A group of British investors warns the latecomers about the lack of mix of meeting rooms

By Simon Jessop

LONDON (Reuters) – Twenty percent of Britain's biggest companies have been put on notice by the industry's trade management body of funds for not having more women represented in their boards of directors. 39; administration.

The Investment Association said it had written to 69 UK companies that it said had no women on their board or only one asking for explanations, following the review Hampton-Alexander Review , supported by the government, which aimed to ensure that at least a third of management teams by 2020.

"It is totally unacceptable that one of the five largest British companies is so deficient (…). Companies must do more than make the symbolic decision to appoint a single woman to their board of directors. and to consider this work as accomplished, "said the director general of the badociation. Chris Cummings said in a statement Friday.

The letter arrives just ahead of the season for the annual general meeting of most companies, where investors are voting on various issues, including board composition, which should spur further opposition investors compared to less efficient companies.

The IA IVIS Voter Information Service, used by investors to help them decide how to vote at general meetings, announced in February that it would give the alert to its highest level regarding all companies with only one woman.

Philip Hampton, chairman of the Hampton-Alexander Review, said that while most companies had made good progress, "a surprising number" only counts one woman and must do more.

Among the major FTSE 350 companies to have received a letter include the wealth manager St James's Place, the retailer JD Sports and the insurer Just Group.

A Just Group spokeswoman said she had taken action and that she would soon respond to the impact badysis and give more details about her activities in an annual report that should be published soon.

St James's Place said in a statement: "Our priority is to increase the representation of women in management positions in our company, including at the board level", and we have endorses two industry initiatives for this purpose.

JD Sports did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

(Report by Simon Jessop, edited by Alexander Smith)