Press releases
LGIM to oppose re-election of ExxonMobil board chair
Plans to support shareholder push for an independent chair and lobbying transparency
13 May 2020
LGIM has significant concerns about ExxonMobil’s (Exxon) approach to climate change, political lobbying and board independence. As a result, in advance of Exxon’s Annual General Meeting on 27 May 2020 in Texas (USA), LGIM will be taking the unusual step in pre-declaring its intention to vote against the re-election of the Exxon board chair.
Recognising the urgency of addressing climate change, in LGIM’s rankings Exxon was noted for its persistent refusal to disclose its full carbon footprint1 and to set company-wide emissions targets, even as a growing number of companies in the same sector - such as BP, Shell and Repsol - and countries, including the UK and EU - rally around ‘net zero’ emissions as a priority.
As a long-term investor, improving governance and sustainability standards have been a priority in LGIM’s engagements with companies and regulators. In 2019, Exxon was also singled out in LGIM’s second annual rankings of corporate ‘leaders and laggards’ on climate change, the Climate Impact Pledge*.
In January, LGIM announced an escalation of its voting policy towards combined Chief Executive Officers (‘CEO’) and board chairs, with the decision to vote against combined roles at director elections globally. The changes come as part of LGIM’s annual review of its global proxy voting policies, which will have particular impact in the United States, France and Spain where combined roles are still common. Despite positive momentum in recent years, combined positions remain common in the US, where 47% of S&P 500 boards still have combined CEO and Board Chair – including at ExxonMobil. In addition to voting against the re-election of the Exxon chair, LGIM will also support a shareholder proposal for an independent chair, as well as a shareholder proposal for increased transparency on political lobbying.
Key risk warnings
Reference to a particular security is on a historic basis and does not mean that the security is currently held or will be held within an LGIM portfolio. The above information does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any security.
The value of an investment and any income taken from it is not guaranteed and can go down as well as up; you may not get back the amount you originally invested.
Meryam Omi: "We remain concerned by the Exxon’s lack of strategic ambition around climate change. To remain successful in a low-carbon world, companies must act today, aligning their capital decision with the goals of the Paris Agreement, and setting stretching targets. We are seeing many of Exxon’s peers step up, and reaffirm their sustainability ambitions even amid the current testing circumstances. The world, and Exxon’s investors, cannot afford the company to fall behind.We believe that the separation of combined CEO and board chair roles provides a better balance of authority and responsibility. In addition, if companies spend investors’ money on lobbying governments, we expect them to account for how and why they do this. Such checks and balances are in the best interests of shareholders.
As constructive, long-term investors, we believe improvements in ExxonMobil’s governance and climate strategy will contribute to its resilience and future success."
LGIM’s Climate Impact Pledge
*The Pledge represents an engagement programme focused on around 80 of the world’s largest companies in key sectors, from energy to financials2. If companies are judged to fall behind peers in their climate strategies, LGIM will vote against the chair of their board, and divest the companies from select funds.
More detail and results of the 2019 Climate Impact Pledge can be found here: Climate Impact Pledge
Following persistent efforts in this area, an independent report found LGIM was the only one of the
world’s largest 15 asset managers to receive an A+ rating for its climate-related engagement and
voting.
More information can be found via the following links:
Compliance Reference: CC277MAY
Further information
Andrew Gates
Senior PR Manager
Legal & General Investment Management
T: +44 (0)20 3124 4363
- Scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon emissions
Notes to editors
Established in 1836, Legal & General is one of the UK's leading financial services groups and a major global investor, with over £1.2 trillion in total assets under management* of which a third is international. We also provide powerful asset origination capabilities. Together, these underpin our leading retirement and protection solutions: we are a leading international player in pension risk transfer, in UK and US life insurance, and in UK workplace pensions and retirement income. Through inclusive capitalism, we aim to build a better society by investing in long-term assets that benefit everyone.
*at 31 Dec 2022
Legal & General Investment Management
Legal & General Investment Management is one of Europe’s largest asset managers and a major global investor, with total assets under management of £1.29 trillion1. We work with a wide range of global clients, including pension schemes, sovereign wealth funds, fund distributors and retail investors.
For more than 50 years, we have built our business through understanding what matters most to our clients and transforming this insight into valuable, accessible investment products and solutions. We provide investment expertise across the full spectrum of asset classes including fixed income, equities, commercial property, and cash. Our capabilities range from index-tracking and active strategies to liquidity management and liability-based risk management solutions.
1Globally, we manage assets of £1.42 trillion or CHF 1.75 trillion as at 31 December 2021 (source: LGIM internal data as at 31 December 2021). The data combines assets under management by LGIM in the UK, LGIMA in the US and LGIM Asia in Hong Kong. Assets under management include securities and derivatives positions.
*at 11 Jan 2023
KEY RISKS
Past performance is not a guide to the future. The value of an investment and any income taken from it is not guaranteed and can go down as well as up, you may not get back the amount you originally invested. For illustrative purposes only. Reference to a particular security is on a historical basis and does not mean that the security is currently held or will be held within an LGIM portfolio. The above information does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Views expressed are of LGIM as at 3 January 2023.
IMPORTANT LEGAL NOTICE
In the European Economic Area, it is issued by LGIM Managers (Europe) Limited, authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland as a UCITS management company (pursuant to European Communities (Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities) Regulations, 2011 (S.I. No. 352 of 2011), as amended) and as an alternative investment fund manager with "top up" permissions which enable the firm to carry out certain additional MiFID investment services (pursuant to the European Union (Alternative Investment Fund Managers) Regulations 2013 (S.I. No. 257 of 2013), as amended). Registered in Ireland with the Companies Registration Office (No. 609677). Registered Office: 70 Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Dublin, 2, Ireland. Regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland (No. C173733).
LGIM Managers (Europe) Limited operates a branch network in the European Economic Area, which is subject to supervision by the Central Bank of Ireland. In Italy, the branch office of LGIM Managers (Europe) Limited is subject to limited supervision by the Commissione Nazionale per le società e la Borsa ("CONSOB") and is registered with Banca d'Italia (no. 23978.0) with registered office at Piazza della Repubblica 3, 20121 Milan, (Companies' Register no. MI - 2557936). In Germany, the branch office of LGIM Managers (Europe) Limited is subject to limited supervision by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority ("BaFin"). In the Netherlands, the branch office of LGIM Managers (Europe) Limited is subject to limited supervision by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets ("AFM") and it is included in the register held by the AFM and registered with the trade register of the Chamber of Commerce under number 74481231.Details about the full extent of our relevant authorisations and permissions are available from us upon request. For further information on our products (including the product prospectuses), please visit our website.