Trillium Successfully Withdraws Workplace Discrimination Proposal at MTX

MARCH 2, 2015: Following a productive dialogue between Trillium Asset Management (Trillium) and Minerals Technologies (NYSE: MTX), Trillium has withdrawn our shareholder proposal after the company expanded its Equal Opportunity and Anti-Harassment policies to explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity.
Trillium believes that companies and workers benefit from consistent, corporate-wide, efforts to prevent discrimination, ensuring a respectful and supportive atmosphere for all employees.
“Mineral Technologies had lagged its sector peers in providing protections for gender identity in its non-discrimination policy,” said Brianna Murphy, Trillium’s Vice President Shareholder Advocacy and Corporate Engagement. “As investors, we are pleased that Mineral Technologies has formally strengthened its commitment to an equal and inclusive workplace – qualities, in our view, that are linked to long-term shareholder value creation”.
Federal law does not provide sexual orientation and gender identity employment discrimination protection.
On July 21, 2014, President Obama amended Executive Order 11246, which was originally issued by President Lyndon B. Johnson, prohibiting federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. The regulations are expected to become effective on April 8, 2015.
Trillium commends Minerals Technologies for developing a consistent corporate-wide policy to enhance efforts to prevent discrimination, and hire and retain the best talent.

###

For more information: Randy Rice, Trillium Asset Management, (617) 515-6889, rrice@trilliuminvest.com
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE: The views expressed are those of the authors and Trillium Asset Management, LLC as of the date referenced and are subject to change at any time based on market or other conditions. These views are not intended to be a forecast of future events or a guarantee of future results. These views may not be relied upon as investment advice. The information provided in this material should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any of the securities mentioned. It should not be assumed that investments in such securities have been or will be profitable. To the extent specific securities are mentioned, they have been selected by the authors on an objective basis to illustrate views expressed in the commentary and do not represent all of the securities purchased, sold or recommended for advisory clients. The information contained herein has been prepared from sources believed reliable but is not guaranteed by us as to its timeliness or accuracy, and is not a complete summary or statement of all available data. This piece is for informational purposes and should not be construed as a research report.