Financial Times (Letters): Message is muted: “A show of hands at annual meetings on controversial matters such as soaring director remuneration linked with indifferent performances conveys a clear message to boards that is blunted in its absence.”: “… a view that was forcibly expressed at recent annual meetings of BOC and Shell Transport and Trading.”: Saturday 13 August 2005

By Martin E Simons

Published: August 13 2005

From Mr Martin E. Simons.

Sir, A show of hands at annual meetings on controversial matters such as soaring director remuneration linked with indifferent performances conveys a clear message to boards that is blunted in its absence. That is particularly so if proceedings are reported by the Financial Times.

It is a significant retrospective step to do away with polls, a view that was forcibly expressed at recent annual meetings of BOC and Shell Transport and Trading. In the absence of a poll shareholders will have a "do-it-yourself" poll, as happened at the last Abbey National annual meeting. Such procedures undermine the standing of directors.

Martin E. Simons,

London SW15 6HJ

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