By Greta Rosen Fondahn
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Norway’s $1.6 trillion sovereign wealth fund, one of the world’s largest investors, will support a resolution calling for Goldman Sachs to split the roles of CEO and board chair, it said on Friday.
Proxy advisors Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) and Glass Lewis have recommended that investors back a shareholder resolution urging the bank to split the two positions, currently held by David Solomon, at Goldman’s annual meeting on April 24.
The independence of banks’ leadership has been a hot issue since the 2008 global financial crisis.
Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM), which operates the Norwegian fund, is the 12th biggest investor in Goldman Sachs according to LSEG data, with a 0.84% stake in the Wall Street bank at the end of 2023, valued at the time at $1.09 billion.
“The board should exercise objective judgement on corporate affairs and be able to make decisions independently of management,” NBIM said in a statement explaining its vote rationale.
Goldman Sachs has recommended investors reject the proposal to split the two roles. The bank did not immediately reply to Reuters’ request for comment on Friday.
A similar proposal filed last year drew 16% support, including from NBIM.
NBIM also said it would vote in favour of Goldman’s pay package for top executives.
(This story has been refiled to replace the outdated Goldman Sachs logo)
(Reporting by Greta Rosen Fondahn, editing by Terje Solsvik, Kirsten Donovan)
