(go back), 125Rule 14a-8 No Action Letter, CtW Investment Group, November 12, 2020, available at https://www.sec.gov/divisions/corpfin/cf-noaction/14a-8/2021/ctwjpmorgan032621-14a8.pdf. Morgan Stanley CtW Morgan Stanley Racial Equity Audit Proposal Julia Khan November 20, 2020 Morgan Stanley Click Here to Read the Letter in PDF Format. By offering such guidance, companies may find it easier to voluntarily implement Racial Equity Audit policies. (go back), 21Cal. NEW YORK-- ( BUSINESS WIRE )--Citi and the Citi Foundation announced today the Action for Racial Equity initiative has already invested $1 billion in strategic initiatives to help close the. We have global expertise in market analysis and in advisory and capital-raising services for corporations, institutions and governments. [26] For example, following a racially-tinged incident at a Philadelphia Starbucks in 2018 where two African-American men who were waiting for a business meeting to begin were arrested, the company performed a Racial Equity Audit, which found that, among other things, racial sensitivity and the elimination of implicit biases are correlated to Starbucks core business plan of creating an inclusive and equitable working environment, as well as a welcoming third place between home and work for customers. [27] In addition, the W.K.
PAB News | Shareholders File Resolutions Calling for Companies to 30-10825; 34-89670; File No. Ron S. Berenblat and Elizabeth R. Gonzalez-Sussman are partners at Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP.
Goldman Sachs | Making Progress Towards Racial Equity Last week, the duo achieved a significant win at BlackRock and Morgan Stanley when both agreed to undertake diversity reviews, prompting a withdrawal of the proposals. Wells Fargo plans to conduct a racial equity audit, asking an outside law firm to assess the bank's workforce diversity and determine how its business practices are affecting communities of color. (go back), Posted by Ron S. Berenblat and Elizabeth R. Gonzalez-Sussman, Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP, on, Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance, on Racial Equity Audits: A New ESG Initiative, The Illusory Promise of Stakeholder Governance. For example, the SOC Investment Group, formerly known as the CtW Investment Group (CtW), a group that works with pension funds sponsored by unions affiliated with Change to Win, a federation of unions representing nearly 5.5 million members, submitted the following proposal to Bank of America Corporation for inclusion in its proxy statement: RESOLVED that shareholders of Bank of America Corporation (BofA) urge the Board of Directors to oversee a racial equity audit analyzing BofAs adverse impacts on nonwhite stakeholders and communities of color. 16, 1992)). Published Mon, Apr 18 2022 4:50 PM EDT Updated Mon, Apr 18 2022 6:22 PM EDT. For the sixth consecutive time, Morgan Stanley Bank has been recognized with the highest rating from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for its work meeting the credit needs of the communities it serves. ESG considerations can be broken down into three categories. To contact the reporter on this story: (go back), 93See J&J No-Action Letter, supra note 78. See how we can help you work toward your goalseven as they evolve over years or generations. Global institutions, leading hedge funds and industry innovators turn to Morgan Stanley for sales, trading and market-making services. A report on the audit, prepared at reasonable cost and . These three employees, alums of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, are helping the firm support the next generation of Black students through our Morgan Stanley HBCU Scholars Program. [2] Thirdcorporate governance, which considers how a company governs itself and holds itself accountable taking into account the structure and diversity of a companys board of directors, the separation between management and the board of directors, executive compensation, equal and fair pay amongst employees, and the extent to which a company or its management or board of directors are undertaking lobbying efforts, making political and charitable donations, or engaging in corruption or bribery. Internal Audits Role in Driving Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Amy Fread, CISA Senior Manager Deloitte & Touche LLP Korynne Bernard .
Analysis: Goldman Sachs faces hard sell for its consumer assets Discover who we are and the right opportunity for you. According to public policy analysts, racial violence and the COVID-19 pandemic sparked an increase in Rule 14a-8 shareholder proposals focused on racial justice. (go back), 83See Rule 14a-8 No-Action Letter re: Amazon.com, Inc. Wells Fargo plans to conduct a racial equity audit, asking an outside law firm to assess the bank's workforce diversity and determine how its business practices are affecting communities of color.
Racial Equity Audits: A New ESG Initiative - The Harvard Law School (go back), 67Google Pressured on Racial Equity Audit After AI Ethics Collapse, Bloomberg, Naomi Mix, April 27, 2021, available at https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-04-27/google-pressured-on-racial-equity-audit-after-ai-ethics-collapse; see also supra Section II.A. Speaking at the recent Corporate Secretary Forum, Rose Marie Glazer, senior vice president, corporate secretary and deputy general counsel at AIG, described the proposals as 'an . The move comes in a year when several US financial institutions have faced requests for racial equity audits amid growing investor scrutiny of diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) issues at US companies. New York, November 22, 2022 - JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) released today a comprehensive report outlining the results of an independent attestation examination of its reported progress of $18.2 billion toward its $30 billion Racial Equity Commitment ("REC").. JPMorgan Chase retained PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to perform the examination. Hear their stories and learn about how they are redefining the terms of success. [133] However, in the coming years, we believe this is an area in which the proxy advisory firms may issue official voting guidance. Our work on racial equity focuses on our commitments as a business, as a responsible member of global and local communities, and as an inclusive workplace that values diversity. This 202-unit, scattered-site property comprising 16 buildings is located in the predominantly Black neighborhoods of Wards 7 and 8 of . [21] Most shareholder activists are cognizant of the stance of institutional investors and proxy advisory firms on ESG issues and have increasingly incorporated ESG factors into their proxy campaigns.
LinkedIn Andrew Santini : I am very proud to announce that I have BlackRock Breaks Wall Street Ranks With Planned Racial Audit What Counts as Race Discrimination? A Suit Against JPMorgan Is a Test [112], In a webinar hosted by CtW, Comptroller DiNapoli explained the importance of racial equity at Amazon and why shareholders should vote in favor of the proposal, and argued that racial inequity is harming the United States economy. [113] DiNapoli argued that the pattern and magnitude of issues repeatedly facing the company demonstrate a need for a more in-depth review . In 2007, the firm's co-founder, a former Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley banker named Divesh Makan, told a wealth management magazine that he'd even organized clients' parties and helped . Underpinning all that we do are five core values. Beyond the moral case and business case for conducting Racial Equity Audits, and fighting systemic racism in general, is the democracy case espoused by social justice advocates [37] and that corporations can at times act more swiftly and have a more profound effect on current social issues than the government; therefore, these advocates argue that corporations have a responsibility to address issues affecting our democracy. Whether it be modern day redlining techniques related to mortgage loans, to excessive checking account fees, to most recently, Payday [sic] Protection Program distribution, communities of color have faced decades of discrimination as a result of the financial industrys policies and practices. The investigation will be conducted by attorneys at Covington & Burling, according to an external blog post on Citi's website. Our accelerator promotes financial inclusion and provides access to capital for startups led by women and multicultural entrepreneurs. (go back), 69Citigroup Inc., 2021 Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement, Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on March 17, 2021, available at https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/831001/000120677421000735/citi3828191-def14a.htm [hereinafter Citigroup Proxy Statement]; see also CoreCivic Inc. Proposal, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), available at https://exchange.iccr.org/node/88686/text. The New York-based firm said it will start the audit in 2022. [97] Wells Fargo Co. (Wells Fargo) said it is conducting a human rights impact assessment, and that it will update its Human Rights Statement to better align with the expectations of companies under the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. (go back), 31Webinar, Susan Baker, Director of Shareholder Advocacy, Trillium Asset Management, supra note 23; supra note 27. Yesterday, the audit proposal also went to the vote at Wells Fargo, the result has not yet been disclosed. [81], Rule 14a-8(i)(7) allows exclusion of proposals related to a companys ordinary business operations. Tagged: 2020, Regulatory letters Newer PostCtW letter to DoorDash dual class Older PostCtW Racial Equity letter to Morgan Stanley Back to Top 1900 L Street NW, Suite 900 Washington, DC 20036 [52] Practitioners also stress the importance of identifying and engaging the process owners (e.g., the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Legal Officer or Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer) as the persons who will actually drive the implementation of recommended initiatives. 94 . Will Corporations Deliver Value to All Stakeholders? (go back), 122NYS Comptroller DiNapoli Statement on Major Support for Racial Equity Audit at Amazon, Office of the New York Comptroller, May 28, 2021, available at https://www.osc.state.ny.us/press/releases/2021/05/nys-comptroller-dinapoli-statement-major-support-racial-equity-audit-amazon. The $10 million Fund for Racial Equity builds upon more than $200 million Goldman Sachs has granted over the last decade to organizations serving . Morgan Stanley helps people, institutions and governments raise, manage and distribute the capital they need to achieve their goals. Why did nearly all of the banks urge "no" votes on the audit proposals? Morgan Stanley is a leading global financial services firm providing a wide range of investment banking, securities, investment management and wealth management services.
ARTICLE: Racial Equity Audits: A New ESG Initiative Poised to Gain Most of the big banks have not been as interested in these types of transparent audits. In addition, there has also been a rise in ESG-specific funds as well as a growing number of ESG-specific products at mutual funds and other financial institutions. The $1.9 trillion-asset bank has hired the law firm Covington & Burling to conduct the review and plans . Morgan Stanley is differentiated by the caliber of our diverse team. Morgan Stanley's HBCU Scholars program provides scholarships for students at three Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Clear guidance from proxy advisory firms would also be beneficial to companies considering implementing Racial Equity Audit policies by offering indications on what parameters constitute best practices and how frequently these audits should occur. Facebook, Inc. (Facebook) also conducted its own version of a Racial Equity Audit in 2018. We grieve with our colleagues, friends and families, and believe that we have the power to create long-lasting social, educational and economic change. 2023Morgan Stanley. [105] Comptroller DiNapoli was joined by other Amazon shareholders [106] in requesting Amazons board of directors to commission a Racial Equity Audit that would analyze two main issues: (1) Amazons impacts on civil rights, equity, diversity, and inclusion, and (2) the impacts of those issues on Amazons business. [107] In response, Amazon sent a letter to the SEC seeking to exclude the proposal from its 2021 proxy materials. Financial institutions and asset management firms have become the focus of Racial Equity Audit shareholder proposals. Source: SEC Filings. New York, NY. This is because issues relating to climate change and the environment, racial justice and diversity, human capital and governance may influence companies at large and shareholder investment flows. Morgan Stanley team with $715 million joins . Concerns related to workforce diversity, treatment of minority workers, environmental justice in communities of color, surveillance, and civil rights are just some of the controversies that have troubled Amazon. [114] For example, current and former Amazon employees have accused the company of allowing racism to permeate its operations. [38] Racial Equity Audits can be designed to help identify if and where these issues exist within a company so that management can address them most effectively. CtW and US labour union SEIU filed racial equity audit proposals at eight US financial giants this year. (go back), 28The Business Case for Racial Equity, a Strategy for Growth, Ani Turner, W.K. Most companies who may have been unsuccessful in seeking no-action relief from the SEC to exclude the proposal or in negotiating a resolution with a shareholder to withdraw the proposal have recommended that shareholders vote against the proposals. [108] Amazon argued that, regardless of the proposal being framed in the form of a request for a report, this did not change the fact that the subject matter of the proposed report is within [Amazons] ordinary business and thus excludable under Rule 14a-8(i)(7). (go back), 32Webinar, Pamela Coukos, Co-Founder of Working IDEAL, supra note 23. The lender pledged in 2020 to spend $1 billion over four years to combat racial and economic. (go back), 84See J&J No-Action Letter, supra note 78.
Goldman Sachs And JPMorgan Look To Avoid Racial Equity Audits - Forbes FlZ240l7_Dl4\'q3c`HBB0d)b@b7TpCR6>[Jn'EP*w"n<7R`/E/=O$H+tgu1wJwD$dAmX,E"AE W?,#( Related research from the Program on Corporate Governance includesThe Illusory Promise of Stakeholder Governance(discussed on the Forumhere) andWill Corporations Deliver Value to All Stakeholders?, both by Lucian A. Bebchuk and Roberto Tallarita;For Whom Corporate Leaders Bargainby Lucian A. Bebchuk, Kobi Kastiel, and Roberto Tallarita (discussed on the Forumhere); andRestoration: The Role Stakeholder Governance Must Play in Recreating a Fair and Sustainable American EconomyA Reply to Professor Rockby Leo E. Strine, Jr. (discussed on the Forumhere). [53] Advocates believe it is critical that the audit be conducted by an independent third party in order to ensure integrity and credibility throughout the process. As the ESG movement gains momentum, and as the new wave of investors who factor ESG concerns into their investment decisions gain a larger share of the market, companies are being advised to revisit their current policies and practices under the ESG lens. The request for BlackRock to do one came from SEIU, which withdrew its resolution after the firm agreed to undergo the racial-equity audit. Morgan Stanley did not respond to a request for comment. We offer timely, integrated analysis of companies, sectors, markets and economies, helping clients with their most critical decisions. In particular, shareholders have begun to request that companies conduct racial equity audits (Racial Equity Audits), which generally seek an independent, objective and holistic analysis of a companys policies, practices, products, services and efforts to combat systemic racism in order to end discrimination within or exhibited by the company with respect to its customers, suppliers or other stakeholders. Id.
Racial Equity Audits: The New ESG Frontier At Morgan Stanley, we focus the expertise of the entire firmour advice, data, strategies and insightson creating solutions for our clients, large and small. According to this study, closing racial gaps would have generated an additional $16 trillion in economic output since [the year] 2000, and by closing the various gaps between Blacks and Whites, the U.S. could stand to gain an additional $5 trillion in economic activity over the next five years. [42] Racial Equity Audits could therefore prove to be a critical tool for companies looking to capture some of these unrealized gains.
Racial Justice Audits: Holding Companies Accountable for Their Role in As a global financial services firm, Morgan Stanley is committed to technological innovation. (go back), 78Rule 14a-8 No-Action Letter re: Stockholder Proposal to Citigroup Inc. from CtW Investments Group, Citigroup Inc., December 23, 2020, available at https://www.sec.gov/divisions/corpfin/cf-noaction/14a-8/2021/ctwcitigroup022621-14a8.pdf [hereinafter Citigroup No-Action Letter]; Rule 14a-8 No Action Letter re: Johnson & Johnson2021 Annual Meeting, Omission of Shareholder Proposal of Christopher and Anne Ellinger and co-filers, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, December 16, 2020, available at https://www.sec.gov/divisions/corpfin/cf-noaction/14a-8/2021/ellingeretaljohnson021221-14a8.pdf [hereinafter J&J No-Action Letter].
Hours after CEO decried inequality, JPMorgan seeks to quash call for Input from civil rights organizations, employees, and customers should be considered in determining the specific matters to be analyzed. Risks to shareholder value associated with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) remain a top engagement priority for Vanguard with our funds' portfolio companies.