WSJ: In Conflict Minerals, Ethical Investors Gain Ability to Rank Companies

AUGUST 6, 2015: Jeremy Cote, CFA, who is one of Trillium’s Research Analysts, was recently interviewed by the Wall Street Journal for a story on Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Act, which concerns the reporting of conflict minerals.
Kristin Lin and Emily Chasan write:
“…At Trillium Asset Management, a Boston-based sustainability-focused investment firm that manages $2.2 billion, research analyst Jeremy Cote says conflict minerals was one of the top issues considered, along with efficient water usage and human capital management, in its just-completed review of the semiconductor industry.
‘How a company manages their conflict minerals program is a marker of how well they manage their supply chain,’ Mr. Cote said. He looks for robust lists of smelters, large percentages of supplier responses, and whether companies have goals for 100% conflict-free products. ‘It’s a sign of leadership in their industry,’ which can have an implication on margins and cash flow, he said.”
You can read the entire article here.

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