‘Taxing us all’ - why investors should care about tax practices

In the run up to a shareholder vote on greater tax transparency at the annual meeting of the Canadian investment giant Brookfield, CICTAR’s Jason Ward speaks on a panel convened by the Canadian Capital Stewardship Network.

The panel discussions examines a number of ‘red flags’ raised by Brookfield’s complex structures, use of tax havens and low effective tax rates around the world. While not necessarily illegal, aggressive tax avoidance does not fit with a narrative of sustainable investment and creates various types of risk for investors.

In this context, calling for greater financial transparency is a logical step for investors in any large, global, company.