CalPERS Votes for Auditing Independence
The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) will vote against paying accounting firms to provide both auditing and consulting services at the many companies included in its investment portfolio.
These companies include:
- Exxon Mobil
- Home Depot
- McDonalds
According to the CalPERS Web site, the giant pension fund will vote its stakes in the companies against ratifying their choices for auditor.
CalPERS will also cast its votes against directors who
are also members of audit committees that have voted in
favor of paying for consulting services from the same firm
that does its audit.
According to CalPERS, reform proposals put forward by the
accounting industry are “too narrow.” The fund has
called for companies to work towards auditing
independence.