Latest news with #AnnWagner
Associated Press
15-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
ICI Applauds Reintroduction of House Bill to Protect Investors and Expand Private Market Access
WASHINGTON, May 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Investment Company Institute (ICI) President and CEO Eric Pan released the following statement on the reintroduction in the US House of Representatives of legislation to protect closed-end funds (CEFs) and their investors. The Increasing Investor Opportunities Act, was cosponsored by Reps. Ann Wagner (MO-02) and Gregory Meeks (NY-05). 'This bipartisan Increasing Investor Opportunities Act would allow CEFs to invest their assets more freely in securities issued by private funds, increasing opportunities for retail investors to access private markets. The bill also would protect retail investors, including many seniors, from harmful activists that misuse closed-end funds to extract quick profits for themselves. ICI applauds Representatives Wagner and Meeks for continuing to advocate for American investors, and we look forward to seeing the legislation pass both the House and the Senate for the President's signature.' Background: The Increasing Investor Opportunities Act would allow a CEF to invest more assets in private market securities, expanding access for retail investors to these growing markets. It also would restrict the proportion of CEF shares that activist investors and their affiliates could acquire to no more than 10 percent, closing the loophole that activists exploit at the expense of CEFs' long-term shareholders. This restriction would prevent predatory activist investors from extracting money from CEFs by taking over the funds to force them into liquidity events or to radically change their investment strategies. Contact: [email protected] View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Investment Company Institute
Reuters
30-04-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Morgan Stanley investors should reject proposal to expand equity incentives, ISS says
April 30 (Reuters) - Institutional Shareholder Services has urged investors to reject Morgan Stanley's (MS.N), opens new tab proposal to expand its equity incentive compensation plan, as the proxy adviser escalates its pushback against Wall Street. The investment bank had proposed, opens new tab adding 50 million common shares to its equity incentive plan and extending the program by three years. Such incentives align employee and shareholder interests while discouraging imprudent risk taking, it said. However, ISS said Morgan Stanley had granted too many shares on average over the past three years. Some disclosures were also incomplete, it added. Equity incentives are a common practice at banks, particularly for senior employees, and can account for a significant portion of total pay. So far this proxy season, ISS has opposed a number of management proposals in the United States. It pushed back against retention bonuses for Goldman Sachs' (GS.N), opens new tab top two executives and the compensation plans for BlackRock's (BLK.N), opens new tab top management. Goldman shareholders approved the pay packages last week, while BlackRock's executive compensation will be put to a non-binding vote on May 15. The proxy adviser, however, has recommended voting for executive pay at Morgan Stanley. The bank declined to comment. ISS and Glass Lewis, the two chief proxy advisers, have drawn multiple allegations of undue influence and lack of transparency. On Tuesday, a Congressional subcommittee held a hearing entitled "Exposing the Proxy Advisory Cartel", where U.S. Representative Ann Wagner, a Missouri Republican, said the companies "routinely dictate" shareholder votes. Separately, Lazard (LAZ.N), opens new tab disclosed on Wednesday it had asked ISS to conduct a thorough review of its report, in which the proxy firm recommended a vote against the bank's executive compensation plan.
Ya Biladi
23-02-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
US Abraham Accords Caucus wants to support education in Morocco
The co-chairs of the Abraham Accords Caucus have introduced a resolution aimed at promoting peace and tolerance through education in several Middle Eastern countries, including Egypt, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia. The resolution calls for reforms in school curricula to eliminate antisemitic content and hate speech while fostering inclusion and respect. « We have the responsibility to educate future generations on the values of peace and coexistence », stated Representative Brad Schneider. The United States is encouraged to collaborate with international organizations, including the UN, to achieve these objectives. Representative Ann Wagner stressed the importance of rejecting intolerance to «deprive the Iranian regime of the hatred that fuels its violent agendas». The Caucus seeks to strengthen the Abraham Accords, signed in 2020, by encouraging partnerships between signatory countries and expanding the agreement to nations without diplomatic relations with Israel. It has supported key legislation, including the Israel Relations Normalization Act, the DEFEND Act, and the MARITIME Act, as well as provisions of the NDAA on diplomatic and military cooperation. In the Senate, the caucus is co-chaired by James Lankford (R-OK), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Cory Booker (D-NJ). The Caucus receives support from organizations such as the Atlantic Council, the Abraham Accords Peace Institute, AIPAC, the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee, Hadassah, the U.S.-Israel Education Association, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the Israel Policy Forum, CUFI Action, the Jewish Federations of North America, and B'nai B'rith International.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Yahoo
Funding in peril for Louisiana's children's advocacy centers, which offer healing and hope
Canva graphic Louisiana is consistently named among the most dangerous states in America, and advocacy centers across the state face the aftermath of the violence, offering a space to weather the storm and heal. Countless victims from all walks of life rely on lifesaving resources from domestic violence shelters and victim advocacy centers. Devastating federal funding cuts now threaten to strip away their last hope, making Louisiana an even more dangerous place for child victims of crime. As executive director of the Louisiana Alliance of Children's Advocacy Centers (LACAC), I work to empower the staff at each of the 14 CACs across the state. In 2023, they assisted 7,573 child crime victims and their families. It's absolutely vital to ensure our centers continue to provide compassion and support to every single victim and their families, and cater to their specific needs. For decades, we have looked to the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) and the Crime Victims Fund (CVF) to assist our goal of reaching victims in the wake of violent crime, sexual assault and domestic abuse. Across Louisiana, the dedicated teams at our CACs stand ready to provide comprehensive care, offering hope and healing. Last year, VOCA grants saw a funding reduction of $600 million, putting nearly 1,000 CACs nationwide at risk of collapse. Now, these centers face reduced critical services, fewer staff members or – in the worst cases – an end to their services entirely. For Louisiana, the cuts echo just as deeply. Our CACs are staffed by 484 dedicated professionals – social workers, law enforcement, medical experts, counselors and legal staff – who work together to help children heal and prevent further harm. In 2023, the staff at Louisiana's CACs conducted 5,591 forensic interviews, connected 3,953 children to counseling and therapy, and provided 9,687 people with advocacy services. Each received the specialized care needed to address the emotional, psychological and legal effects of the crime. Beyond the restorative care we provide, we are just as committed to active prevention efforts. In 2023, our CACs guided 14,427 children and 43,788 adults through education programs that teach them how to recognize and report abuse. These programs stop abuse before it starts, building safer communities for everyone. Now, with dwindling support from VOCA and the federal government, these services are threatened. U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Missouri, introduced the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2024 (CVFS) early last year, followed closely by a companion bill introduced by U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, and Lisa Murkowski. R-Alaska. They offer a much needed solution. Before the CVFS Act ran out of time during the 118th Congress, it garnered overwhelming bipartisan support – more than 200 co-sponsors in the House and six sponsors in the Senate signed on. Now, Wagner has once again championed this cause with the re-introduction of the bill to redirect funds from the False Claims Act into the Crime Victims Fund, temporarily stabilizing the fund and preserving services for victims. It would serve as a critical lifeline, ensuring our programs continue to support the children who rely on them while we work on a permanent solution. To discontinue these programs would be to abandon these vulnerable children in their darkest hour.
