Activism Archives

M&S takes action on China over human rights

The company will no longer use cotton from China’s Xinjiang region

Marks & Spencer has become the first top-tier UK clothing company to formally announce it will cut all ties with suppliers that are connected to the forced labour of …

HSBC shareholders urge bank to cut exposure to fossil fuels

Investors file resolution calling on bank to publish strategy and targets

Some of Europe’s biggest pension funds and asset managers have filed a shareholder vote urging HSBC to cut its lending linked to fossil fuels.

Fifteen institutional investors with a …

Engagement or voting? Asset manager advocates alternatives

Direct engagement with companies produces better results than shareholder resolutions at AGMs, an asset manager has argued.

US investment house T Rowe Price, which runs approximately $1trn, stated in its annual ESG report that it preferred to engage one-to-one with …

Investors strike emissions agreement with Total

Energy giant Total has committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 or sooner, following engagement with leading investors through Climate Action 100+.

The agreement means all Europe-based oil and gas majors are now working towards the net zero …

Government loses bid to ban boycotts, divestment by LGPS funds

The UK government has lost a Supreme Court case over its right to ban local authority pension funds from divesting or boycotting companies.

The UK Supreme Court ruled 3-2 in favour of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and Jacqueline Lewis, …

Lobby group created for ‘human rights due diligence’ rules

A new international lobby group has been formed to pressure governments to introduce regulations around companies’ impacts on human rights.

The group, called the Investor Alliance for Human Rights, is comprised of 105 international investors representing $5trn in assets under …

NGOs press government for further action on slavery

A group of NGOs has called for the government to ensure its new pledges on modern slavery are enacted in full throughout – and beyond – the coronavirus crisis.

In a joint …

Neuberger Berman commits to advance proxy disclosure

Neuberger Berman has become one of the first major asset managers to commit to advance proxy voting disclosures.

It announced this week that it would publicly state beforehand how it plans to vote …

Australian energy giant rocked by shareholder rebellion

Santos, one of the largest oil and gas producers in Australia, has suffered a huge revolt by shareholders over its strategy on climate change.

At last week’s annual investor meeting, over 43% of Santos shareholders defied the board and …