HSBC HOLDINGS PLC
LSE:  HSBA          Meeting Date: 4/24/2015

The recent acquisition by various media outlets of files allegedly containing evidence of wrongdoing at the HSBC’s Swiss private bank between 2005 and 2007 has prompted intense media and regulatory scrutiny of the FTSE 100 banking giant for its alleged role in facilitating large scale tax evasion.

Already, the French financial state prosecutor has formally requested that the Company’s Swiss private bank be sent to criminal trial over tax fraud allegations, and it is expected that various other authorities, including the Bank of England (“BOE”), will launch their own probes in due course.

In addition, group chief executive Stuart Gulliver and chairman Douglas Flint recently appeared before the UK public accounts committee (“PAC”), where members of the British parliament repeatedly questioned the pair on where they believed ultimate responsibility for wrongdoing lay. Mr. Gulliver was also the subject of questioning regarding his personal tax affairs. To add insult to injury, Mr. Flint has subsequently been called upon to resign his chairmanship of the Company, most notably by former member of the BOE’s financial policy committee Robert Jenkins.

Long-serving non-executive director Rona Fairhead was also subjected to a grilling at the hands of the PAC, being accused of being “either incredibly naive or totally incompetent” with regard to her role in the oversight of the Company’s Swiss private bank.

The Company has publicly apologised for behaviour at its private bank and has stated that there has been a major overhaul of its operations and culture there. However, it remains to be seen whether such assurances will be enough to secure the high approval levels to which the Company’s directors are generally accustomed when they submit themselves for reelection at the forthcoming AGM to be held on April 24.

JOHNSON & JOHNSON
NYSE:  JNJ          Meeting Date: 4/23/2015

HERBALIFE
NYSE:  HLF          Meeting Date: 4/23/2015

AT&T INC.
NYSE:  T          Meeting Date: 4/24/2015

BARRICK GOLD
TSE:  ABX          Meeting Date: 4/28/2015

NOBLE ENERGY
NYSE:  NBL          Meeting Date: 4/28/2015

GDF SUEZ
Euronext Paris:  GSZ          Meeting Date: 4/28/2015

ALLIANCE TRUST PLC
LSE:  ATST          Meeting Date: 4/29/2015

COCA-COLA COMPANY
NYSE:  KO          Meeting Date: 4/29/2015