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Article

19 Feb 2010

Author:
Seth Freedman, Guardian [UK]

How to make immoral firms think twice

News that the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust sold its entire holding in Vedanta ...has been heralded as a significant victory for the campaigners, but will have little impact on the Vedanta's bottom line as long as no official sanctions are taken against the company...there is an air of futility about the approach being taken to try to force Vedanta's hand...What would have a far greater impact on reining in immoral corporate behaviour is a tougher approach from financial regulators. At present, if companies breach market regulations governing financial practice, their shares are suspended and cannot be traded...A panel regulated by the FSA or other independent body ought to be established to maintain fit and proper checks on companies' ethical practices rather than just their financial ones...As it is, neither Vedanta's board nor its major investors will be batting an eyelid at the activists' latest salvo.