The Magazine of Corporate Responsibility

Tag Archive for ‘Walden Asset Management’

Investors Press Companies on U.S. Chamber Board Roles

A group of investment organizations with about $43 billion in assets under management has sent letters to 35 major companies represented on the board of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, urging company managements “to evaluate their role and to assess the risks and benefits of Board membership.”

Opinion: U.S. Chamber of Commerce and A Failure in Governance

Many leading companies strive to follow best practices in corporate governance, demonstrating responsiveness to investors and protecting shareowner value in the process. Paradoxically – argues a leading socially responsible investment executive – some of these same companies often appear to leave their commitment to corporate governance at the doorstep when they serve on the board of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Target, Best Buy Investors Seek Review of Political Contributions

Three leading sustainability investment firms filed shareholder resolutions at Target and Best Buy seeking to have independent directors review the companies’ political spending practices and policies. Target and Best Buy have been under fire for contributions made to an organization that backs a Minnesota gubernatorial candidate who opposes gay marriage.

Verbatim: How Businesses View Sustainability & CSR Reporting

Investment firm Walden Asset Management recently researched and compiled quotes from sustainability and corporate responsibility reports by several dozen companies in a wide range of industries. The exercise showed, says a Walden executive, that attention to such issues has become vitally important for a company’s business, and that transparent reporting is, as one CEO said, one of “the prices of doing business today.”

Activist Investors Claim Record Results on Climate Change

Investors filed a record 101 climate and energy-related resolutions with 88 U.S. and Canadian companies in 2010, a 50% increase from the year-earlier, according to activist shareholder organizations. A record 51 resolutions were withdrawn after the companies agreed to climate change and energy-related commitments.

Say-on-Pay Shareholder Votes Gain Momentum

The number of so-called “say-on-pay” votes has increased from only 6 in 2008, when Aflac Inc. became the first to adopt the practice, and 19 in 2009.

Intel’s Annual Meeting: What Would Gordon Gekko Say?

In May 2010, Intel will become the first publicly-held U.S. company to hold a “virtual shareholder meeting” to the exclusion of an in-person gathering. While the plan may have advantages – including no cost to attend, and “increased transparency” with more shareholders able to attend – activist investors say Intel’s move would set a “negative precedent” for other companies.