Author Archives: Eric Cohen

Anti-Genocide Group Targets Franklin

Published by Ignites. By Peter Ortiz January 28, 2013 An investment advocate group is targeting 13 Franklin Templeton funds and parent Franklin Resources, claiming that of all fund firms, it owns the most shares of a Chinese oil company tied to genocide in Sudan. The firm is the latest fund manager […]

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Franklin Resources Shareholders to Vote on Genocide-free Investing Proposal

Local and national human rights and religious groups issue open letter supporting shareholder proposal. The proposal, which is the first shareholder proposal to appear on the company’s proxy ballot in nineteen years and possibly the first ever, requests “that the Board institute transparent procedures to avoid holding or recommending investments in companies that, in management’s judgment, substantially contribute to genocide or crimes against humanity, the most egregious violations of human rights.” Franklin Resources is opposing the proposal.

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Open letter to executives at Franklin Templeton

Open letter sent and published by Investors Against Genocide. January 24, 2013 Charles B. Johnson Chairman of the Board, Franklin Resources, Inc. Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. Vice Chairman, Franklin Resources, Inc. Gregory E. Johnson Chief Executive Officer and President, Franklin Resources, Inc. Dear Sirs, We, the undersigned local and national […]

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Mapping the Rise of Investor Unrest

Published by Motley Fool. By Alyce Lomax November 30, 2012 The U.S. Social Investment Forum recently released its 2012 report on trends in socially responsible investing, or SRI. Some interesting trends have emerged since the last report in 2010, and should give many investors food for thought on how to […]

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ING mutual fund vote marks first win for rights activists

Published by Reuters. * Sudan-related shareholder measure gets 59 pct support * ING took no position on the resolution * Unusual circumstances show challenges for activists By Ross Kerber BOSTON, July 20 (Reuters) – A shareholder group scored its first voting victory after five years of urging mutual funds to […]

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Genocide-free investing wins vote at ING

Shareholders at the ING Emerging Countries Fund approved the genocide-free investing proposal by a wide margin in a vote on June 28, 2012. The proposal passed 59.8% to 10.7% with 29.5% abstaining. This decisive win at ING is a first for the genocide-free investing proposal.

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ING Fund Approves Anti-Genocide Plank

Published by Ignites. By Joe Morris July 2, 2012 Shareholders in an ING fund have approved a measure opposing genocide-linked investments in what backers say is the first such vote in which company officials took a neutral position. The decision at ING’s Emerging Countries reflects the unskewed sampling of investor sentiment […]

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Genocide-Free Investing Resolution Wins Majority Vote

Published by Social Funds. by Robert Kropp Investors Against Genocide’s request that the ING Emerging Countries Fund refrain from investing in companies that provide funding to governments engaged in genocide is supported by over 59% of shareowners. SocialFunds.com — I’ve written more than 1,000 stories for SocialFunds.com, and find that […]

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