Appraisers Blog

MARCH 27, 2023

Dear representative, waiving/eliminating property appraisal for lending purposes is wanton recklessness. Fannie Mae’s decision to waive/eliminate property appraisal for lending purposes is nothing more than wanton recklessness that could have serious repercussions in the future. The truth of the matter is that appraisals are an essential part of any mortgage transaction and should not be taken lightly or eliminated without due consideration.

Appraisal 143

Appraisal 143

Harvard Corporate Governance

MARCH 26, 2023

Posted by Maureen Bujno and Kristen Sullivan, Deloitte & Touche LLP, on Sunday, March 26, 2023 Editor's Note: Maureen Bujno is a Managing Director, and Kristen Sullivan is a Partner and leads Sustainability and ESG at Deloitte & Touche LLP. This post is based on their Deloitte memorandum. Related research from the Program on Corporate Governance includes The Illusory Promise of Stakeholder Governance (discussed on the Forum here ) by Lucian A.

361

361

Mckinsey and Company

DECEMBER 19, 2023

Generative AI has the potential to widen the racial economic gap in the United States by $43 billion each year. But deployed thoughtfully, it could actually remove barriers to Black economic mobility.

145

145

NYT M&A

NOVEMBER 21, 2023

Broadcast Music Inc., one of the major performing rights organizations in the United States, collected $1.57 billion and distributed $1.47 billion for its 2022 fiscal year.

Private Equity Firm 145

Private Equity Firm Equity Mergers & Acquisitions 145

Speaker: Susan Spencer, Principal of Spencer Communications

Intent signal data can go a long way toward shortening sales cycles and closing more deals. The challenge is deciding which is the best type of intent data to help your company meet its sales and marketing goals. In this webinar, Susan Spencer, fractional CMO and principal of Spencer Communications, will unpack the differences between contact-level and company-level intent signals.

Marketability

Benzinga

MARCH 3, 2023

PlayStation owner Sony Group Corp (NYSE: SONY ) has been vocal in its attempt to block rival Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT ), manufacturer of the Xbox, from buying video game publisher Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI ) for roughly $69 billion. And while it would appear that Sony would get its way — with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) suing Microsoft over the deal , citing antitrust issues — the company may soon find itself under regulatory scrutiny as well.

145

145

Harvard Corporate Governance

DECEMBER 3, 2023

Posted by Dean Kingsley, Matt Solomon, Deloitte & Touche LLP, and Kristen Jaconi (USC Marshall), on Sunday, December 3, 2023 Editor's Note: Dean Kingsley is a Principal and Matt Solomon is a Senior Manager at Deloitte & Touche LLP. Kristen Jaconi is an Associate Professor of the Practice in Accounting and Executive Director at Peter Arkley Institute for Risk Management at the USC Marshall School of Business.

Enterprise Value 334

Enterprise Value Market Risk Technology Compliance 334

NYT M&A

OCTOBER 11, 2023

The acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources, Exxon’s largest since its merger with Mobil in 1999, is a bet that U.S. energy policy will not move against fossil fuels in a major way.

Mergers & Acquisitions 145

Mergers & Acquisitions Marketability 145

IVSC

DECEMBER 5, 2023

The International Valuation Standards Council (IVSC) is pleased to announce that its Standards Review Board (SRB) has unanimously approved the forthcoming edition of the International Valuation Standards (IVS), set for release in January 2024. The SRB, led by Chair Susan DuRoss, comprises global experts in technical standards, including leaders of the IVSC’s Asset Standards Boards – the Business Valuation Board, Financial Instruments Board, and Tangible Assets Board.

Business Valuation 246

Business Valuation 246

Viking Mergers

MAY 25, 2023

Deciding to sell your small business can be a complex journey. So, when it’s time to exit the organization that you put time and effort into growing, you want the process to be as smooth as possible. While no two business sales will look the same, any business owner can benefit from these practical steps to help find the right buyer and secure the best deal possible.

Marketability 246

Marketability Business Valuation Finance 246

Harvard Corporate Governance

MAY 9, 2023

Posted by Rafael Copat (University of Texas at Dallas) , on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 Editor's Note: Rafael Copat is an Assistant Professor of Accounting at the University of Texas at Dallas. This post is based on a recent paper forthcoming in the Journal of Accounting Research by Professor Copat, K. Ramesh , Herbert S. Autrey Professor of Accounting at Rice University; Karthik Balakrishnan , Vernon S.

Firm Value 71

Firm Value Equity 71

Speaker: Wayne Spivak - President and Chief Financial Officer of SBA * Consulting LTD, Industry Writer, and Public Speaker

The old adages that "cash is king" and "you can’t spend profits" still hold true today. But however well-known these sayings might be, it requires a change in mindset to properly implement a cash flow management system that predicts your business's runaway as accurately as possible. Key to this new mindset is understanding the difference between the Statement of Cash Flows, a historical look at the source and uses of cash, and the Cash Flow Statement, which uses transaction history and forward-l

Corporate Finance

Harvard Corporate Governance

APRIL 9, 2023

Posted by Maria Castañón Moats, Paul DeNicola, and Matt DiGuiseppe, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, on Sunday, April 9, 2023 Editor's Note: Maria Castañón Moats is Leader, Paul DeNicola is Principal, and Matt DiGuiseppe is Managing Director at the Governance Insights Center at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. This post is based on their PwC memorandum. Related research from the Program on Corporate Governance includes The Illusory Promise of Stakeholder Governance (discussed on the Forum here ) by

357

357

Harvard Corporate Governance

JANUARY 23, 2023

Posted by Peter Gassmann and Will Jackson-Moore, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, on Monday, January 23, 2023 Editor's Note: Peter Gassmann is a Global Leader of Strategy and Will Jackson-Moore is a Global ESG Leader at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. This post is based on their PwC memorandum. Related research from the Program on Corporate Governance includes The Illusory Promise of Stakeholder Governance (discussed on the Forum here ) and Will Corporations Deliver to All Stakeholders?

Technology 358

Technology 358

Harvard Corporate Governance

MARCH 10, 2023

Posted by Richard Fields and Rusty O’Kelley, Russell Reynolds Associates, on Friday, March 10, 2023 Editor's Note: Rich Fields leads the Board Effectiveness practice and Rusty O’Kelley co-leads the Board and CEO Advisory Partners in the Americas at Russell Reynolds Associates. This post is based on their Russell Reynolds memorandum. Keeping up with the ever-changing trends in global corporate governance is no easy task, as countries introduce new governance rules that trigger knock-on effects

354

354

Harvard Corporate Governance

JANUARY 21, 2023

Posted by Maria Castañón Moats, Paul DeNicola, Catie Hall, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, on Saturday, January 21, 2023 Editor's Note: Maria Castañón Moats is Leader, Paul DeNicola is a Principal, and Catie Hall is a Director at the Governance Insights Center at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. This post is based on their PwC memorandum. Why? Whether you are an executive who has been meeting with the board regularly for years or you are in a new role that’s landing you on the agenda, these brief inter

352

352

Speaker: Joe Apfelbaum, CEO of Ajax Union

In this webinar, Joe Apfelbaum, CEO of Ajax Union and business strategist, will take you through the ABCs of intent data. You'll learn how to effectively use it to drive business results, with practical tips on how to leverage both company and contact intent data to maximize your marketing efforts. Whether you're a seasoned marketer or just getting started, this webinar is a must-attend for anyone looking to stay ahead in the ever-evolving world of digital marketing.

Marketability

Harvard Corporate Governance

FEBRUARY 11, 2023

Posted by Lawrence A. Cunningham, Mayer Brown LLP, on Saturday, February 11, 2023 Editor's Note: Lawrence A. Cunningham is Special Counsel at Mayer Brown LLP, Principal of the Quality Shareholders Group and Henry St. George Tucker III Professor Emeritus at George Washington University. The following post is based on Professor Cunningham’s address delivered as the 37th Annual Francis G.

347

347

Harvard Corporate Governance

NOVEMBER 6, 2023

Posted by Subodh Mishra, Institutional Shareholder Services, on Monday, November 6, 2023 Editor's Note: Subodh Mishra is Global Head of Communications at Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) Inc. This post is based on an ISS Corporate Solutions memorandum by Liam Hardy, Senior Associate, ISS Corporate Solutions. Digital technology impacts businesses in myriad ways.

Technology 335

Technology 335

Harvard Corporate Governance

SEPTEMBER 25, 2023

Posted by Melissa Sawyer, Lauren S. Boehmke and Marc Treviño, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, on Monday, September 25, 2023 Editor's Note: Melissa Sawyer , Lauren Boehmke , and Marc Treviño are Partners at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP. This post is based on a Sullivan & Cromwell memorandum by Ms. Sawyer, Ms. Boehmke, Mr. Treviño, Susan M. Lindsay , June Hu , and H.

Marketability 336

Marketability 336

Harvard Corporate Governance

FEBRUARY 4, 2023

Posted by Jonathan Bailey, Savannah Irving, Neuberger Berman LLC, on Saturday, February 4, 2023 Editor's Note: Jonathan Bailey is a Managing Director and Head of ESG Investing, and Savannah Irving is an Associate at Neuberger Berman LLC. This post is based on their Neuberger Berman memorandum. In recent years a variety of market disrupting events have underscored the importance of active ownership and the analysis of material environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in fundamental cred

Marketability 338

Marketability 338

Harvard Corporate Governance

SEPTEMBER 2, 2023

Posted by Natalie Cooper (Deloitte LLP), Bob Lamm (Deloitte LLP), and Randi Van Morrison (Society for Corporate Governance), on Saturday, September 2, 2023 Editor's Note: Natalie Cooper is Senior Manager and Robert Lamm is an Independent Senior Advisor, at the Center for Board Effectiveness, Deloitte LLP; and Randi Val Morrison is Vice President, Reporting & Member Support at the Society for Corporate Governance.

Technology 331

Technology Compliance Equity 331

Harvard Corporate Governance

JUNE 5, 2023

Posted by Maria Castañón Moats, Paul DeNicola, and Matt DiGuiseppe, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, on Monday, June 5, 2023 Editor's Note: Maria Castañón Moats is Leader, Paul DeNicola is Principal, and Matt DiGuiseppe is Managing Director at the Governance Insights Center at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. This post is based on their PwC memorandum. When done right, director-shareholder engagement can pay dividends for both the investor and the company.

Dividends 332

Dividends 332

Harvard Corporate Governance

FEBRUARY 10, 2023

Posted by Ted Sikora, NACD, on Friday, February 10, 2023 Editor's Note: Ted Sikora is a Project Manager, Surveys and Business Analytics at NACD. This post is based on his NACD publication. If 2020 was the year of the COVID-19 pandemic and 2021 was the year of building toward recovery, 2022 offered little respite for directors overseeing companies amid a chaotic business environment.

334

334

Harvard Corporate Governance

NOVEMBER 24, 2023

Posted by Merel Spierings, The Conference Board, on Friday, November 24, 2023 Editor's Note: Merel Spierings is Senior Researcher at The Conference Board ESG Center in New York. This post relates to Corporate Board Practices in the Russell 3000, S&P 500, and S&P MidCap 400: Live Dashboard, a live online dashboard published by The Conference Board and ESG data analytics firm ESGAUGE , in collaboration with Debevoise & Plimpton , the KPMG Board Leadership Center , Russell Reynolds Asso

Equity 325

Equity 325

Harvard Corporate Governance

NOVEMBER 27, 2023

Posted by Frederik Otto, Jeannette Lichner and Adélaïde Levassor, The Sustainability Board, on Monday, November 27, 2023 Editor's Note: Frederik Otto is Executive Director, Jeannette Lichner is Senior Advisor, and Adélaïde Levassor is Advisor of The Sustainability Board (TSB). This post is based on the 2023 Annual ESG Preparedness Report by Mr. Otto, Ms.

324

324

Harvard Corporate Governance

JANUARY 3, 2023

Posted by Maria Castañón Moats, Paul DeNicola, and Matt DiGuiseppe, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, on Tuesday, January 3, 2023 Editor's Note: Maria Castañón Moats is Leader, Paul DeNicola is Principal, and Matt DiGuiseppe is Managing Director at the Governance Insights Center at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. This post is based on their PwC memorandum.

333

333

Harvard Corporate Governance

OCTOBER 10, 2023

Posted by Sarah Kuranda Vallone, VP Marketing (NightDragon) and Edna Twumwaa Frimpong, Director of International Research (Diligent Institute), on Tuesday, October 10, 2023 Editor's Note: Sarah Kuranda Vallone is a VP Marketing at NightDragon, and Edna Twumwaa Frimpong is a Director of International Research at Diligent Institute. This post is based on a NightDragon and Diligent memorandum by Ms.

Technology 325

Technology Marketability 325

Harvard Corporate Governance

MARCH 14, 2023

Posted by Subodh Mishra, Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc., on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 Editor's Note: Subodh Mishra is Global Head of Communications at Institutional Shareholder Services. This post is based on an ISS Corporate Solutions memorandum by Paul Hodgson, Senior Editor; Aditi Aier, Senior Associate; and Carmen Luk, Senior Associate at ISS Corporate Solutions.

329

329

Harvard Corporate Governance

JANUARY 4, 2023

Posted by Laura Sanderson, Sarah Galloway, Russell Reynolds Associates, on Wednesday, January 4, 2023 Editor's Note: Laura Sanderson co-leads the Board and CEO Advisory Partners in Europe and Sarah Galloway is co-head of the Global Sustainability Practice at Russell Reynolds Associates. This post is based on a Russell Reynolds Associates memorandum by Ms.

330

330

Harvard Corporate Governance

JUNE 29, 2023

Posted by David A. Cifrino, McDermott Will & Emery LLP, on Thursday, June 29, 2023 Editor's Note: David A. Cifrino is Counsel at McDermott Will & Emery LLP. This post is based on his MWE memorandum. Related research from the Program on Corporate Governance includes The Illusory Promise of Stakeholder Governance (discussed on the Forum here ) by Lucian A.

Technology 325

Technology 325

Harvard Corporate Governance

MARCH 17, 2023

Posted by Larry Fink, BlackRock, Inc., on Friday, March 17, 2023 Editor's Note: Larry Fink is Founder, Chairman and CEO of BlackRock, Inc. This post is based on Mr. Fink’s annual letter to investors. Music plays a big role in my life. As a kid growing up in California, I used to go to the local record shop, buy a piece of vinyl and listen to the album on my record player.

Technology 328

Technology Marketability 328

Harvard Corporate Governance

JANUARY 5, 2023

Posted by John Rodi, KPMG LLP, on Thursday, January 5, 2023 Editor's Note: John Rodi is the leader of the KPMG Board Leadership Center (BLC). This post is based on his KPMG memorandum. Overview. On the heels of the pandemic, CEOs are now facing another turbulent period. Our latest CEO Outlook is being released amid a business environment marred by high inflation, geopolitical tensions and fears of a recession.

Technology 328

Technology 328

Harvard Corporate Governance

FEBRUARY 25, 2023

Posted by Tina Shah Paikeday, and Nisa Qosja, Russell Reynolds Associates, on Saturday, February 25, 2023 Editor's Note: Tina Shah Paikeday is the Global Head of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Practice, and Nisa Qosja is a Knowledge Consultant at Russell Reynolds Associates. This post is based on their Russell Reynolds memorandum. Related research from the Program on Corporate Governance includes Politics and Gender in the Executive Suite (discussed on the Forum here ) by Alma Cohen, Mosh

Equity 325

Equity 325

Harvard Corporate Governance

SEPTEMBER 23, 2023

Posted by Raquel Fox, Simon Toms, and Jeongu Gim, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, on Saturday, September 23, 2023 Editor's Note: Raquel Fox and Simon Toms are Partners and Jeongu Gim is an associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. This post is based on a Skadden memorandum by Ms. Fox, Mr. Toms, Mr. Gim and Tansy Woan.

317

317

Harvard Corporate Governance

FEBRUARY 1, 2023

Posted by Paul Keary, Ursula Burns, and Sparky Zivin, Teneo, on Wednesday, February 1, 2023 Editor's Note: Paul Keary is CEO, Ursula Burns is Chair, and Sparky Zivin is a Senior Managing Director at Teneo. This post is based on their Teneo report. Foreword The role of today’s CEO is evolving, paralleling the shifting global financial, geopolitical and social landscapes in which they operate.

Technology 322

Technology 322

Harvard Corporate Governance

DECEMBER 22, 2023

Posted by David F. Larcker and Brian Tayan (Stanford University), on Friday, December 22, 2023 Editor's Note: David F. Larcker is the James Irvin Miller Professor of Accounting, Emeritus; and Brian Tayan is a researcher with the Corporate Governance Research Initiative at Stanford Graduate School of Business. This post is based on their recent paper.

312

312