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☆ Chipotle, Papa John's link ESG goals to bonus compensation, and pay practice is moving below the C-suite level
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( Ian Thomas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Companies are increasingly linking ESG metrics to executive compensation packages. That percentage of Russell 1000 companies linking ESG goals to compensation has quickly grown in recent years, from 14% in 2020 to 18% in 2021 to 28% in 2022. In 2021, Mastercard changed its executive compensation model for its most senior executives, EVPs and above, to link their bonus structure to goals set around carbon neutrality, financial inclusion and gender pay parity. Papa John's took a similar step last year, introducing an ESG bonus incentive for eligible employees and executives for goals around enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion, environmental impact, and its broader mission around cleaner and better ingredients. "For example, if there is an ESG goal around emissions, does a director of finance have any direct oversight or responsibility for how that is achieved?"

☆ BlackRock CEO Fink trains successors, with no imminent plan to retire -WSJ
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 13 (Reuters) - BlackRock Inc (BLK.N) Chief Executive Officer Larry Fink has been preparing five key leaders to take his role whenever he decides to step down in the future, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday. Though Fink has no imminent plans to retire, he along with President Robert Kapito has been training these candidates for "The Great Race" - to choose the successor - in what Fink calls is the "No. Fink told the newspaper he hoped to build camaraderie among the five, and not competition, so they will keep working together. BlackRock said it plans no major changes to the way it engages with companies. Reporting by Baranjot Kaur in Bengaluru; Editing by David GregorioOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ BlackRock is wrestling with who could succeed Larry Fink. Here's who's now in the running.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-12 | by ( Rebecca Ungarino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Investment giant BlackRock has been planning for CEO Larry Fink's succession for years. Leadership has discussed BlackRock cofounder Susan Wagner as someone who could succeed Fink if the board does not have a clear candidate. For years, BlackRock has been planning for Chief Executive Larry Fink's succession, a torch-passing the industry has long speculated over. BlackRock has become shorthand for the intense backlash from primarily Republican lawmakers over sustainable investment strategies that Fink has championed as CEO. Goldstein, 49, is a BlackRock lifer and has been chief operating officer for nearly a decade.

☆ Vivek Ramaswamy's firm courts GOP officials as he pushes businesses to stay out of politics
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-12 | by ( Brian Schwartz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +14 min

Scott Olson | Getty ImagesRepublican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy built his White House bid around urging companies to stay out of politics. The messages show Ramaswamy's firm actively engaged with GOP state leaders who have defended the fossil fuel industry and criticized environmentally conscious investment standards. Ramaswamy on Thursday defended the firm's engagement with GOP officials, saying bigger firms BlackRock, Vanguard and State Street have conducted similar practices with state officials across the country. Strive has become one of the more vocal opponents of ESG investing and has gained enough notoriety to challenge the likes of fossil fuel giant ExxonMobil . Ron DeSantis, have often attacked ESG investing standards and corporations that support social causes — an increasingly common refrain within the GOP.

Researchers have also sought to quantify fairness and bias in AI models through various socio-ethnic parameters. For example, Stanford University's artificial intelligence index report scores for bias across AI models. It found a "counterintuitive" correlation between fairness and bias: models that scored better on fairness metrics demonstrated stronger gender bias, and less gender-biased models were more toxic. Driving AI technology advancements — being a "key player or enabler across the AI ecosystem to make businesses and society better." Some investors believe AI itself can help investors monitor and track ESG efforts by companies.

TORONTO, May 9 (Reuters) - Pierre Lassonde, a Canadian mining industry veteran, has made an offer to invest in Teck Resources Ltd's (TECKb.TO) coal business, in a bid to thwart Glencore Plc's (GLEN.L) hostile attempt to merge with Teck. Vancouver-based Teck has rebuffed Swiss mining company Glencore's $22.5 billon offer to combine the two companies and is instead pursing plans to separate its copper and coal business. Teck last month pulled its initial business separation plan at the last minute after failing to secure enough shareholder support. Glencore has offered a cash component for Teck's coal business worth C$8 billion ($5.98 billion). A source close to the matter said that an alternative offer for Teck's steelmaking coal business might push the Swiss conglomerate to finally make an improved offer.

☆ A major Adidas shareholder is demanding answers over the company's tumultuous relationship with Kanye West
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Adidas cut ties with Kanye West after his antisemitic rant last October. The company began an investigation into his behavior towards Yeezy staff last November. And now a top investor will urge Adidas to reveal the results in an annual meeting, the FT reported. According to Rolling Stone, West would scream and throw books across a room in 2020 as Yeezy staff said they feared for their wellbeing. Werning will urge Adidas to share the investigation's results "here and now" and demand the company "transparently clean up the scandal," the FT reported.

May 8 (Reuters) - Vanguard Group, the largest provider of mutual funds, has secured regulatory approval to continue to own big stakes in U.S. power utilities, overcoming Republican concerns over its environmental, social and governance (ESG) policies. Regulators had previously allowed Vanguard to exceed that antitrust limit on the basis that this would not interfere with the utilities' operations. Vanguard countered that its funds do not exert control over the decisions of the utilities. Vanguard reiterated in a statement on Monday that it leaves "management decisions to companies and policy decisions to policymakers." A representative for Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, one of the leaders of the group challenging the FERC extension, said he would comment in coming days.

☆ Impactive takes a stake in Clarivate and sets the tone for activism in the post-SPAC world
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( Kenneth Squire | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Business: Clarivate is a global information, analytics and workflow solutions company. Activist Commentary: Impactive Capital is an activist hedge fund founded in 2018 by Lauren Taylor Wolfe and Christian Alejandro Asmar. Impactive Capital is an active ESG (AESG) investor that launched with a $250 million investment from CalSTRS and now has over $2.5 billion. Impactive focuses on positive systemic change to help build more competitive, sustainable businesses for the long run. As with many SPAC companies, there were valuation, corporate governance and compensation incentive concerns at Clarivate.

☆ Environmental Issues Complicate Glencore’s $23 Billion Merger Fight
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Julie Steinberg | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Glencore says that by 2050 it will run down its coal operations, like this one in Ravensworth, Australia. Photo: Loren Elliott/REUTERSMining company Glencore ’s roughly $23 billion offer for Teck Resources of Canada has injected a new variable into the calculus for big global deal making: ESG. Usually, the stumbling blocks to a big deal involve some combination of price, control or strategic fit. Teck, however, is also publicly raising environmental, social and governance issues in its refusal so far to engage with Glencore about a potential tie-up.

☆ Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting is here: What to expect from Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Yun Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Warren Buffett is set to kick off Berkshire Hathaway 's annual shareholder meeting Saturday before tens of thousands of adoring shareholders. Berkshire's annual "Woodstock for Capitalists" will be held in Omaha, Nebraska, the second straight in-person gathering after two virtual meetings during the pandemic. The question of Buffett's Activision stake is expected to come up at the annual meeting. Geico Berkshire shareholders will also be eager to learn more about what's next for auto insurer Geico , the crown jewel of Berkshire's insurance empire and Buffett's "favorite child." ESG issues There are a few ESG-related shareholder proposals being put to a vote at the annual meeting, including requiring Berkshire to publish an annual assessment of climate-related risks and publish data on its workforce composition by gender, race, and ethnicity.

☆ DeSantis collects wins as Florida Legislature caps whirlwind session, teeing up possible White House bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks during a conference titled "Celebrate the Faces of Israel" at Jerusalem's Museum of Tolerance, on April 27, 2023. Measures like the restrictive abortion law DeSantis signed could help him in a GOP primary, but may reduce his appeal in a general election. Lawmakers have also passed multiple measures that could help clear DeSantis' path to the White House, if and when he decides to run. "The entire session was focused on Governor DeSantis' run for president," said Jim Clark, a University of Central Florida senior lecturer and political commentator, in an interview. On top of those issues, DeSantis in March waded into the "school choice" debate by signing a bill expanding Florida's school voucher system.

☆ Goldman Sachs names a slew of energy companies to buy right now as attitudes shift
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Goldman Sachs has identified a number of energy stocks to own ahead of an expected turn in the market's sentiment toward the oil and gas sector. Goldman's analysis comes after the energy sector posted stellar gains last year. Goldman expects a 10% increase in revenue from green investments at these companies this year compared to last year. The trend also indicates that a turning point may be approaching where larger energy companies could attract even more investment if they continue transitioning toward greener practices, the analysts added. Oil and gas companies have also been particularly attractive to investors over the past year thanks to their bumper profits.

☆ Air France-KLM in talks with Apollo for $550 mln cash injection
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 4 (Reuters) - Air France-KLM (AIRF.PA) said on Thursday it engaged with private equity firm Apollo Global Management (APO.N) for a 500 million euro ($550.70 million) capital injection for one of its engineering and maintenance units. The new financing arrangement if complete will help strengthen Air France-KLM’s and Air France’s balance sheet, the group said in a press release. Air France-KLM and Apollo Global Management entered into a similar solution last year where the private equity firm invested 500 million euro in the company to help repay French state aid. Earlier in April, Air France KLM agreed to revolving credit facilities (RCF) worth 2.2 billion euros, adding that these are linked to environmental, social and governance (ESG) targets. Air France KLM is due to report its first quarter results on May 5.

Barrick has been building its copper business organically and said it is exploring copper drilling opportunities in countries such as Chile and Argentina. "We have always said that if you want to be relevant as a gold miner you have to be in copper business," Bristow added. Gold is often a byproduct of copper, a critical metal required for electrification and the transition to a greener economy. Teck last month withdrew its plan to split its coal and metals business after it failed to secure shareholders' approval. Bristow said Glencore's proposal made a "lot of sense" as Glencore could handle Teck's debt and had offered a clean split of Teck's business.

☆ Analysis: As DeSantis readies 2024 presidential bid, Florida lawmakers hand him fresh ammo
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( James Oliphant | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

WASHINGTON, May 3 (Reuters) - Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis had counted on a productive state legislative session this spring to turbocharge his coming 2024 presidential bid. With the first presidential nominating contest still nine months away, political analysts say DeSantis has plenty of time to turn his fortunes around. Lawmakers on Tuesday passed an immigration measure that would provide more money for DeSantis’ program for relocating undocumented migrants. POTENTIAL PERILSThe six-week abortion ban remains the thorniest outcome of the session for DeSantis’ national aspirations. The governor did not expressly advocate for the bill, and he signed it without fanfare to replace the current 15-week ban.

☆ BASF Uses Integrated Reporting to Focus Stakeholders on Sustainable Innovation
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Julia Hood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Integrated reporting is growing more popular as stakeholders look to understand how companies are building sustainable growth. BASF produces an integrated report and is involved in the International Integrated Reporting Council. According to the IFRS Foundation, more than 2,500 companies worldwide have adopted integrated reporting. A major shift occurred with the launch of the International Integrated Reporting Council in 2010, and the framework it rolled out in 2013. An integrated report brings with it a higher threshold of measurement and accountability than a standalone sustainability report.

[1/2] Florida Governor Ron DeSantis walks outside the Treasury during his visit in London, Britain April 28, 2023. The bill is one of the furthest-reaching efforts yet by U.S. Republicans against sustainable investing efforts, and a clear political message from DeSantis, a likely presidential candidate. We do not want them engaged on these ideological joyrides," said DeSantis just before he signed the bill at a webcast event. Analysts said the legislation goes further than other state anti-ESG bills, even as business groups worry the efforts pose financial risks. There are climate and weather risks that are highly relevant, especially in a state like Florida, and would be captured in our assessment of credit risk," Torgerson said.

☆ Future-Proofing the Board of Directors
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +29 min

Governance structures and practices should position the board to provide objective judgment and active oversight supported by board leadership, which is separate from and independent of company management. The board should design governance structures and practices that support it in determining board priorities, agendas, and information needs. The board should create governance structures and practices that ensure that directors are competent, committed, and diverse and that board and committee composition align with the company’s changing needs. Developing and supporting a positive and ethical corporate culture (see Corporate and Board Culture below). Corporate and Board CultureA strong board and corporate culture is imperative for a company’s success.

☆ What is ESG investing? A beginner's guide to choosing a sustainable fund
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Ryan Ermey | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

So-called ESG investing is a big deal. In other words, 1 in every 8 U.S. investor dollars is in a sustainable fund. The growing prominence of and demand for ESG investments has attracted the attention of politicians and regulators. ESG has become a catch-all acronym for what asset management industry pros would call sustainable investing — strategies that seek to deliver a financial return while providing for societal good. ESG funds This is where conflating ESG funds and "boycotting" the energy industry gets a little spurious.

☆ The 10 Senate seats most likely to flip in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Simone Pathe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +19 min

The GOP needs a net gain of one or two seats to flip the chamber, depending on which party wins the White House in 2024, and it’s Democrats who are defending the tougher seats. Jim Justice announcing his Senate bid in West Virginia – the seat most likely to flip party control in 2024. In a presidential year, the national environment is likely to loom large, especially with battleground states hosting key Senate races. Two businessmen with the ability to tap into or raise significant resources could be in the mix – Eric Hovde, who lost the GOP Senate nomination in 2012, and Scott Mayer. Still, unseating Cruz in a state Trump won by nearly 6 points in 2020 will be a tall order.

☆ Exclusive: Kansas Treasurer Steven Johnson on why he supports the state's anti-ESG bill
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailExclusive: Kansas Treasurer Steven Johnson on why he supports the state's anti-ESG billSteven Johnson, Kansas State Treasurer, gives his thoughts on the state's anti-ESG bill.

☆ Premarket stocks: ESG investing is dead. That's not a bad thing.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

A new, more efficient system is taking shape that incorporates ESG standards into the bedrock of stock valuations, he said. ESG investing as a separate entity could be on its way out, but the approach was wrong to begin with, said Jenkins. Instead, a confluence of political, geopolitical and market events has severely damaged interest in ESG investing. Increased scrutiny also played into political differences around ESG investing and opened the door to vocal critics. Responsible investing funds also came up against mighty economic headwinds last year.

☆ Carlyle has a secret weapon for training its top leaders: a four-star Navy Admiral who led thousands of sailors into battle and captured cocaine-filled cartel submarines
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Emmalyse Brownstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

James Stavridis, a retired Navy Admiral, is leading a new leadership program for Carlyle partners. Now, he's leading a new training course for the firm's partners called the Admiral Leadership Program. James Stavridis, a retired four-star Admiral, served in the Navy for 37 years before joining Carlyle in 2018. Inside Carlyle's first training program for partnersAbout 15 partners at Carlyle, from ESG to credit and tech, are participating in the Navy admiral's leadership program. Anna Tye, a partner on Carlyle's technology investing team, is also part of the leadership program.

☆ Fifty-three million tons of electronics become junk every year. Here's how one company is tackling the problem.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Sponsor Post | Created Insider Studios With Dell Technologies | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Dell is stepping up to tackle this problem, committing to a circular business model. By 2030, Dell will ensure that 100% of its packaging will be either reused or made from recycled or renewable material. Additionally, more than half of its product content will also be made from recycled, renewable, or reduced carbon emissions material. Already, there are almost 400 million pounds of sustainable materials in Dell's products and packaging and 55% of its electricity comes from renewable sources. "Our emphasis on environmental, social, and governance measures ensures that while we accomplished our business goals, we also delivered positive results for all of our stakeholders," he said.

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