ESG Executive Director position opening at The Conference Board (TCB) in June, since Douglas Chia is taking a position in academia at the Rutgers Center for Corporate Law & Governance. This is a dream job for the right candidate. Doug is a hereo and will be hard to replace, so you had better be good. Continue Reading →
Tag Archives | environmental
Glass Lewis 2018 Proxy Advice Update
Glass Lewis 2019 proxy advice updates address many issues. See 2019 Proxy Paper Guidelines: An Overview of the Glass Lewis Approach to Proxy Advice.
I have reproduced much of the summary of changes below, leaving off the section discussing clarifying amendments. One that stands out for our small group of so-called ‘gadflies’ addresses our concern that several boards hijacked shareholder proposals this past season by seeking ratification of existing policies and the exclusion of a shareholder proposal though a no-action request. In an email, John Chevedden noted the following: Continue Reading →
Mutuality Business Models Explored
The objective of the forum videoed below was explore how the adoption of mutuality principles and the Economics of Mutuality approach to value creation can contribute to the both society and the commercial success of firms. The notion that business has a significant role in addressing human and social problems has led to a re-evaluation of the purpose of business.
Putting mutuality – the interests of others – ahead of profit maximisation can generate more value for both stakeholders and the company than traditional profit maximisation. The best businesses do good through the co-creation of commercial and social benefits. There may be lessons here for Twitter. Continue Reading →
Vanguard: Review Climate Change Voting
Walden seeks co-filers for resolutions asking Vanguard to review and report on its proxy voting policies and practices related to climate change.
It is rare when investors file a resolution with a mutual fund since most funds don’t hold regular annual meetings. Nonetheless the act of filing puts the fund on notice that participants are concerned about their voting record on issues like climate change. Tim Smith shared this new resolution with Vanguard, which as many know signed onto the UN’s PRI.
It is significant that investors are questioning their proxy voting record on issues like climate change. Continue Reading →
Positive Impact of SRI Investors
Sustainable, responsible and impact, SRI investors, have influenced the investment industry, companies, governments and other actors to address environmental, social and governance (ESG) challenges in four major areas, according to The Impact of Sustainable and Responsible Investment, a report released today by the US SIF Foundation.
Influence of SRI Investors
Drawing upon a range of data, surveys and examples, the report focuses on four significant impacts of sustainable, responsible and impact – SRI investors over the past 25 years. SRI investors have:
- changed the investment industry, leading to more SRI products and greater access to expert practitioners;
- improved public companies by stepping up active shareholder ownership and engagement on ESG issues;
- aided communities and individuals via community investing and other initiatives; and
- influenced public policy and launched organizations to promote sustainable investment.
Beyond the Bottom Line With PRI
I used to believe that democratic power was exercised like the creation of an impressionist masterpiece — each individual offering an artistically placed paint stroke that blends into the whole as you step back. As I have matured, I now see that those who are able to influence others around them are most effective in shaping the spirit of the painting. Power isn’t wielded by isolated individuals but by networks of individuals who are bonded by trust and influence. Continue Reading →
Unions Launch Global Proxy Review 2014
The 4th annual Global Proxy Review has now been published by the Global Unions Committee on Workers’ Capital (CWC), a joint initiative of the International Trade Union Confederation, Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD and Global Unions Federation.
The report and interactive website encourages investors to take an active role in proxy voting oversight for global equity portfolios. Readers will learn how to take active role in proxy voting oversight for global equity portfolios. Continue Reading →
GMI Ratings Offers Webinar on Emerging Market Ratings
GMI Ratings, the leading provider of research, data and analytics on environmental, social, governance (ESG) and forensic accounting risks affecting the performance of public companies, is introducing Accounting and Governance Risk (AGR®) ratings on over 9,000 companies in nearly 60 emerging market countries. GMI’s AGR ratings capture a variety of accounting irregularities and corporate governance weaknesses associated with negative events. With the addition of the emerging market companies, GMI now offers AGR ratings on nearly 29,000 companies worldwide. Continue Reading →
MSCI to Acquire GMI Ratings
MSCI Inc. (MSCI) announced it has agreed to acquire GMI Ratings, a provider of ESG (environmental, social and governance) ratings and research to institutional investors, through its subsidiary MSCI ESG Research Inc. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter, subject to customary closing conditions. Said Remy Briand, Managing Director and Head of ESG Research. Continue Reading →
Environmental and Social Shareowner Proposals Gain Traction
Key Characteristics of Prominent Shareholder-sponsored Proposals on Environmental and Social Topics, 2005-2011, released by the IRRC Institute (IRRCi) and researched by Ernst & Young LLP finds environmental and social (E+S) shareowner proposals are gaining increased support from investors at US companies. Download the report, presentation, press release and even replay the webinar from IRRCi’s website. Continue Reading →
Growing Importance of ESG/CSR to Owners
FT reports that a survey by Aviva Investors found that ninety per cent of equity and fixed-income fund managers polled, with about £4tn of combined assets under management, recognized the importance of ESG to end owners and consultants although a smaller percentage, 79 per cent, said they were likely to Continue Reading →
GMI Incorporates Trucost Data into Analyst Platform
GMI and Trucost announced a strategic partnership to incorporate Trucost environmental performance data into the GMI Analyst research platform. The agreement strengthens GMI’s existing governance analysis and will enable GMI clients – leading institutional investors, banks, insurers, auditors, regulators and corporations – to incorporate a measure of environmental risk alongside traditional financial metrics. Continue Reading →
Proxy Preview 2010
Proxy Preview is an annual publication that focuses on upcoming social and environmental shareholder proposals. However, it also includes some information on governance proposals as well. It was initiated to help foundations and endowments better align investment and mission but it is useful for other organizations or individual shareholders. The Proxy Preview is published by As You Sow Foundation with support from Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation, Educational Foundation of America, Foundation Partnership for Corporate Responsibility and the Singing Field Foundation.
Michael Passoff, Sr. Program Director, Corporate Social Responsibility Program, As You Sow Foundation authored the review, with substantial input from a large number of institutional shareowner advocates. Passoff broadly covers the types of proposals, major players, reviews 2009, discusses trends, identifies the hot topics by category, provides a good discussion of aligning mission with values, a fairly comprehensive list of resources and concludes with a list of votes coming up in the Spring of 2010.
The average vote for social proposals has more than doubled over the last decade. At the same time, there has been an increase in constructive dialogue. In 2009 less than half of the social proposals filed actually made it on the proxy. Most were withdrawn by proponents as a result of negotiations. For the fourth year in a row, Say on Pay is the dominant governance issue. Nearly 60 proposals were filed by the end of Marh on the topic of Political Donations, 47 came from the Center for Political Accountability. Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination and Climate Change continue as strong issues, while new topics include the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), Coal Ash, Hydraulic Fracturing, and Internet Privacy.