MMA Updates its Domestic and International Restricted Lists
Because understanding the social impact of our investments is a reflection of our faith, MMA seeks to ensure that its portfolios are as aligned as possible to MMA’s stewardship investing core values. Twice annually, MMA updates its stewardship investing restricted lists for both domestic and international portfolios. Working in partnership with KLD Research & Analytics–one of the nation’s leading providers of environmental, social and governance investment research–hundreds of companies are reviewed and evaluated.
In the most recent update, 25 companies were added to the Domestic Restricted List, while 29 were removed. On the International Restricted List, 16 companies were added and 52 were deleted. Because of the breadth of holdings in various portfolios—often exceeding 800 companies at any given time—MMA seeks to maintain as broad a universe as possible. Companies are often added or removed when they first become publicly listed, are bought or merged, or divest/add particular, troubling business units. Some items of particular note:
• Chiquita Brands International was added to the restricted list because of increasing human rights violations in Colombia.
• Sempra Energy was added to the restricted list when its involvement in nuclear power exceeded MMA’s tolerances.
• Eastman Kodak was deleted from the list because it ended significant military contracting activities.
• Matrix International (Malaysia) was added to the restricted list because of its gambling involvement.
• Lagardere, primarily a major French sports and media company, is now available for investment having significantly decreased its ownership in military aerospace contractor, EADS.
•Kikkoman Corporation (Japan) was deleted from the restricted list because it no longer violates MMA’s alcohol screen.
