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Corporate /
Financials
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Whistling Past the Graveyard—Socially Responsible Investing and the Financial Crisis (12/31)
SRI thought leaders analyze the potential impacts of the widespread economic downturn caused by the subprime meltdown and deflating dollar.
The Subprime Meltdown and SRI: Engage, Avoid, Predict (09/12)
Shareowner activists engaged banks on predatory lending long before the subprime crisis climaxed, and SRI research predicted the meltdown in time to avoid some impacts.
Fidelity Divests Large Chunk of Sudan-Related Holdings (05/22)
Despite similar pressure from Sudan divestment activists, Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway retain holdings in PetroChina, which is linked to genocide in Darfur.
Rainforest Action Network Seeks to Stem Flow of Financing to TXU Coal Project (12/20)
Part two of this two-part articles addresses how RAN sent a letter to 54 banks urging them to withhold funding from a TXU plan to build 11 pulverized coal-burning power plants in Texas.
Institutional Investors in France Foresee Continuing Growth of Socially Responsible Investing (12/14)
A Novethic survey tells some of the story behind the numbers documented in the September 2006 Eurosif report on the growth of SRI in Europe.
How to Do Sustainble Banking (12/06)
BankTrack, a coalition of nongovernmental organizations promoting social and environmental responsibility in the finance sector, issues a guide to best practices in sustainable banking.
Microfinance Crosses Continental Divide with $100 Million Commitment from TIAA-CREF (10/09)
TIAA-CREF inaugurated its Global Microfinance Investment Program by purchasing from ProCredit Holdings $43 million in private equity shares, a new strategy in microfinance.
BP, John Deere, Goldman Sachs, and Allianz Among Renewable Energy Award Winners (09/27)
The third annual award ceremony, sponsored by Euromoney and Ernst and Young, took place during the Renewable Energy Finance Forum.
UN Advances Business Case for Materiality of SRI, Leaving Skeptics Little Wiggle Room (07/18)
A new UNEP FI report assesses how investment banks are integrating environmental, social, and governance factors and linking them to financial performance in their research.
Revised Equator Principles Fall Short of International Best Practice for Project Finance (07/12)
While some observers praise the strengthening of labor rights, others decry the failure to implement adequate transparency, accountability, and governance mechanisms.
Applying an Ant Colony Mentality to Extra-Financial Factors and Enhanced Analytics (05/30)
A report from the Universities Superannuation Scheme, a member of the Enhanced Analytics Initiative, calls for diverse, community-wide advocacy of factoring extra-financials into research.
Thirty Years and Counting: Cofounder Wayne Silby Recounts the Birth of Calvert (03/18)
To celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of Calvert, SocialFunds.com speaks with co-founder Wayne Silby about its genesis, development, and future.
US Banks Sink to the Bottom of the Barrel on Latest Sustainability Ratings from Oekom (03/14)
Most US banks fail to disclose enough information on their social and environmental performance to qualify for analysis, and only four of 21 analyzed earned above D-level grades.
State Laws Effectively Curb Predatory Lending Without Stifling Subprime Market, Study Finds (02/28)
The Center for Responsible Lending study rebuts opponents of state anti-predatory lending laws, and suggests significant implications for the two competing anti-predatory bills now in Congress.
Bank Policies Fail to Meet International Social and Environmental Standards, Report Says (02/25)
The 39 banks assessed fall far short on global sustainability standards, and fail to disclose enough information on implementation to even be assessed by NGO coalition BankTrack.
Financial Wonks Meet Treehuggers: New Tool Places Valuation on Corporate Sustainability (02/14)
The sdEffect analytical framework takes the next step in establishing metrics to translate sustainable development into valuation.
In the Year of the Oil Boom, Some SRI Funds Look Elsewhere for Strong Performance in 2005 (01/24)
The top-performing socially responsible investing funds compared to their category peers (SRI and non-SRI alike) drew strong performance from pharma, tech, and financials.
Unpublished Data Clarifies SRI Proxy Voting on CSR Resolutions (01/18)
In part two in this multi-part series, SocialFunds.com examines unpublished data associated with a recent report from The Corporate Library, and finds that statistics are not always what they seem at first glance.
The Corporate Library Report on Mutual Fund Proxy Voting Finds Stagnation and Even Retreat (01/17)
Part one of this multi-part series discusses the report findings on decreasing mainstream fund support for CSR resolutions; subsequent articles examine unpublished data from the research.
Top Five Socially Responsible Investing News Stories of 2005 (01/05)
Socially responsible investing, corporate social responsibility, and microfinance embraced by the mainstream; shareowner advocates withdraw several climate change resolutions as companies agree to report; and exchange traded funds apply SRI strategies.
Are European Finance Sector Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives Adequate? (12/23)
A report from a recent EU conference on CSR suggest so, while a Corporate Responsibility Coalition report says voluntary CSR initiatives and current regulation fall short.
A Light Bulb Turns On: Goldman Sachs First Investment Bank to Adopt Environmental Policy (11/30)
The policy matches the robustness of other such policies recently adopted by global financial institutions, but the status of Goldman Sachs as an investment bank brings added significance.
Institutional Investors Drive Research on Mainstreaming of SRI by Investment Managers (10/21)
A new line of research at Mercer Investment Consulting rates proxy voting, shareholder engagement, and analysis of environmental, social, and governance issues by mainstream investment managers.
Human Rights Site Spotlights Bank Investment in Chinese Manufacturer Linked to Forced Labor (08/25)
The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre posts an article alleging Chinese firm Henan Rebecca uses forced labor, as well as responses from banks implicated through investment for their clients.
JPMorgan Chase Environmental Policy Triggers Tipping Point for US Bank Sustainability (04/29)
The JPMC policy surpasses environmental best practice established by Citigroup and Bank of America in some areas, but also lags these sustainability leaders in others.
Comparing Citigroup and JP Morgan Chase Policies: Which Stems Illegal Logging in Indonesia? (03/08)
Before providing funding, financial institution policies requiring documentation certifying legitimate timber sourcing may help promote sustainable logging in Southeast Asia.
Enhanced Analytics Initiative Picks Sell-Side Brokerage Houses with Best Intangibles Research (01/18)
EAI awards seven firms and three runners-up for outstanding sell-side analysis of corporate social and environmental issues.
Report Finds Bank Sector Assessment of Impact on Disadvantaged Communities Lacking (12/29)
AccountAbility and Business for Social Responsibility to apply their new assessment methodology to the pharmaceutical, agricultural, and extractive sectors next.
As Mutual Funds Prepare to Reveal Proxy Votes, Guideline Disclosure Acts as Acid Test (08/25)
Investor-friendly website accessibility to mutual funds' proxy voting guidelines may signal proxy voting record accessibility and investor-friendly proxy voting.
US Banks Criticized for Involvement in China State Bank Bonds (08/19)
Nongovernmental organizations and socially responsible investing firms criticize US banks for selling Chinese bonds that fund socially and environmentally problematic projects.
Sell-Side Analysts Confirm the Materiality of Sustainability Issues in UN Report (07/23)
A United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative report documents belief in the materiality of corporate social responsibility issues by 11 brokerage houses.
Are the Equator Principles Sincere or Spin? (06/04)
A report calls into question whether signatory banks are complying with the Equator Principles.
New Bank of America Policy Sets Best Practice on Climate Change in US Bank Sector (05/26)
Environmentalist organization Rainforest Action Network helps usher Bank of America into the vanguard of US banks improving their environmental responsibility.
Shareowner Resolution Withdrawn as JP Morgan Chase Addresses Environmental Risks (05/14)
A group of socially responsible investment advocates withdrew a shareowner resolution from JP Morgan Chase when the company established an office of environmental affairs.
Community Investment Advocates Question Bank of America/FleetBoston Merger (01/23)
Bank of America is responding to critics of its proposed merger with FleetBoston.
Vanguard Fund Generates Strong Returns by Replicating the Calvert Social Index (10/24)
The Vanguard Calvert Social Index Fund outperformed more than four-fifths of its peers in the overall US mutual fund universe with similar investment styles over the past year.
Corporate Governance Ratings Take Different Approaches to Produce Similar Results (08/19)
GovernanceMetrics International rates corporate governance in relation to other companies, while Institutional Shareholder Services rates in relation to market indexes.
Climate Change Litigation Could Affect Companies’ Market Value (07/23)
In the near future companies could face the risk of being on the receiving end of climate change lawsuits, a development that stands to impact shareowner value.
Huh?!?: CEO Pay Goes Up in 2002 While the Stock Market Goes Down (06/25)
The Corporate Library's report shows how CEO pay increased in 2002 despite the fact that the stock market declined significantly, a trend that does not sit well with investors.
First Dutch Passively-Managed DJSI-based Index Fund Launched (06/17)
Theodoor Gilissen Bankiers has launched a passively-managed fund that tracks a Dow Jones Sustainability Index, the first such product in the Netherlands.
Will Equator Principles Deliver Social and Environmental Responsibility from Banks? (06/05)
Social investors and NGOs question whether the Equator Principles will serve their stated purpose of increasing global banks' social and environmental responsibility.
The Effects of 9/11 and the Iraq War on Islamic SRI Funds (04/18)
Socially responsible investment funds that reflect Islamic values shed light on the issue of anti-Islam sentiment, which has run rampant after 9/11 and through the Iraq War.
CalPERS Says Xerox's Corporate Governance Not Worthy of Copying (03/27)
Pension fund giant names six companies that need to improve their corporate governance.
Guide Rates Best and Worst Lenders in Terms of Reaching the Underserved (03/25)
When it comes to reaching minorities, women, and low- and middle-income borrowers, Bank of America rates as one of the best and ABN AMRO rates as one of the worst.
Oekom Applauds Insurers Employing SRI but Chides Rest of Sector's Non-Transparency (03/18)
Lack of transparency prevented the German corporate research firm from conducting corporate responsibility ratings on the majority of global insurance companies.
Low-Income Toronto Residents Save on Check Cashing (01/10)
Royal Bank of Canada tailored its Cash & Save concept to meet the unique financial services needs of residents in a diverse, densely populated urban community.
UNEP Advises Financial Sector on Threats and Opportunities Related to Climate Change (10/17)
A recent United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative report outlines the financial sector's risks and opportunities regarding climate change.
Religious Mutual Funds Multiply in Numbers and Assets (09/18)
Faith-based mutual funds represent a fledgling but fast-growing movement in the socially responsible investment field.
Some Cracks in Freddie Mac's Otherwise Solid Social and Fiscal Reputation (08/15)
Freddie Mac's profile appears picture-perfect from a social and fiscal perspective, but recent disclosures have tainted this image somewhat.
Business Ethics' 100 Best Corporate Citizens Outperform S&P 500 (04/29)
An academic study concluded that Business Ethics' list of 100 Best Corporate Citizens generated better returns than the remaining companies on the S&P 500.
Activists Lobby Shareowners to Stop Housing Development in Southern California (04/17)
A coalition group held a rally at Washington Mutual's annual meeting to raise concern about that company's planned housing development in the Santa Monica Mountains.
Corporate Sustainability Reporting Is Here to Stay (04/05)
The Global Reporting Initiative, an organization working to make corporate performance more transparent, was formally inaugurated as an independent institution yesterday.
SEC Clarifies Position on Auditor Independence Resolutions (01/18)
Although the SEC rejected a shareowner resolution early in 2001 that called for shareowners to choose a company’s auditor, the SEC recognizes the relevance of the auditor independence issue to shareowners.
UK Bank Offers Green Mortgages (01/14)
Financial institution efforts to be more environment-friendly are proving popular with customers.
Consulting Firm Promotes Online Reporting of Triple Bottom Line (12/31)
SustainAbility, a British research and consultancy firm, recently released a report on how companies, their stakeholders and customers use the Internet to communicate about sustainable development.
SBI Promotes Responsible Business Practices Alongside Profits (12/27)
The Sustainable Business Institute is working to spread its vision of sustainability to business leaders and the public.
GEMI Elevates Environmental Consciousness from the Bottom to the Top Line (12/03)
The Global Environmental Management Initiative releases a new report promoting environment-friendly methods of enhancing corporate performance.
Greenhouse Gas Protocol Initiative Creates Global Emissions Standards (11/07)
An international consortium of government agencies, NGOs, and businesses creates its own set of standards for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in advance of the Kyoto Protocol.
EPA Program Recognizes Better Corporate Environmental Performance (11/02)
Performance Track motivates and rewards businesses that exceed EPA's environmental standards.
Companies Get Help Building Green (10/29)
The U.S. Green Building Council makes it easier for companies to be more energy efficient and friendlier to the environment by helping them construct "green" buildings.
Scandinavian Companies Work toward Sustainable Business Model (10/03)
A group of large Nordic companies are participating in an unusual partnership to create their view of a future sustainable company.
Book Review: The Civil Corporation (09/28)
The New Economy brings increased competition, faster dissemination of information and the rise of corporate citizenship.
EPA Partners with Businesses to Promote Green Power (09/27)
Voluntary program has enlisted companies, cities, universities and others with the aim of boosting the market for renewable energy.
Companies Cut Pollution Through E-commuting (08/28)
A federal government pilot program will give participating companies pollution credits based on the emission reductions achieved by telecommuting employees.
Benchmarking Corporate Environmental and Social Reporting (07/12)
Recent survey examines the environmental and social reporting practices of the 100 largest global firms.
Labor Standards Resolutions Garner Support in 2001 Proxy Season (07/11)
Ten international labor and human rights proposals that came to vote this year received 10 percent or more support from shareowners.
Americans Increasingly Interested in Corporate Citizenship (07/10)
Survey indicates that Americans are looking for good corporate citizens, but are having difficulty finding them.
Companies Using NAFTA to Undermine Legitimate Regulations (06/12)
New report explains how the U.S., Canadian and Mexican governments' ability to regulate in the public interest is being eroded by NAFTA's Chapter 11.
Better Corporate Governance Pays Off for Large Companies in Emerging Markets (06/04)
Recent study across global emerging markets finds large companies with good corporate governance yield better bottom lines.
Getting Boards to Address the Triple Bottom Line (05/15)
New report proposes a set of principles and actions to assist corporate boards in addressing the triple bottom line of economic, social and environmental performance.
Book Review: Sustainable Banking (05/14)
Scholarly collection of perspectives and case studies explores the international financial sector’s role in sustainable development.
Business Group Supports Sustainability Via the Market Economy (04/24)
New report identifies seven factors companies must address in order to realize sustainable practices.
Major UK Fund Manager to Require Environmental Reporting (04/19)
Institutional investors are increasingly seeing the need for environmental disclosure.
Environmental Groups Endorse Shareholder Resolutions (04/12)
Environmental advocates ask for support for pro-environmental resolutions at a wide range of companies.
Thirty-one Companies to Test Sustainability Reporting Guidelines (04/06)
Structured feedback will help shape the next generation of Global Reporting Initiative guidelines.
Shopping for Responsibility (04/02)
Internet site is helping consumers base shopping decisions on values.
Procter & Gamble Heads List of 100 Best Corporate Citizens (03/28)
Business Ethics magazine recently published their annual rankings of the companies that best serve a diverse group of stakeholders.
AIG Shareholders Call for Corporate Democracy (05/17)
Three shareholder resolutions facing American International Group today called for greater independence in the insurance giant's board of directors.
Domini Social Index At Ten Years Old (05/01)
On the tenth anniversary of its socially screened stock index, Kinder, Lydenberg, Domini & Co. has much to celebrate. So do social investors.
Friends Ivory & Sime Engages Companies on Human Rights (04/12)
The London-based social investment firm launches a unique human rights initiative through dialogue with company management.
Who Pays for Corporate Welfare? (02/28)
As the 2000 U.S. presidential election heats up, citizens consider the undemocratic practice of corporate welfare.
Time Warner Takes Hard Line on Soft Money (01/19)
Recent move by communications giant brings campaign finance reform into purview of socially responsible investors. |