In spite of high-profile disputes at Disney, Safeway and at other companies, US corporate governance has improved markedly this year, a report suggests.

Institutional Shareholder Services, the influential advisory group, recommended that shareholders withhold their support for the reappointment of directors at only 32 per cent of about 10,000 public companies. That compares with protests at 38 per cent of annual meetings last year and 52 per cent two years ago.