The VPIC is an active participant in the below groups to further the Commission's engagement efforts efficiently as a partner with institutional peers.
PRI gives VPIC access to a sophisticated, global network of institutional investors working toward increasing shareholder value by engaging companies on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) topic areas. PRI is a leader in corporate engagement and research in all three ESG issue areas, having the support of the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative and United Nations Global Compact.
Council of Institutional Investors (CII) is an association primarily of pension funds and other employee benefit funds, foundation, and endowments that promotes the interests of US institutional investors. Its membership has an aggregate asset base of $4 trillion. This group also includes associate members that include non-US asset owners and asset managers. CII allows VPIC to stay current on corporate governance trends and issues, as well as leverage CII’s collective voice in comment letters on pending legislation and regulation to advocate for the preservation of shareholder rights.
Northeast Investors’ Diversity Initiative (NIDI) focuses on small to mid-cap companies with a large presence in the Northeast that lack Board diversity. This group will engage regional companies that have a low percentage of women or no directors self-identifying as a member of a minority group. The group consists of institutional investors from the Northeast and is led by the Connecticut State Treasurer’s Office.
CERES is a non-profit organization that coordinates and supports the work of investors and stakeholders in engaging with companies, policy makers, and other market players on issues related to environmental sustainability, human rights, corporate governance, and policy. Additionally, Ceres provides members with trainings, pertinent news updates, and research briefings. VPIC engages several industry groups through focused coalitions organized by Ceres to promotes best practices and transparency, such as the Carbon Asset Risk group that engages the oil and gas industry.
Investors for Opioid and Pharmaceutical Accountability (IOPA) is a group of investors collaboratively engaging with pharmaceutical companies on financial, legal, and reputational risks presented by the opioid crisis that could diminish long-term shareholder value. The investor group has 61 members with $4.27 trillion in assets.
Say-on-Pay Working Group is a group of 20 institutional investors advocating for reasonable executive compensation policies among U.S. firms. Segal Marco Advisors and the AFL-CIO Office of Investment co-lead the initiative. The group, comprised primarily of public and multiemployer pension funds, view excessive CEO pay: as a driver of income inequality; an indicator of an overly beholden board of directors; and a barrier to growth when it dampens morale and career opportunities for the work force. On an annual basis, the group convenes to discuss policies and strategies for corporate engagement on the issues.
Climate Action 100+ is a five-year initiative to achieve the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement through shareholder engagement with companies contributing most to greenhouse gas emissions globally. The coalition brings together several organizations across the world to coordinate and focus engagement efforts, including Ceres and the PRI.
Majority Action is a group of institutional investors that engage utility companies with a request they pledge zero net emissions by 2050.
Investor Alliance for Human Rights is a collective action network designed to facilitate investor and stakeholder engagement on labor and human rights issues with companies. The group encourages corporate due diligence on human rights and labor issues in both operations and supply chain management to preserve and enhance long-term shareholder value and protect the health of workers while managing legal, reputational, and financial risks associated with working conditions.
Human Capital Management Coalition (HCMC) is engaged with companies regarding their employee management practices to better understand how it contributes to a company’s long-term shareholder value. To this end the group seeks to elevate the topic with Boards of Directors, request disclosure of metrics for more transparency, and encourage best practices within each industry to enhance long-term shareholder value. The Coalition is led by the UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust and has 28 institutional investors with $4 trillion in assets.