Resources

Content Library — stewardship insights and thought leadership.

The Content Library is your one-stop location for all the Forum’s published work — Annual Reviews, White Papers, S-360 Project materials, Practical Guides and Four O’Clock Forum recordings. Filter by E, S or G topic, or search by keyword.

Featured publications

Recent publications.

White Papers

Engaging with Investors During Takeover Situations

This paper reflects discussions with a working group of Investor Forum members who have been involved in a number of takeover situations in recent years and were keen to share thoughts and perspectives as to how outcomes for long term shareholders might be enhanced. This group has identified a recurring pattern of takeover engagement that is often too limited, too late, and too constrained by an overly cautious interpretation of the Takeover Code.

Annual Review

Annual Review 2025

White Papers

Reframing the Narrative on the UK Market

This paper, produced in conjunction with the Investor Forum membership, seeks to contribute the institutional investor voice to the improving sentiment currently building towards the UK equity market and act as a constructive counter-narrative to some of the negativity that has emerged over recent years.

White Papers

The Stewardship of Share Buybacks

In the following pages, we provide questions that shareholders can use in their engagement with boards to gain insight into the decision-making and oversight processes, and questions that boards can use to challenge themselves to gain confidence that they are acting in the best interests of the company in the choices they make.

S-360 Working Group

S-360 Engagement Papers

Engagement papers covering Rule 3 adviser independence, independent committee structure, Rules 20.2, 2.2(f) and 28, and Practice Statement No. 20.

White Papers

How Investors Use Proxy Advisors

Proxy advisors are a key service provider to the investment management industry, bringing efficiencies to the voting process and helping to keep costs low, to the benefit of the wider market. Investors may use a number of services from one or more proxy advisors – such as research and analysis, policy setting and recommendations, voting implementation and vote disclosure.

White Papers

AIM to Main

The London Stock Exchange (LSE) Discussion Paper on the Future of AIM1 raised questions about improving the functioning of the market and steps to build the seamless funding continuum, in which AIM plays an important role. Our submission focussed on how to make a smoother pathway from AIM to the Main Market for those companies that believe this is appropriate, given their stage of size and growth. This paper builds on that submission and reviews the current position for companies looking to move from the AIM to the Main Market. We make proposals we believe would make it easier for companies to make that transition.

Collective Engagement Framework 2025

Guidance for investors on managing collective engagement activities across jurisdictions while reducing legal and regulatory risks.

Annual Review

Annual Review 2024

White Papers

Shaping Tomorrow’s Dialogues

This paper presents the findings from our programme to identify and promote Best Practice Dialogue between corporates and investors. Our goal was to create a comprehensive assessment of the state of key dialogues between UK companies and investors.

Annual Review · 2023

Annual Review 2023

White Papers

Toolkit on Modern Slavery

Investors may be connected to modern slavery and human trafficking through their own operations and supply chain, and share a responsibility with al business for addressing this. However, their most material exposure is likely to be through the companies in which they invest their client’s capital. Because the institutional investment sector is so intertwined with the rest of the economy, investor action can drive better global practice in detection and mitigation, and help those that are most vulnerable. Investor interest, in the form of questions, feedback and proactive engagement, can be a powerful driver of corporate action to address the underlying issues.

Annual Review

Annual Review 2022

White Papers

What Does Stakeholder Capitalism Mean for Investors?

A growing body of opinion asserts that the current model of capitalism has failed because of an excessive focus on shareholder interests without sufficient regard to other stakeholders. Its proponents advocate an alternative form of capitalism – stakeholder capitalism.

Annual Review

Annual Review 2021

White Papers

Governing for Growth

‘Governing for Growth’ is intended as a practical guide for smaller and mid-sized developing companies which are listed or have shares quoted on public markets. The objective is to support the process of growth and development of these companies as they grow their businesses and deliver long-term sustainable value.

Annual Review

Annual Review 2020

White Papers

Engaging the Engagers

A practical toolkit for schemes to achieve effective stewardship through their managers

Annual Review

Annual Review 2019

White Papers

Collective Engagement: An Essential Stewardship Capability

In this paper we categorise 12 different forms of engagement activity; identify 6 critical success factors that lie behind effective engagement; explore how the success factors and categories of engagement combine to deliver effective engagement; and highlight the valuable role of collective engagement.

White Papers

The Four Dialogues

The need to improve how Investors and Companies engage on Governance

White Papers

Defining Stewardship and Engagement

This document sets out our thoughts on the important areas of stewardship and engagement, based on our observations and experience since the Investor Forum was established in 2014.

Annual Review

Annual Review 2018

Annual Review

Annual Review 2017

Annual Review

Annual Review 2016

Member events

Four O’Clock Forums.

Launched in April 2020, the Four O’Clock Forums provide Members with opportunities to share insights, discuss topical issues and hear from experts. On-demand video and highlight notes from past sessions are available in the Members area.

Four O'Clock Forum

Four O’ Clock Forum – Pass Through Voting with Tom Gosling

A members-only Four O'Clock Forum session bringing together expert speakers and Member investors to discuss climate-risk disclosure, transition planning and stewardship priorities for UK portfolios.

View all events

S-360 Programme

Stewardship 360 Projects.

S-360 projects deliver valuable and practical insights for Members, often arising from collective engagement activities. We focus our work on areas where the Forum can make a unique contribution, rather than duplicating existing initiatives. Individual S-360 project materials appear in the Content Library above; filter by S-360 Projects.

S-360 Working Group

S-360 Engagement Papers

Engagement papers covering Rule 3 adviser independence, independent committee structure, Rules 20.2, 2.2(f) and 28, and Practice Statement No. 20.

Governance UK Takeover Code Reform

View all S-360 Projects