may exceed the word count within said 10% which amounts to NO MORE than
3,300 total words.

If the words exceed 3,300, then markers
will cease considering content for the purpose of grading and feedback once the
stated maximum length has been exceeded and award marks ONLY on the basis of
work within the stated acceptable upper limit of length.