HOW COMPANIES NAVIGATE POLITICAL AND SOCIAL ISSUES - INVESTOR PERSPECTIVE - 11/28/2022

Following the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the Center for Political Activity, among others, and the CPA-Zicklin Index pushed for greater transparency and more disclosure regarding corporate political spending. Over the years and with enhanced shareholder engagement, mandatory and voluntary corporate political disclosures have increased and improved. With the recent social and political unrest, companies are pressed to take positions on political and/or social issues. Investors are scrutinizing companies’ activities and statements about environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) issues, including political contributions and positions, and examining whether companies’ disclosures and support for political and/or social issues are consistent with the company’s values and the company’s public positions/priorities. These investor concerns are reflected in shareholder proposals submitted during the 2022 proxy season.

 This webinar provides an in-depth discussion of learnings from the 2022 proxy season and evolving investor and proxy advisor expectations regarding the transparency and congruency of companies’ political and social activities/issues. This Weinberg Center panel provides participants with useful insights and practical takeaways when addressing these issues.

The participants are:

• Donna Anderson, Head of Corporate Governance, T. Rowe Price
• Bruce Freed, President and Co-Founder, Center for Political Accountability
• Jake Walko, Director of ESG Investing & Global Investment Stewardship, Thornburg Investment Management