Responsible Investor

RI Briefing, February 8: New UK social impact bond in pipeline

RI’s regular round-up of responsible investing news

Denmark’s ATP “gratified” asset firms Goldman Sachs AM and PIMCO signed UN PRI

Fund giant says it engaged with managers to “induce” them to sign up

US faith shareholders to pressure Amazon, Boeing and GE over potential tax danger

ICCR publishes its proxy resolutions for 2012.

Environment, Feb. 7: Generation IM discloses stake in smart grid firm

RI’s regular review of environmental investing news

RI People & Appointments, February 6: UN PRI seeking Director of Global Development

ESG movers and shakers

RI Governance, Feb. 2: MSCI’s governance earnings slip in fourth quarter

RI’s regular review of governance developments

Ontario Teachers fund writes to 665 companies outlining exec pay expectations

Canada’s Teachers gets specific on remuneration

RI Briefing, February 1: Man Group hopes others will follow its lead on UN PRI

RI’s regular review of responsible investing news

Environment, January 31: Institutional investors’ climate change group reacts to EU working paper

RI’s regular round-up of environmental investing developments

Ending Wall Street’s big sleep on sustainability

A recent closed meeting of investors looked at moving from words to action.

US investors push House of Representatives on forced labour law

House proposal would oblige companies to identify and report risks.

RI People & Appointments, January 30: New chairman at Finnish pension giant

RI’s regular round-up of responsible people moves

RI Governance, Jan. 26: New proxy consultant launches in UK

RI’s regular round-up of govenrance and engagement news

Major US corporate lobby groups tells SEC to regulate proxy firms as investment advisers

US regulator to issue ruling in coming months.

RI Briefing, January 25: Royal Bank of Canada in social and environmental initiative

RI’s regular review of responsible investing developments

Corporate Knights’ corporate sustainability ranking launched with Kiernan’s Inflection Point input

New ‘Global Responsible Investment Network’ formed

US fund manager offers free RI training to asset owners

RI Academy programme proposed to hundreds of pension funds and their trustees.

New Dutch class action pay-out could lead investors to chase US claims in the Netherlands

Lawyers exploit Dutch Court of Appeals to get shareholder damages.

Fixed income giant PIMCO backs ESG to increase long-term portfolio quality

$1.3trn fund firm explains rationale for signing up to UN PRI

RI People & Appointments, January 23: ex-UN PRI operating chief takes up mission investing post

Ri’s regular round-up of people news

FREE Major investor coalition seeks disclosure of US corporate lobbying expenditure

Shareholder resolutions tabled at 40 blue chip companies

RI Governance & Engagement, Jan. 19: Tokyo exchange planning governance changes

RI’s regular round-up of governance and engagement news

Siemens faces investor call at Jan 24 AGM to quit US Chamber of Commerce over bribery issue

German company faces ‘reputation risk’ say investors as DoJ reviews Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

RI Briefing, January 18: UN PRI signatory managers sought by Danish pension funds

RI’s regular round-up of responsible investing news

Clean Investor, January 17: CDP chief named to Clean Development Mechanism panel

RI’s regular round-up of clean investing news

Bank of America seeks to omit NY funds’ proposal on mortgage foreclosures

Conference report: US Pension funds report to INCR/UN summit on progress in climate investments

In the face of political foot-dragging, long-term investors say they are getting down to green business.

Responsible Funds, January 13: the round-up of ESG funds news

RI’s regular look at responsible funds news

RI Governance & Engagement, Jan. 12: CalSTRS votes against entire Aberdeen AM board

RI’s regular review of governance and engagement developments

British Columbia investment giant hires corporate engagement manager

Canadian investor hires engagement specialist from mutual fund firm

RI People & Appointments, January 9: New operations chief at APG

RI’s regular round-up of people news

RI Governance & Engagement, Jan. 5: Funds take legal action over failed brokerage MF Global

RI Briefing, January 4: €5bn charity sector fund signs up to Stewardship Code

RI’s regular round-up of responsible investing news

SEC planning rules on disclosure of investors’ executive pay votes

New provisions under the Dodd-Frank Act

Bob Monks hits out at SEC plans to clamp down on shareholder voting advisers

ISS founder says proxy firms are the only service sector not “suborned” by corporate management.

FREE Dutch pension giant excludes Wal-Mart and PetroChina

Divestments over non-compliance with Global Compact

EXCLUSIVE: Goldman Sachs Asset Management makes responsible investing commitment

GSAM signs up to UN PRI and plots ESG integration process.

FREE ESG USA keynote: Thomas Di Napoli, New York State Comptroller, Trustee, New York State Common fund

State finance chief talks ESG, engagement, BP, fracking and climate change.

FREE ESG USA conference report: what’s holding ESG back in the US?

Top level speakers and more than 300 attendees gathered in New York for RI’s annual ESG event.

RI People & Appointments, Dec. 19: J.P. Morgan seeks Director of Environmental Performance

RI’s regular round-up of people news

Stake institutional investors mull Climate Change Capital sale ‘deal’ reports

New-York listed Bunge reported to be close to CCC buy-out

SEC says proxy voting firms face US legal clampdown

Regulation advice follows suggestion of rules in the EU last month.

Responsible Funds, Dec. 16: the round-up of ESG funds news

RI’s regular look at responsible funds news

FREE US pension fund starts class action against Bank of New York Mellon

Investor suit over foreign exchange trading controversy

RI Governance & Engagement, Dec. 15: US pension funds take on drilling firm Nabors over pay

RI’s regular look at governance and engagement news

€55bn investor group presses Canadian government on extractives

Canada urged to sign up to industry transparency initiative

RI Briefing, Dec. 14: $4bn set to go into impact investments - JP Morgan

RI’s regular round-up of responsible investing news

ESG USA: US investor groups issue fracking risk recommendations for oil & gas companies

List compiled after lengthy risk engagement with companies.

Ceres: US climate negotiating team should take their cue from investors

Looking at the Obama administration’s resistance to a new binding global agreement

RI Governance & Engagement, Dec. 8: Australian govt looks at role of AGMs

RI’s regular round-up of governance and engagement news

RI Briefing, December 7: Hedge fund giant signs up to UN Principles for Responsible Investment

RI’s regular round-up of responsible investing news

Sweden’s AP2 responds to NGO’s “land grab” comments

Comments made in Parliament by non-governmental organisation

NYC funds withdraw Hewlett-Packard sustainability proposal after engagement

Pension fund meeting with HP’s sustainability chief

Norwegian government fund seeks to nominate directors at big US firms

Norges makes its first ever ‘proxy access’ move

RI People & Appointments, Dec. 5: Switzerland’s Ethos seeks Enviro & Social Sustainability Head

RI’s regular round-up of people news

RI Governance & Engagement, Dec. 1: Class action lawyers looking at Olympus

RI’s regular round-up of governance and engagement news

RI Briefing, Nov. 30: Global Reporting Initiative names new chairman

RI’s regular round-up of responsible investing news

Clean Investor, November 29: NYSE and Bloomberg team up on clean energy indices

RI’s regular round-up of clean investing news

RI People & Appointments, November 28: JP Morgan’s environmental markets MD departs

RI’s regular round-up of people news

US industrial group freed to omit Walden political spending proposal

Dispute over mailing date

Responsible Funds, November 25: the round-up of ESG funds news

RI fund launches, closes and asset data.

RI Governance & Engagement, Nov. 24: New engagement on Canadian oil sands

The regular round-up of governance and engagement developments

RI Briefing, November 23: Deutsche reviews asset management business

RI’s regular round-up of responsible investing news

AEGON makes major new RI statement for €413bn group assets

Insurer to make third party managers RI compliant.

RI People & Appointments, Nov. 21: top asset management exec joins BSkyB board

RI’s regular round-up of people news

Responsible Funds, November 18: the round-up of ESG funds news

RI fund launches, closes and asset data.

US sustainability investor Calvert axes UK asset manager from sub-advisory role over performance

F&C mandate replaced by multi-manager structure.

RI Briefing, Nov. 16: Pensions guru Ambactsheer: sustainable investing can buck headwinds capitalism

RI’s regular round-up of responsible investing news

FREE Alpha for ‘high sustainability’ companies after 3 years, says major Harvard/LBS research report

RI talks to the professors behind long-term corporate sustainability findings.

RI People & Appointments, Nov. 14: former SAM research head sets up new firm

RI’s regular round-up of people moves

US asset management firm comes out in support of Occupy Wall Street

Responsible investors backing protest movement

Responsible Funds, November 11: the round-up of ESG funds news

RI fund launches, closes and asset data.

FREE Proxy firm ISS names Aviva’s Marshall as European research head

Asset manager’s regional head joins influential advisory firm

RI Governance & Engagement, November 10: NBIM takes on Goldman over mortgage securities

RI’s regular review of governance news

RI Briefing, November 9: GRI launches sustainability disclosure database

RI’s regular round-up of responsible investing news

Clean Investor, November 8: Clean tech investments by NBIM, Generation IM

The round-up of clean investing news

RI Interview: Roland Lescure, CIO, $151.7bn CDP Québec fund: stepping up its RI policy

Engagement becomes a prime focus for the Canadian giant.

FREE CalSTRS wants yearly reports on political contributions

Vote at giant fund’s investment committee formalises procedure

RI People & Appointments, November 7: UN PRI marketing chief steps down

RI’s regular Monday people round-up

S&P-Dow Jones index merger creates ESG benchmark powerhouse

Index titans seal merger agreement

RI Governance & Engagement, Nov. 3: €10bn UK fund tenders proxy voting

RI’s regular round-up of governance and engagement developments

UK fracking report finds “quite exceptional” earthquake results at controversial site

ESG risk growing in importance for investors.

RI Briefing Nov. 2: Threadneedle announces controversial weapons investment policy

RI’s regular round of responsible investing news

Clean Investor, November 1: Climate Advocacy Fund targets ANZ on emissions

RI’s regular look at clean investment

RI People & Appointments, Oct. 31: UKSIF Leadership Programme appointments

RI’s regular round-up of people news

Responsible Funds, Oct. 28: the round-up of ESG funds news

RI fund launches, closes and asset data.

FREE Assets in sustainable alternative investment funds leap 16% to $80.9bn – US SIF

Sign that sustainable and responsible investing is increasingly mainstream

RI Governance & Engagement, Oct. 27: Australia pilots Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative

RI’s regular round-up of governance news

RI Briefing, October 26: Trucost launches sustainability app

RI’s regular round-up of responsible investing news

Clean Investor, October 25: PGGM, Triodos in offshore wind tranmission sale

RI’s regular round-up of clean investing news

GMI’s CEO departs less than a year after merger

Executive Chairman steps in as interim CEO.

Dutch pension giants vote against Murdochs as CalPERS hails “winds of change”

“Strong signal” to directors pushing for change, says CalPERS’ Simpson

RI People & Apppointments, Oct. 24: International Integrated Reporting Committee names CEO

RI’s regular round-up of people news

Investor group calls for James Murdoch to leave Sotheby’s and GSK boards

Union-affiliated CtW widens scrutiny on News Corp. director

Alberta fund dumps millions in tobacco stocks ahead of proposed lawsuit

Decision on legal action expected shortly as fund sells off holdings.

RI Governance & Engagement, Oct. 20: OTPP votes against News Corp.’s James Murdoch

RI’s regular Thusday review of corporate governance and engagement news

Responsible investors engaging with SEC on conflict minerals

Input on legislation required under Dodd-Frank

RI People & Appointments, October 17: TIAA-CREF seks MD, Global Social & Community Investing

RI’s regular Monday review of people news

CalPERS to back innovative floor resolution calling for separate CEO/Chair at News Corp.

Giant pension fund to attend AGM and back Christian Brothers’ motion

Hermes EOS the latest investor body to line up against News Corp.

Pressure intensifies on embattled media giant

New York City funds trigger Microsoft supply chain commitment

Software giant says it appreciates discussions with shareholders

RI Governance & Engagement, Oct. 13: Pension suit over Goldman pay gets thrown out

RI’s regular roundup of governance news

BP meets with socially responsible investors on safety and risk, reviews board governance

Oil major reaching out to SRI investors at London and New York meetings

RI Briefing, October 12: UK ethical investment reaches €12.9bn says EIRIS

RI’s regular round-up of responsible investing news

News Corp. hits back at proxy firms as California pension giant votes against directors

Major institution rejects director candidates as company fights back

Clean Investor, October 11: GRI proposes new sustainability reporting approach

RI’s regular round-up of clean investing news

Pressure mounts on News Corp board as US proxy firms weigh in

ISS and Glass Lewis recommend director no votes.

RI People & Appointments, Oct. 10: Tributes to Australian RI pioneer Erik Mather

RI’s regular round-up of people moves in the responsible investment field.

£100bn UK pension fund group opposes Murdochs at News Corp AGM

Decision follows engagement with company

RI Governance & Engagement, Oct. 6: Pension case vs. ratings agencies gets go-ahead

RI’s regular round-up of governance and engagement news

RI People & Appointments, October 3: Vigeo names UK business development head

RI’s regular Monday morning round-up of people news

Oil sands: a policy engagement role for responsible investors

An incomplete or uncertain regulatory environment can increase risk for both companies and investors.

RI Governance & Engagement, Sept. 29: Ethos calls for removal of UBS chairman

RI’s regular review of governance and engagement news

Australian super funds urged to vote against News Corp directors

ACSI recommendations follow phone hacking scandal

RI Briefing, September 28: Quebec fund signs up to UN PRI

RI’s regular round-up of responsible investment news

Giant US fund wins political donation disclosure commitments

NY fund gets assurances from three Fortune 500 firms

Development finance institutions launch emerging markets corporate governance framework

$852bn investor group in governance initiative

RI Analysis: How judge rejected pension fund claim over Goldman bonuses

Investment bank defeats investors over bonus billions

California funds’ corporate director database starts accepting candidates

Milestone for CalPERS/CalSTRS’ Diverse Director DataSource

CalSTRS hails ‘four-out-of-five’ success of environmental shareholder resolution campaign

Fund dropped four resolutions after companies agreed to climate risk or sustainability reporting.

Ceres publishes guidance for sustainability proxy voting

Four principles on governance, social issues, sustainability and environmental performance

United Nations recruiting new CEO for $43.4bn pension fund

New top manager sought for New York-based pension giant

RI Governance & Engagement, Sept. 22: Malaysia seeks to boost corporate disclosure

RI’s regular round-up of governance and engagement developments

Pension fund class action against US finance giant Hartford dismissed

Plaintiffs’ assumptions “faulty” says judge

ATP and others lose out in UBS mortgage-backed securities class action

Legal decision in credit-crisis related case

Major US companies reporting climate change strategies, says CDP

Findings of Carbon Disclosure Project’s S&P 500 report

PIMCO signs up to UN Principles for Responsible Investment

$1.3trn asset management giant becomes the latest “mainstream” firm to back PRI

Clean Investor, September 20: New Japan carbon efficient index launched

RI’s regular round-up of clean investing news

RI People & Appointments, Sept. 19: ICGN names three new board members

RI’s regular Monday round-up of people news

Institutional Shareholder Services gets new president

MSCI’s corporate secretary Gary Retelny takes over from Stephen Harvey

RI Governance & Engagement, Sept. 15: new European corporate governance head at BlackRock

RI’s regular look at governance and engagement news

$2trn global investor group urges SEC to bring in new director election rules

Some of world’s largest pension funds in plea over proxy access

Clean Investor, September 13: Danish pension funds back Africa green energy fund

RI’s regular Tuesday round-up of clean investment news

Pension funds progress in credit crisis-related mortgage suits against banks

Judges push through investor class actions after legal push back.

$18trn International Corporate Governance Network backs corporate political spending disclosure

Investor group supports academics’ petition to SEC

California power company issues second wind bond, green bond investor standard expected within days

Certificate will allow investors to check whether green bonds meet C02 reduction levels.

RI People & Appointments, August 29: Canadian fund giant BCIMC seeks Shareholder Engagement Manager

RI’s regular round-up of people news

Investor giant CalPERS wrestles with real-life challenge of ESG

Discussions ahead of a formal ESG implementation plan to be presented to the CalPERS board later this year.

Pension funds in class action over banks’ LIBOR price fixing

US institutional investors in potential multi-billion dollar case

Clean Investor, August 23: Institutions back €300m German wind/solar fund

RI’s regular look at clean investment news

FREE McGraw-Hill replaces S&P chief amid Canadian pension fund engagement

Investors’ meeting with management as S&P President steps down

RI People & Appointments, August 22: Niklasson joins Investec as Head of ESG Research

RI’s regular Monday review of people and appointments news

RI Governance & Engagement, August 18: ABP hits snag in Countrywide legal action

RI’s regular review of governance and engagement news

RI People & Appointments, August 15: Generation’s Blood to advise new sustainability partnership

RI’s regular Monday round-up of people and appointments news

RI Governance & Engagement, August 11: Australian super funds release new governance guidelines

RI’s regular review of governance developments

Ontario Teachers pension fund takes activist stance at McGraw-Hill

OTPP teams up with activist hedge fund JANA at S&P owner

RI Briefing, July 27: TIAA-CREF releases 2011 Socially Responsible Investing Annual Report

RI’s regular round-up of sustainable finance news.

FREE Proxy access decision a major governance blow to US pension funds

Discouraged, disappointed: investor reaction to director nomination block

FREE Christian Brothers confident of investor support for News Corp. AGM governance motion

“If it appears in the proxy it’ll get a good vote,” says US faith investor.

UK funds advisor withdrew Murdoch succession AGM filing at News Corp. just before crisis hit

Fund manager withdrew proposal after dialogue with company.

FREE New York State Comptroller DiNapoli named to Ceres board

Prominent shareholder advocate joins investor coalition

State Street Global Advisors’ ESG assets surge 39% to $119bn

CEO Hooley wants State Street to become an ESG leader

Bob Monks: Say-on-Pay is a well publicized side-show with no impact

We’re playing the equivalent of regulatory ‘Whack-a-mole’.

FREE Giant US pension fund votes against Marks & Spencer CEO

Florida’s SBA casts vote against re-election of Marc Bolland at today’s AGM

FREE Editor’s comment: Murdoch and News Corp, hacked to bits?

Shareholders can’t say they weren’t warned!

FREE US institutional investors take on News Corp. over phone hacking

US funds file amended complaint in wake of scandal

UK’s £5bn church asset chief expects top News Corp. executives to be tried in court

Media giant “not a place where shareholders come first” says Church Commissioners’ Whittam Smith

RI analysis: institutional investors, ESG and News Corp.

Time for institutions to step up engagement?

US development finance body OPIC puts half a billion into renewables

Major climate change initiative from US government body

Canadian pension fund starts C$6.5bn class action against Sino-Forest, Ernst & Young

Investor takes on crisis-torn Toronto-listed Chinese forestry firm

Investors show support for environmental director at Freeport McMoRan AGM

Backing for New York State Common Retirement Fund’s proposal

FREE ISS announces comprehensive new executive pay database

“Major data initiative” comes as scrutiny on executive pay intensifies

Calvert’s Amazon.com climate change proposal gets big-name support

Responsible investors see case for climate change report

Responsible investors flagged governance concerns at Sino-Forest

Shareholders engaged with forestry firm before scandal

Northern Trust revises proxy voting guidelines to reflect social and environmental issues

€3trn custody giant details more “nuanced approach”

RI Briefing, June 8: EVCA includes ESG factors in new handbook

RI’s regular Wednesday round-up of responsible investing news

HSBC’s Canada asset management arm closes climate fund

Decision based on small fund size and low take-up

Trillium Asset Management hires Calvert’s sustainable investment strategy head Hilton

Well-known industry figure joins smaller rival

$1.2trn investor group in plea over Alberta oil sands monitoring

Group of responsible investors write to new oil sands panel

KKR private equity titan Roberts says ESG is “good business and right thing to do”

Long-term value should outweigh short-term cost says KKR founder.

FREE Gold mining giant Barrick investigates sexual assaults at Tanzanian mine, faces human rights claims

Company takes unusual step of publishing internal investigation details.

Freeport McMoRan hits back at ISS over say-on-pay

Mining giant blasts “flawed” analysis

Google facing sustainability proposal at annual meeting

Internet giant argues against board sustainability committee

Shareholders’ ESG proposals get strong backing at Exxon Mobil annual meeting

Investors show support for resolutions

FREE $202bn investor group challenges US firms over trade group membership

Responsible investors query National Association of Manufacturers’ sustainability stance

NY pension fund motion on sexual orientation gets massive support at KBR

Strong support for a shareholder proposal opposed by management

Sweden’s AP2 and TIAA-CREF form agricultural real estate venture

Pension giants target grain production in the US, Australia and Brazil

Ernst & Young buys Proxy Governance assets

Global firm sets up governance team for market “in flux”

Investors call on SEC to probe Chevron over Ecuador statements

Shareholders intensify pressure on oil major ahead of annual meeting

RI Interview: NYC pension funds, the country’s most active shareholder resolution filers

The funds are lodging fewer resolutions but driving deeper to get better value for money.

Canadian pension funds face First Nations opposition to timber acquisition

Injunction sought by tribal group

Sustainable investment certification launched by Canadian university

New Sustainable Investment Professional Certification modelled on CFA

Investors and advisers at odds in SEC probe of compensation committees

Dodd-Frank consultation also covers executive pay advisers

RI Briefing, May 18: French strategic investment fund signs up to UN PRI

RI’s regular Wednesday round-up of responsible investing news

First non-domestic pension fund signs up to UK Stewardship Code

“Logical and appropriate” says Canadian pension giant

RI Interview: Gates Foundation’s latest social investments create odd bedfellows

Responsible Investor talks to the Gates Foundation about its program-related investments.

RI Governance & Engagement, May 12: CalPERS’ annual director election proposal gets 69% support

RI’s regular review of governance and engagement news

RI BLOG: ESG goes big at Milken conference: Erika Karp, Global Head of Sector Research, UBS

Sustainable finance was all over the discussion at the 3,000 strong Milken conference in Los Angeles last week.

Global ESG consulting firm names new Nordic head

Copenhagen office opened

$900bn investor coalition to write to Russell 1000 CEOs in sustainability push

Levi Strauss kicks off investor-corporate sustainable round table with supply chain commitment.

US pension giants make massive ESG commitments

Funds collaborate with business groups in new sustainable economy roundtable

Clean Investor, May 10: Mongolian wind farm is 3,000th Clean Development Mechanism project

RI’s regular Tuesday review of clean investing news

Amazon.com facing climate change resolution at AGM

Investors have opportunity to hold firm to account

Proxy Round-up: Key ESG shareholder proposals at US AGMs (May 5-17)

UPDATE: A look at some of the most important environmental, social and governance (ESG) resolutions at forthcoming US shareholder meetings, in chronological order for May 5-17

NY pension fund keeps environmental pressure on mining giant Freeport-McMoRan

New York Common Fund files shareholder resolution for June AGM.

US banks under proxy fire as 30% back NY funds’ mortgage crisis report call at Citi

Investors target Wells Fargo meeting next week.

US oil majors rebut AGM safety report calls by union giant

AFL-CIO requests special report in proxy votes, companies resist.

CalPERS puts $100m into new ESG product

California fund backs quant ESG boutique

RI Round-up: Key ESG shareholder proposals at US AGMs

A look at some of the most important environmental, social and governance (ESG) resolutions at forthcoming US shareholder meetings, in chronological order.

We will update it as the proxy season progresses.

Shareholders back independent chair at ratings agency Moody’s

“Landmark” shareholder vote at company meeting