By Aaron Sheldrick
TOKYO (Reuters) – Federated Hermes International has yet to decide if it will back a shareholders’ resolution sponsored by activists seeking to push Mitsubishi UFJ Group (MUFG) to align itself with global climate change goals, the asset manager said.
Federated Hermes, which is in talks with the bank, spoke exclusively to Reuters after MUFG said this week that it aimed to achieve carbon neutrality in its lending by 2050.
“We believe the wording and request of the shareholder resolution appear sensible and in line with our engagement with the bank,” said Sachi Suzuki, Japan lead engager for EOS at Federated Hermes, which has assets of $1.5 trillion under advice.
Federated Hermes welcomed Monday’s announcement, along with the bank’s commitment to align its business with the goals of the 2015 Paris accord on climate change, he added.
“We, however, have some remaining concerns,” Suzuki told Reuters in an email late on Wednesday. “We will continue to engage with the bank before we make our final decision about voting recommendations.”
He was referring to a shareholder resolution submitted to the bank by Japanese non-government organisation Kiko Network and Rainforest Action Network, for a vote at its annual general meeting (AGM) in June.
Investors concerned about the impact of climate change are increasingly using such resolutions to push banks to withdraw from funding fossil fuels such as coal, making mines and coal-powered power stations unattractive investments.
Kiko Network said it would pursue the resolution after talks with the bank following its announcement on carbon neutrality.
Contacted for comment by Reuters, MUFG said it acknowledged receipt of the shareholders’ resolution and was formulating its response for the AGM vote.
(Reporting by Aaron Sheldrick; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
