A well-established corporate governance framework should ensure that corporate boards effectively monitor managerial performance and achieve an equitable return for shareholders - reinforcing the values of fairness, transparency, accountability and responsibility. But new legislation - notably the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in the US, and the UK's Companies Act - means new duties and benchmarks for directors and senior managers, particularly for those with cross-jurisdictional responsibilities. With commentary from the World Bank, BP, 3i, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Watson Wyatt, "The Handbook of International Corporate Governance" looks at shareholder rights and directors' responsibilities, issues relating to control and disclosure, and the relevant legislation and codes of practice. A major section of the book provides coverage of corporate governance practice for 21 separate jurisdictions, as well as five regional overviews, with each profile focusing on key areas such as the development of laws, models and codes; board structures; shareholder rights; disclosure and transparency; responsibility; directors; and executive pay and performance.