Letter to Starbucks Shareholders: Vote Yes for Workforce Diversity Proposal
Boston, MA // February 23, 2018 – Trillium Asset Management has published a letter to shareholders of Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) urging them to vote in favor of a shareholder proposal on the company’s 2018 proxy card. The proposal asks Starbucks to disclose workforce diversity metrics as well as a description of policies and programs focused on increasing gender and racial diversity in the workplace. The letter provides the following rationale for voting “Yes”: Starbucks’ current diversity disclosures are insufficient Evidence finds that greater workforce diversity may lead to better business outcomes Providing detailed workforce diversity information may contribute positively to …
Webinar Replay: Economic Directions & Shareholder Advocacy Priorities
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 is not a recommendation to buy or sell the securities mentioned. The securities were selected on an objective basis for illustrative purposes and do not represent all of the securities purchased, sold or recommended. It …
Stepping off the Sidelines: The Role of Financial Services Companies on Gun Sales
February 21, 2018 // Boston, MA – On Monday, The New York Times columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin, proposed that the finance industry — credit card companies; credit card processors; and banks — take the lead on setting new rules for the sale of guns in America. In his piece, Sorkin emphasized the moral responsibility that corporations have to help their communities and to confront social challenges. He argues that in light of policy makers failing to address gun violence, it is now time for companies that are in a position to do something to address it and to step up …
Join Us for a Webinar: Economic Directions & Corporate Engagement Priorities
Webinar: February 12th, 1 PM ET/ 10 AM PT Register Here In 2017, we anticipated that the new Administration would have a broad range of impacts on the U.S. economy, including new policy priorities, severe threats to the environment, and increasing economic inequality. Where are we a year later and what is our outlook for 2018? Join us on Monday, February 12th as we share how Trillium is navigating this new economic, investment, and policy landscape with our focus on environmental, social, and governance integration and increased impact through shareholder advocacy. Panelists: Cheryl I. Smith, Ph.D., CFA, Partner, Portfolio Manager, …
Nike Expands Clean Energy Agreement with Avangrid Renewables
Boston, MA // January 26, 2018 – Last week, Avangrid Renewables, a subsidiary of energy and utilities company Avangrid, announced that it signed a second power purchase agreement (PPA) with apparel and footwear company, Nike, to source 86-megawatts of wind power from the Texas-based Karankawa Wind Farm. We commend Nike and Avangrid for recognizing alternative energy as a critical tool in managing and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and accelerating the growth of a low carbon economy. This is the second PPA between both companies. Currently, Avangrid’s Columbia Gorge Texas wind farm supplies 100% renewable energy to Nike’s headquarters and …
Dentsply Sirona Elects Two Women to Board of Directors
Boston, MA // January 22, 2018 – Trillium Asset Management commends Dentsply Sirona (NASDAQ: XRAY), a dental equipment and supply company, for appointing Leslie Varon and Betsy Holden as the first women to serve on the recently merged company’s Board of directors. Ms. Varon has served in several senior roles at Xerox and brings extensive experience in financial management and investor relations to the company. Ms. Holden, former Co-CEO of Kraft Foods and current senior advisor to McKinsey & Company, brings a deep skill set in strategy, marketing, and board effectiveness initiatives. In December 2016, Trillium and several investor partners* …
Trillium’s Economic & Market Outlook Now Available: Fourth Quarter 2017
January 12, 2018 // Boston, MA – Economic data strengthened throughout 2017, defying the expectations of economists and investors. After a lackluster 2016, the year-over-year index of leading economic indicators accelerated aggressively, and the Citi economic surprise index climbed to historic highs. Unemployment dropped by 0.6% to a 17-year low of 4.1%, while wage growth remained conspicuously muted, keeping labor cost increases minimal and sustaining corporate profit margins. While it may seem appealing to ride the market’s momentum, and to be optimistic at the end of a year of strong performance, we believe that the current elevated expectations will make it …
MasterCard Commits to Greenhouse Gas Emissions Targets
January 11, 2018 // Boston, MA – Trillium Asset Management commends MasterCard, Inc. for setting an absolute reduction target for scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and for further committing to pursue a science-based reduction target in the next two years. Once this science-based target is established it means MasterCard will be playing its part to limit global temperature rise to the internationally agreed upon 2°C limit. Trillium believes this target will propel the company to meaningful emissions reductions that are necessary for the planet, while also generating bottom line benefits. One study from the World Wildlife Fund, …
Firm Announces Impactful Engagements in Second Half of 2017
January 9, 2018// Boston, MA – During the second half of 2017, the Trillium shareholder advocacy team engaged about 300 companies through individual initiatives and collaborative efforts with other investors, which included filing 39 shareholder proposals. Trillium and our clients continue to work to influence change in corporate behavior that we believe benefits investors, society, and the environment. Our advocacy work focused on over a dozen environmental, social, and governance issues including: • Climate Change • LGBT Equality • Workforce Diversity • Income Inequality • Private Prisons • Board Diversity • Sustainable Agriculture Download Trillium’s Q3-Q4 2017 Shareholder Advocacy Highlights. …
Trillium Files Board Executive Committee Diversity Proposal at Alphabet
January 8, 2018 Update: Read recent coverage on the shareholder proposal on Quartz, an Atlantic Media publication. This September, Trillium Asset Management filed a shareholder proposal, on behalf of the Global Fund for Women and Maine Women’s Fund, at Google parent company Alphabet, asking it to make its executive committee more diverse in terms of race, ethnicity, and gender. As the first major Silicon Valley technology company to release diversity statistics in 2014, the company has gone to great lengths to demonstrate its desire to address its diversity challenges. These efforts include unconscious bias training aimed at improving hiring programs, …
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