End of shareholder revolt register ‘will help UK firms bury pay controversies’

A UK public register that tracked shareholder revolts against listed companies, particularly regarding executive pay, has been shut down by the Treasury. The register, launched in 2017, identified companies facing significant dissent at annual general meetings. The government's decision, part of a broader plan to cut business "red tape" and boost economic growth, followed lobbying from companies like the London Stock Exchange, who argued the publicity harmed competitiveness. The High Pay Centre thinktank warns that the closure will reduce transparency, making it easier for companies to disregard investor concerns, potentially affecting the 2026 shareholder meetings season. They argue that the register provided valuable information to stakeholders and that companies should instead be required to provide more detailed explanations for shareholder dissent.

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