The old adage stands firm: actions speak louder than words. The Treasurer’s Office undertakes a number of activities to advance its investment objectives and ESG investment strategy. This includes direct engagement with corporate decision-makers, working in coalition with other institutional investors, proxy voting, weighing in on public policymaking, evaluating investments by ESG criteria, and various other measures.
The following table lists notable actions taken by the Treasurer’s Office.
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Call for Facebook to crack down on fake news
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Facebook
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Social – Accountability
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April 2017
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Letter to the Illinois Congressional Delegation advocating for shareholder rights and corporate accountability
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U.S. Congress
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Governance
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June 2017
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Call for Google to crack down on fake news
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Google (Alphabet)
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Social – Accountability
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April 2017
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Suspend two banks for poor Community Reinvestment practices
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2 Banks
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Social – Community Reinvestment
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June 2015
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Call for corporations to adopt Annual Say-On-Pay Vote
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319 Companies
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Governance – Sensible Executive Compensation
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October 2016
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Wells Fargo shareholder proposal on separating CEO/Board Chair
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Wells Fargo
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Governance – Board Accountability
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November 2016
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Wells Fargo suspended as Debt Issuer and Broker/Dealer
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Wells Fargo
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Governance – Ethical Conduct
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October 2016
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Call for corporations to require that women/minorities are included in Board Director searches
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17 Companies
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Governance – Board Accountability
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October 2016
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Urged the SEC to maintain a rule that requires companies to disclose their ratio of CEO pay to median worker pay
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U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission
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Governance – Transparency; Sensible Executive Compensation
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March 2017
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STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
The Treasurer’s Office gains immense value working in partnership with coalitions, corporate governance experts, and other investors. Partnerships help us pursue learning opportunities, advance leading investment practices, and ultimately be better fiduciaries seeking to protect assets and maximize returns. That’s why we are active members of several major investor networks, including those featured below, which are made up of leading asset management firms, public pension funds, labor funds, foundations, endowments, family offices, and other state treasurers.
GOING FURTHER
We believe more is accomplished when you take a proactive, multifaceted, networked approach toward addressing environmental, social and corporate governance issues. That’s why in addition to company-specific engagements and campaigns, the Treasurer’s Office participates in advocacy organizations and promotes ESG across its areas of influence.
INCLUSION
- Creating More Opportunities for Minorities, Women, Veterans, and Disabled-Owned (“MWVD”) Businesses – Inclusion is a key pillar of the Treasurer's approach to investing. Research demonstrates that MWVD-owned companies are often well-situated to ascertain capital inefficiencies in the market, and as such, many are primed to outperform their peers. Treasurer Frerichs and his team have transformed the culture, policies, and operations of the Treasury to enhance opportunities available to MWVD individuals and business partners. Treasurer Frerichs increased the assets invested in MWVD firms from only 1% to nearly 60% of the Treasury’s investment assets.
- Advocating for Corporate Board Diversity – The Treasurer’s Office believes that corporate board diversity is a critical dimension of effective board composition and performance. Diversity means including women, racial minorities and the LGBT community in the pool for board candidate selection. As such, the Treasurer’s Office is taking a proactive approach to stop the status quo and help ensure board diversity is a corporate governance priority. To that end, Treasurer Frerichs joined other state and local leaders in urging corporate board diversity by signing a Joint Statement on Corporate Board Diversity in June 2016.
- Advocating for Gender Diversity on Corporate Boards – The Treasurer's Office is a proud member of the Thirty Percent Coalition. This groundbreaking organization is committed to the goal of women, including women of color, holding more boardroom seats across public companies. Doing so leads to a greater return on the money we invest on behalf of the State of Illinois. Studies show that companies with gender diverse boards are 15 percent more likely to outperform the median in their industry.
- Increasing Inclusion in the Financial Services Industry – The Treasurer’s Office is a proud member of the Financial Services Pipeline Initiative, adding its voice and resources to a coalition of prominent financial institutions with a mission to (1) increase the representation of Latinos and African Americans, at all levels, within the Chicago area financial services industry, and (2) improve the overall cultural competency within the Chicago area financial services industry. The Treasurer’s Office actively participates on the CEO Leadership Council and the Steering Committee to devise core strategies and develop action plans.
- Collaborating with the Rainbow PUSH Wall Street Project – The Treasurer’s Office is a steadfast supporter of the numerous efforts led by the Rainbow PUSH Wall Street Project. The Wall Street Project is dedicated to ending the multi-billion dollar trade deficit with minority vendors and consumers by working to ensure equal opportunity for diverse employees, entrepreneurs, and consumers.
COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT
- Enforcing Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Standards – The Treasurer’s Office wants to encourage an open and effective banking system that grows local communities and boosts Illinois’ economy. By law, the Treasurer’s Office is authorized to consider a financial institution’s record and current level of financial commitment to its local community when deciding whether to deposit State funds in that financial institution. Under Treasurer Frerichs, depository institutions are ineligible to do business with the Treasurer’s Office if they have a CRA rating below “satisfactory.” To learn more about CRA priorities, please visit our Community Reinvestment Act page.
- Utilizing Top-Rated Banking Debt Issuers – In line with the Treasurer's commitment to community development and accountability, all approved banking debt issuers that do business with the Treasurer’s Office maintain a Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) rating of "outstanding" or "satisfactory" (as of June 2016).
ENVIRONMENT
- Investing in Green Bonds – Investing in envrionmental-impact notes results in financial and societal benefits. That's why the Treasurer's Office has invested $10 million in green bonds, proceeds which are used to fund investments in the productive use of renewable energy, sustainable forestry, energy efficiency, energy optimization, and the production of clean energy sources.
- Inclusion and Green Technology Goals under ILGIF – As a part of the Illinois Growth and Innovation Fund (ILGIF), the Treasurer’s Office seeks to support fund managers and portfolio companies that that are more than 50 percent owned and/or managed by minorities, women, military veterans, or disabled persons. In addition, the Treasurer’s Office seeks to utilize fund managers that have demonstrated experience and/or an express ability to invest in green technology businesses located in Illinois. To learn more about ILGIF, please visit our Illinois Growth and Innovation Fund page.
- Calvert Equity Portfolio – Individuals and families using the Treasurer’s Bright Directions College Savings Program have the opportunity to invest in a mutual fund, Calvert Equity Portfolio, that is specially tailored to support responsible investing. Investments in this fund are judged by their ESG performance. And not only does this help promote responsible ESG best practices, but this assessment helps inform risk and opportunity factors that may impact performance.