August 15, 2008
Social Investors and Human Rights Activists Pressure Government of
Uzbekistan to Stop Using Forced Child Labor
NEW YORK CITY/SAN
FRANCISCO/WASHINGTON, August 15, 2008 – Socially conscious shareholders,
pension funds and human rights advocates have joined together to demand that
the government of Uzbekistan stop using forced child labor in its cotton
harvest. Every year, the government of Uzbekistan reportedly mobilizes hundreds
of thousands of children – many from ten to fifteen years old – for the manual
harvesting of cotton.
U.S. and international
shareholders with combined assets of over $250 billion, along with human rights
advocates, sent appeals today to Uzbek President Islam A. Karimov, Director
General Juan Somavia, the head of the International Labor Organization (ILO),
and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Representatives of four major
textile, apparel and retail trade associations are working to organize a
meeting with the Uzbek Ambassador to the United States to express similar
concerns.
“We commend the four trade
associations for using their influence to change these intolerable practices,”
said Patricia Jurewicz, Associate Director from As You Sow Foundation, a
non-government organization (NGO) that promotes corporate social
responsibility. “Combined, these trade associations represent almost 100% of
all purchases of cotton products in the United States. The fact that they are
meeting with the Ambassador of Uzbekistan, are publicly condemning forced labor
and asking for international monitoring sends a clear message that forcing
children to pick cotton must end immediately.”
Credible evidence exists that
the use of child labor in Uzbek cotton fields continues on a systematic scale
despite Uzbekistan’s ratification of several ILO conventions relating to forced
and child labor. Investors and human rights organizations are urging the
Government of Uzbekistan to take immediate, concrete steps toward ending the
use of forced child labor in cotton harvesting. These steps include full
implementation of the ILO child labor conventions, inviting the ILO to conduct
an assessment mission of the current situation, and allowing independent
monitoring of cotton-picking practices from international NGOs and media
outlets during the fall 2008 harvest.
“We need to see concrete,
measurable actions taken immediately by the Government of Uzbekistan” said Bama
Athreya, Executive Director of the International Labor Rights Forum, a labor
rights advocacy group. “We have heard only denials and empty promises coming
from this government for too long.”
Earlier this year, investors
started engaging global corporations to track the source of cotton in their
supply chains and sent letters to more than 100 corporations in North America,
Europe and Asia that produce or retail cotton-based products.
“Although many companies have
said that it is impossible to trace the source of their cotton — purchases that
may occur several steps down the supply chain — we have found that where there
is a will, there is a way,” said Adam Kanzer, Managing Director and General
Counsel at Domini Social Investments. “Companies are finding that it is indeed
possible to trace the source of their cotton, and we believe responsible
companies have an obligation to do so.”
The coordinated campaign began
after published reports and news articles described the coercive use of
children aged 10 to 15 years old to harvest cotton in Uzbekistan, the world’s
third largest cotton exporter. Reports by NGOs, the BBC and other media outlets
documented children performing arduous work in harsh conditions and threatened
with expulsion from school if they didn’t meet Soviet-style production quotas.
These reports indicate the Uzbek government itself is orchestrating the forced
employment of children for several months during the harvesting season.
“We have heard from several of
our portfolio companies that they feel their efforts are best placed in
industry initiatives. While those initiatives play a crucial role, we believe
retailers must address child labor within their own global supply chain — right
down to the cotton fields where some of the most egregious human rights and
environmental violations occur” said Lauren Compere, Director of Shareholder
Advocacy at Boston Common Asset Management.
The investors and NGOs are
working in partnership with major brands and retailers such as C&A, Gap
Inc., Levi Strauss & Co., Marks & Spencer, Target, Tesco, Victoria’s
Secret and Wal-Mart to take measures to exclude Uzbek cotton from their merchandise
because of the use of child labor during the cotton harvest.
“It is our experience that
collaborative efforts of investors, non-governmental organizations, trade
unions, companies and industry associations can make a difference” said Rev.
David Schilling, program director of the Interfaith Center on Corporate
Responsibility, a coalition of 275 faith-based investors. “We would like to see
many more U.S. companies join in our shared goal and publicly take actions to
help address ending forced child labor in Uzbekistan.”
“We know this situation is not
going to change over night,” Bennett Freeman, Senior VP for Social Research and
Policy at Calvert Asset Management Company, said. “By leveraging influence from
a number of different angles simultaneously, we have the opportunity to make
significant and lasting change. This type of change will benefit children,
workers, investors and consumers world wide.”
Social investors and
non-governmental organizations leading this effort include the As You Sow
Foundation, Boston Common Asset Management, Calvert Asset Management Company
Inc., Center for Reflection, Education, and Action (CREA), Domini Social
Investment LLC, Environmental Justice Foundation, Interfaith Center on
Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF), and
Organic Exchange.
For additional background
information, please refer to:
• http://www.ejfoundation.org/pdf/white_gold_the_true_cost_of_cotton.pdf (report)
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/7068096.stm (news video)
May 9, 2008
INTERNATIONAL PAPER
AND RR DONNELLEY CHALLENGED TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE
Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s, MeadWestvaco, and Procter & Gamble
Respond to Dialogue with Domini on Forestry Policies
New York, NY – International Paper
and the printing company RR Donnelley
face upcoming shareholder votes on climate change resolutions filed by Domini
Social Investments. Domini, a leader in the field of sustainable investing, has
convinced five other major companies to take steps to preserve forests to
address the threat of global climate change.
“In addition to providing critical habitat for many species,
forests mitigate the effects of climate change by absorbing enormous quantities
of carbon,” said Karen Shapiro, a member of Domini’s shareholder advocacy team.
“Deforestation is responsible for 20% of global annual emissions of carbon
dioxide. Companies can protect long-term shareholder value and address climate
change by adopting more responsible forestry practices.”
Of the 20 shareholder resolutions that Domini filed with
companies for the 2008 proxy season, 6 concerned sustainable forestry and
climate change. Four of the six companies targeted — the electronics retailer Best Buy, the home improvement
companies Home Depot and Lowe’s, and the paper and packaging
company MeadWestvaco — reached
agreements with Domini in exchange for withdrawal of the resolutions. In 2007,
Domini withdrew a shareholder proposal filed with the consumer products company
Procter & Gamble when P&G
committed to publish more complete information on its fiber procurement policy
and practices.
“Our most successful shareholder resolutions are those that
never come to a vote,” said Adam Kanzer, head of shareholder activism at Domini
Social Investments. “We are very pleased that four of the six companies we
approached this season on forestry issues have understood and agreed to take
action on our concerns.”
Home Depot and Lowe’s agreed to issue reports on their
policies for sourcing wood from around the world. Best Buy agreed to work with
Domini to develop a sustainable paper purchasing policy and MeadWestvaco agreed
to assess the feasibility of phasing out the sale of paper made from wood fiber
that is not certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The FSC
certifies that wood is produced in a way that does not destroy habitat, pollute
water, displace indigenous people, or harm wildlife.
International Paper and RR Donnelley, in contrast, have not
responded to Domini’s concerns about unsustainable wood and paper purchasing
practices. Shareholder resolutions on forestry practices will be voted on at
their annual meetings on May 12 and May 28, respectively.
“Many companies have begun publicly stating a clear
preference for buying FSC-certified paper and pulp,” noted Shapiro. “FSC is the
fastest growing forest certification system in the world, and is widely
accepted as the gold standard for sustainable forestry. Companies that don’t
embrace FSC may face shrinking market share relative to their competitors.”
These recent advances mark continued progress in Domini’s
ongoing efforts to encourage more sustainable forestry policies. In 2006, after
discussions with Domini, Kimberly-Clark commissioned
a study to evaluate the feasibility of phasing out its use of non-FSC-certified
wood fiber and in 2007 the company issued a new policy expressing preference for
fiber certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.
In 2006, Domini’s engagement with Limited Brands, the parent company of Victoria’s Secret, succeeded
in bringing the company to the table to negotiate a sustainable forestry policy
with ForestEthics, a nonprofit that had been running a visible campaign against
the company. As a result, Limited and ForestEthics announced that the company
would use more paper certified by the FSC, increase the recycled content of its
paper, and reduce the use of paper in catalogs.
Domini was the lead filer for five of the six forestry
resolutions filed for the 2008 proxy season. The lead filer for MeadWestvaco
was another institutional investor, the Province of St. Joseph of the Capuchin
Order, although Domini played a leading role in dialogue with the company.
Domini Resolutions on
Other Topics Achieve Success
Domini achieved success on a number of other shareholder
resolutions:
·
Domini’s resolution calling on Becton Dickinson to phase out brominated flame retardants received
a strong vote of 36% at the company’s annual meeting, the highest ever received
for a resolution focused on toxics.
·
Domini withdrew a resolution with American Express in exchange for the company’s agreement to begin
annual public reporting of its political contributions, including certain
payments to trade associations used for political purposes. Domini’s resolution
with AT&T on the same topic
received a vote of 32% after receiving support from RiskMetrics Group, a
leading proxy voting advisory service.
·
Domini withdrew a resolution with J.C. Penney when the company agreed to develop a policy on the use
of PVC plastic in products and packaging and begin replacing PVC with safer,
more sustainable materials.
Details on all of the resolutions filed or co-filed by
Domini are available at the Shareholder Activism section of Domini’s website at
www.domini.com.
About Domini Social
Investments
Domini Social
Investments manages more than $1.3 billion in assets for individual and
institutional mutual fund investors seeking to create positive change in
society by integrating social and environmental standards into their investment
decisions. Two fundamental principles underlie the global investment standards
that Domini applies to each of its investment products: the promotion of a
society that values human dignity and the enrichment of our natural
environment. Domini views these twin goals as crucial to a healthier,
wealthier, and more sustainable world.
Each investor
should consider the Domini Funds’ investment objectives, risks, charges, and
expenses carefully before investing. Obtain a copy of each Fund’s current
prospectus for more complete information on these and other topics by calling
1-800-762-6814 or at www.domini.com. Please read the prospectus carefully
before investing or sending money.
DSIL Investment
Services LLC, Distributor. 05/08
May 7, 2008
FINAL “PROJECT
KALEIDOSCOPE” REPORT RELEASED
Domini, Disney,
McDonald’s and Other Investors Took Part in Project Kaleidoscope, Multi-Year Project
to Improve Working Conditions in Corporate Supply Chains
McDonald's Corporation, The Walt Disney Company, and a group
of organizations working to improve working conditions in company supply
chains, including Domini Social Investments, announced the release of the final report of Project Kaleidoscope,
a multi-year collaborative project designed to promote sustained compliance
with labor standards mandated by corporate codes of conduct for manufacturers.
The project was piloted at 10 contractor factories in
southern China that produce goods for McDonald's restaurants and Disney
licensees. This collaborative effort developed and successfully field-tested an
alternative approach to promoting and enhancing long-term, sustained code
compliance.
For many years, McDonald’s and Disney have maintained strict
codes of conduct for their licensees and manufacturers. These codes address a
range of key labor rights issues including the prohibition of forced and child
labor and the setting of requirements in such areas as health and safety,
working hours, compensation, and compliance with applicable laws. In addition,
both companies report that they have been active in undertaking educational,
monitoring, and remediation efforts to promote compliance with these codes at
the factories where their products are sourced throughout the world.
The project was launched as part of an ongoing effort to
strengthen the effectiveness of these labor standards by drawing on the
interest and expertise of interested investor organizations and jointly
exploring means of promoting “sustained compliance” with labor codes. The
project sought to foster the creation and testing of internal systems within
factories in order to promote such compliance over time, including enhanced
training and education for management, supervisors, and workers, and potential
positive compliance incentives. The project also sought methods of encouraging
remediation in facilities that demonstrate significant compliance issues, in
order to minimize circumstances in which factory termination is the only
business alternative.
In pursuing the project the group worked with local
nongovernmental organizations as well as individual factories with the goal of
developing practical implementation approaches, including training and
remediation methods and tools. The project’s first Interim
Report was published in January 2005.
The project grew out of mutual concerns discussed during the
extended dialogue among the investor group and the two companies regarding ways
to improve conditions in factories on a sustained basis.
In addition to Domini, The Walt
Disney Company and McDonalds, the Project Kaleidoscope Working Group consisted
of the As You Sow Foundation; the Center for Reflection, Education and Action
(CREA); the Connecticut State Treasurer's Office (fiduciary for the Connecticut
Retirement Plans and Trust Funds); the General Board of Pension and Health
Benefits of the United Methodist Church; the Interfaith Center on Corporate
Responsibility (ICCR); and the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.
April 21, 2008
KEY PROXY ADVISOR
RECOMMENDS VOTE AGAINST AT&T MANAGEMENT ON POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS
DISCLOSURE
CPA and Domini Social Investments Applaud RiskMetrics Group for Support
of Shareholder Resolution
Washington, D.C.
- The Center for Political Accountability (CPA) and Domini Social Investments
welcomed the support of RiskMetrics Group (RMG) for Domini's shareholder
proposal, which calls on AT&T to publicly disclose and require board
oversight of its political contributions.
RMG's recommendation represents an important change.
Institutional Shareholder Services, which was acquired by RMG in 2007, had
opposed a similar resolution at AT&T for the past three proxy seasons. RMG
is a leading proxy voting advisory service and an influential voice on
corporate governance. AT&T, one of the largest telecommunications providers
in the U.S., will hold its annual meeting on April 25.
"RMG's position reflects a growing recognition among
corporate governance experts that robust political disclosure is now standard
among leading corporations," said CPA executive director Bruce F. Freed.
Domini filed the political disclosure proposal at AT&T
this year for the fourth time. "We applaud RiskMetrics' decision to
support political disclosure at AT&T," said Adam Kanzer, Domini's
General Counsel and head of shareholder activism. "Shareholders have a
right to know how the companies they own are exerting political influence. This
information has been kept from investors - and the broader public - for far too
long. If Verizon can disclose this information, why can't AT&T?"
Explaining why the resolution "merits shareholder
support," RMG's ISS Governance Services said that although "AT&T
does provide information regarding its rationale, policies, and oversight
mechanisms for corporate political contributions and trade association
activities," the company doesn't disclose its political spending.
It pointed out that AT&T was not in line with "a
number of companies, including Verizon Communications, [that] have
substantially enhanced their political contributions
disclosure." Verizon agreed to annually report its political
contributions last year after Domini filed shareholder resolutions with the
company for three successive years.
RMG's ISS Governance Services also cited AT&T's
record as a significant political donor and its controversial involvement in
the National Security Agency warrantless wiretapping case as reasons to support
wider political disclosure at the company.
"It is in AT&T's best interests to demonstrate to
shareholders that its political spending and activity are aboveboard,"
said Kanzer. "The company and its industry peers have a significant
presence on the Hill where they have reportedly been seeking immunity for
handing their customers' private information over to the government. We're
pleased to have RiskMetrics join us in calling for greater transparency and
accountability from this important political actor."
Domini Social Investments is part of a nationwide investor
campaign of 26 institutional investors and allied groups to bring transparency
and accountability to corporate political spending. Initiated by the CPA in
2004, the campaign so far has reached agreements with 43 large companies
(including 27% of the S&P 100) to adopt political disclosure policies.
AT&T shareholders must cast their votes for the political
contribution proposal and other resolutions proposed for the company's April 25
annual meeting by Thursday, April 24.
###
ABOUT THE CENTER FOR
POLITICAL ACCOUNTABILITY
The Center for Political Accountability is a nonprofit,
nonpartisan advocacy group whose mission is to bring transparency and
accountability to corporate political spending. Website: www.politicalaccountability.net
ABOUT DOMINI SOCIAL
INVESTMENTS
Domini Social Investments is built on the fundamental belief
that the way you invest matters. Domini offers mutual funds that empower
investors to pursue their financial goals while making a difference worldwide.
Domini works for change on issues ranging from sweatshop labor to climate change.
Website: www.domini.com
March
2008
Domini Recognized for Proxy Voting Leadership
Domini’s
leadership in proxy voting was recently recognized by RiskMetrics Group, with
the launch of its “Governance Policy
Exchange” (registration required), a new section of the company’s website
that highlights select institutions’ voting policies. RiskMetrics, which merged
in 2007 with CFRA and Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), provides risk
management and corporate governance products and services to financial market
participants. (Domini and many other investment managers use RiskMetrics for
proxy voting services.)
According
to RiskMetrics’ press release, “the initial participants … include these
leading institutions, known for their views on issues like board
accountability, executive compensation, capital restructuring and shareholder
rights: TIAA-CREF, Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Domini Social
Investments, the California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS), and
the Connecticut Retirement Plans & Trust Funds.”
The
RiskMetrics website provides access to each institution’s voting policies, a
feature that allows visitors to easily compare policies and audio interviews
with Policy Exchange participants.
“Domini believes that proxy
voting is a powerful and underused tool for corporate accountability,” said
Adam Kanzer, managing director and head of shareholder activism at Domini Social
Investments. Domini has published its voting guidelines regularly since 1992,
and in 1999 became the first mutual fund manager in America to publicly
disclose its proxy votes. In 2001, Domini petitioned the SEC for the rule that
now requires all mutual funds to publicly disclose its proxy voting policies
and actual votes.
According to data from FundVotes.com U.S. mutual fund companies continue
to overwhelmingly side with management when voting their proxies. The 54 fund
groups surveyed supported approximately 90.7% of management proposals during
the year ended June 30, 2007, but only 35.2% of shareholder proposals. By
contrast, Domini supported 67% of management proposals and 63% of shareholder
proposals for the same period, making it one of the most activist fund groups
surveyed.
December 7, 2007
DOMINI SOCIAL
INVESTMENTS WINS “SOCIAL CAPITALIST” AWARD FROM FAST COMPANY MAGAZINE
AND MONITOR GROUP
Mutual Fund Manager Recognized for Encouraging Companies to Embrace
Sustainability
New York, NY – Fast Company magazine and Monitor Group
announced this week that Domini Social Investments, a leader in the field of
socially responsible investing, has won one of the magazine’s fifth annual
Social Capitalist Awards. This year marked the first time that for-profit
companies were eligible for this award.
The awards recognize organizations and companies for using
the tools of business to solve the world’s most pressing social problems, and
for demonstrating a consistent and unusually large impact on society.
Describing Domini, the editors wrote, “The pioneering mutual
fund manager, with $1.6 billion in assets, invests in businesses that pass
rigorous social and environmental standards. Domini also files 15 to 20
shareholder resolutions each year and lobbies portfolio companies to improve
environmental and social practices.” The magazine emphasized the influence of
Domini’s shareholder activism program, saying that it has convinced companies
like Apple, Kimberly-Clark, and Starbucks to commit to more sustainable
business strategies. All winners are featured in the December/January 2008
issue of Fast Company, with expanded online coverage at www.fastcompany.com.
“This award is a tribute to the Domini Funds’ thousands of
investors, who put their investments to work not only for their families’
future but to build a better future for all of us,” said Amy Domini, founder
and CEO of Domini Social Investments. “Our firm is built on the idea that the
way you invest matters — that investors, if we harness our power and think
beyond next quarter’s profits, can change companies, change Wall Street, and
ultimately change the world. In choosing to invest sustainably and responsibly,
our shareholders make change happen every day.”
Domini was one of only ten for-profit companies — and the
only mutual fund manager — to be named Social Capitalists for 2008. The others
were Better World Books, Developing World Markets, Equal Exchange, Herman
Miller, New Leaf Paper, Organic Valley, Seventh Generation, SustainAbility, and
ShoreBank. In addition, the magazine named 45 nonprofit winners.
“We are especially delighted to share this honor with a
number of organizations with whom Domini has worked closely over the years, and
in particular with ShoreBank, the country’s leading community development bank
and our partner in offering the Domini Money Market Account,” said Carole
Laible, president and COO of Domini Social Investments. “This account offers
investors an opportunity to receive competitive cash yields while providing
capital to the communities that need it most. ShoreBank does extraordinary
work, and is a perfect example of a business that truly makes a difference.”
In the selection of the Social Capitalist Award winners,
companies and organizations were evaluated according what Fast Company calls “five critical components”: social impact,
entrepreneurship, innovation, aspiration and growth, and sustainability. Each
applicant provided two years of operating data and audited financial data, a
statement of mission and objectives, and answers to questions on strategy and
activities. Winners were selected by an independent board of experts on various
sectors.
Domini Social Investments and its founder and CEO Amy Domini
have received many other honors in recent years. Earlier in 2007, Plenty magazine honored Domini Social
Investments as one of 20 companies that are changing the world. Amy Domini was
named to Time magazine’s “Time 100”
list of the world’s most influential people in 2005, and was also included in SmartMoney magazine’s “Power 30” list of
Wall Street’s thirty most influential people (2004), Money magazine’s “50 Smartest Women in the Money Business” (2000),
and Barron’s “All Stars,” a list of
25 of the fund world’s “heaviest hitters” (2000).
Call Domini at 1-800-762-6814 or visit www.domini.com to learn more
about the Domini Funds or to open an account.
###
About Domini Social
Investments
Domini Social Investments manages $1.5 billion in assets for
individual and institutional mutual fund investors seeking to create positive
change in society by integrating social and environmental standards into their
investment decisions. Two fundamental principles underlie the global investment
standards that Domini applies to each of its investment products: the promotion
of a society that values human dignity and the enrichment of our natural
environment. Domini views these twin goals as crucial to a healthier,
wealthier, and more sustainable world. More information about Domini and the
Domini Funds is available at www.domini.com.
Domini is the investment advisor of the following mutual
funds:
Domini Social Equity Fund (NASDQ: DSEFX)
Domini
Social Equity Portfolio (NASDQ: DSEPX)
Domini Institutional Social Equity Fund (NASDQ: DIEQX)
Domini European Social Equity Fund (NASDQ: DEUFX)
Domini European Social Equity Portfolio (NASDQ: DEEPX)
Domini European PacAsia Social Equity Fund (NASDQ: DUPFX)
Domini
European PacAsia Social Equity Portfolio (NASDQ: DUPPX)
Domini
PacAsia Social Equity Fund (NASDQ: DPAFX)
Domini
PacAsia Social Equity Portfolio (NASDQ: DPAPX)
Domini Social Bond Fund (NASDQ: DSBFX)
About Fast Company
magazine
Founded in 1996 and acquired in 2005 by Mansueto Ventures,
LLC, award-winning Fast Company magazine covers the ideas, trends, and
visionaries that are sparking change and creating the future of business. With
a total paid circulation of 746,161, Fast Company explores the profound
innovation, creative breakthroughs, best and “next” practices that are driving
the business world.
About Monitor Group
Monitor Group is a leading global professional services
firm working with corporations, governments, and social-sector organizations to
help them drive growth.Employing over 1,500 people in 22 countries
worldwide, Monitor offers a blend of advisory, capability building, and capital
services.
Each investor
should consider the Domini Funds’ investment objectives, risks, charges, and
expenses carefully before investing. Obtain a copy of each Fund’s current
prospectus for more complete information on these and other topics by calling
1-800-762-6814 or at www.domini.com.
Please read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.
Past performance is no
guarantee of future results. Economic and market conditions change, and both will cause
investment return, principal value, and yield to fluctuate so that an
investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original
cost. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, call
1-800-762-6814 or visit www.domini.com. A 2.00% redemption fee is charged on sales
or exchanges of shares made less than 30 days after the settlement of purchase
or acquisition through exchange, with certain exceptions. See the Fund’s prospectus
for further information. The Domini Funds are subject to market risks and are
not insured.
Unlike
a mutual fund, the rate of return for the Domini Money Market Account is
determined by ShoreBank and will vary from time to time. Please note that you
will be able to access your Domini Money Market Account only through Domini
Social Investments. Domini Social Investments will act as your agent for the
purpose of making deposits to and withdrawals from your DMMA account and will
maintain the records of your account. You will not be able to access your
account or obtain balances by contacting ShoreBank directly. The DMMA is
subject to certain FDIC insurance limits of $200,000 per depositor.
Investing
internationally involves special risks, such as currency fluctuations, social
and economic instability, differing securities regulations and accounting
standards, limited public information, possible changes in taxation, and
periods of illiquidity. These risks are magnified in emerging markets.
The
Domini Funds are not affiliated with any bank and are not insured by the FDIC.
DSIL Investment Services LLC, and ShoreBank are not affiliated.
DSIL Investment Services LLC (DSILD), Distributor. 12/07
March 7, 2007
DOMINI NAMED TO LIST OF WORLD-CHANGING COMPANIES
Plenty
Magazine Cites Domini’s Engagement with Coca-Cola, Dell, and JPMorgan Chase
In its
February-March issue, Plenty magazine honored Domini Social
Investments as one of 20 companies that are “pushing the eco envelope and
changing the world.”
“Whether
it’s because of their reach, their potential, their influence, or the sheer
genius of their innovations, we predict that each one will have a hand in
changing the world in one way or another—sooner rather than later,” the
magazine said in introducing its inaugural “Plenty 20” listing.
“At Domini,”
the article noted, “analysts don’t just look at the financial performance of
the companies they invest in, they take social and environmental factors into
account as well. Armed with $1.8 billion in assets, Domini has filed more than
140 shareholder resolutions with more than 60 corporations, actively engaging
high-level management on issues ranging from product safety and sweatshop labor
to climate change. The company has talked to Coca-Cola about human rights;
coached the computer giant Dell on energy conservation; and convinced J.P.
Morgan Chase, a $1.1 trillion bank, to adopt a comprehensive environmental
policy.”
Launched
in 2004, Plenty is a magazine “dedicated to exploring and giving voice to
the green revolution that will define the 21st Century.” It claims a paid circulation of more than 100,000 through
subscriptions and newsstand sales.
Domini
often works with non-governmental organizations and other concerned investors
in its corporate campaigns. The dialogues at Coca-Cola and J.P. Morgan Chase
noted above are led by Christian Brothers Investment Services. Domini has
played an active role in both dialogues.
Each investor should consider the Domini Funds’
investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing.
Obtain a copy of each Fund’s current prospectus for more complete information
on these and other topics by calling 1-800-762-6814 or at www.domini.com.
Please read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The Domini Funds
are subject to market risks and are not insured. Investment return, principal
value, and yield will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares when redeemed may
be worth more or less than their original cost. You may lose money. DSIL
Investment Services LLC (DSILD), Distributor. 03/07
February 13, 2007
DOMINI LAUNCHES TWO
INTERNATIONAL FUNDS, OFFERING INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES WITH GLOBAL IMPACT
Investors Who Care About Social and Environmental Issues Can
Now Make a Difference in Asia and Europe
New York, NY –
With two newly launched international funds, Domini Social Investments
continues to provide new ways for U.S. investors to make their voices heard
around the world.
The Domini
PacAsia Social Equity Fund (NASDQ: DPAFX) and Domini
EuroPacific Social Equity Fund(NASDQ:
DUPFX), togetherwith Domini’s other equity funds, now offer investors access to
global investment opportunities. They also empower shareholders to bring about social
and environmental change, drawing companies around
the world into dialogue on such issues as global warming, sweatshop labor, and
product safety.
Domini is the only
investment advisor in the U.S. to offer regional mutual funds that include
social and environmental as well as financial standards. The company’s new
funds will use the same active management strategy that was pioneered by the Domini
European Social Equity Fund(NASDQ: DEUFX) and
recently adopted by the company’s flagship U.S. fund,
the Domini
Social Equity Fund(NASDQ: DSEFX). Domini’s equity funds are managed by a team that
combines the strengths of Domini Social Investments and Wellington Management
Company, LLP.
The Domini
European Social Equity Fund, which launched in
October 2005, returned 44.3% for the year
ended December 31, 2006, versus 34.4% for the MSCI Europe Index. According to
Morningstar, this places the fund in the top 10% of mutual funds in the Europe
Stock category, and makes it the highest-ranked diversified large-cap European
fund for that one-year period.*
“Like our European
fund, these new funds can help investors gain exposure to expanding economies
around the world,” said Amy Domini, Domini’s founder and CEO. “The Domini
PacAsia Social Equity Fund builds out our successful regional fund structure,
while the Domini EuroPacific Social Equity Fund offers a single international
solution for investors who understand the importance and impact of their
investment decisions.”
The two new Domini
funds commenced operations on December 27, 2006, and are offered in no-load
Investor class shares and in an A-share format (NASDQ: DPAPX and DUPPX).
“International
investing represents a great opportunity, and a significant challenge, for
people who want their investments to make a difference on a global scale,” said
Amy Domini. “Europe is leading the world in corporate social responsibility and
sustainable business models, and we and our shareholders are excited about
being a part of that. Meanwhile, dramatic economic growth in Asiahas often been accompanied by pollution,
deforestation, sweatshop labor, and human rights violations. This is a region where
conscious, responsible investing is needed, and can really make a difference.”
“Investors in
Domini’s new funds will help influence companies in Asia and the Pacific Rim to
take social and environmental concerns into account as they build successful businesses,”
Domini continued. “We expect to have a positive impact, as we already do in the
U.S. and Europe, both by applying standards to our investment choices and, when
we can, by engaging companies in direct dialogue, encouraging the best
practices and challenging the worst.”
In managing its
equity funds, Domini Social Investments uses rigorous internal research to
evaluate current and potential holdings against social and environmental
standards, assessing the quality of a corporation’s relations with communities,
customers, ecosystems, employees, investors, and suppliers. Wellington
Management applies financial standards, seeking to add value through a
quantitative stock selection approach and managing risk through portfolio
construction. On behalf of its shareholders, Domini also strives to be an
active and responsible owner of the companies in its funds’ portfolios, seeking
to advance fairer and more sustainable business practices.
Call Domini at
1-800-762-6814 or visit www.domini.com for a copy of our Global Investment Standards booklet.
About Domini Social
Investments
Domini Social
Investments manages $1.6 billion in assets for individual and institutional
mutual fund investors seeking to create positive change in society by
integrating social and environmental standards into their investment decisions.
Two fundamental principles underlie the global investment standards that Domini
applies to each of its investment products: the promotion of a society that values
human dignity and the enrichment of our natural environment. Domini views these
twin goals as crucial to a healthier, wealthier, and more sustainable world.
* Based on total
returns for the 12-month period ending 12/31/06 of mutual funds included by Morningstar
in the Europe Stock category, the Domini European Social Equity Fund was in the
9th percentile, ranking #8 out of 98 funds. All higher-ranking funds pursue
investment strategies focused on small companies, emerging markets, or single
countries within Europe. Data for Morningstar percentile rankings provided by
Morningstar, Inc.® 2007. All rights reserved. Performance rankings do not
consider sales charges, and are subject to change monthly. The foregoing does not indicate a
Morningstar Rating (“star rating”) for the Domini European Social Equity Fund,
which currently has less than a three-year performance history. Morningstar
provides star ratings for funds with at least a three-year history.
Each investor
should consider the Domini Funds’ investment objectives, risks, charges, and
expenses carefully before investing. Obtain a copy of each Fund’s current
prospectus for more complete information on these and other topics by calling
1-800-762-6814 or at www.domini.com.
Please read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.
Past performance is no guarantee of future
results. The returns quoted above represent past performance after all
expenses. Economic and market conditions change, and both will cause investment
return, principal value, and yield to fluctuate so that an investor’s shares,
when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current
performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. For
performance information current to the most recent month-end, call
1-800-762-6814 or visit www.domini.com.
A 2.00% redemption fee is charged on sales or exchanges of shares made
less than 60 days after the settlement of purchase or acquisition through
exchange, with certain exceptions. Performance data quoted above does not
reflect the deduction of this fee which would reduce the performance quoted. See the Fund’s prospectus for further information. The Domini
Funds are subject to market risks and are not insured.
The performance
information quoted above does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a
shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.
Total return is based on the Fund’s net asset values and assumes all dividends
and capital gains were reinvested. An investment in the Fund is not a bank
deposit and is not insured. You may lose money. Certain fees payable by the
Fund were waived during the period, and the Fund’s average annual total returns
would have been lower had these not been waived. The Morgan Stanley Capital
International Europe Index (MSCI Europe) is an unmanaged index of common
stocks. Investors cannot invest directly in the MSCI Europe.
Investing
internationally involves special risks, such as currency fluctuations, social
and economic instability, differing securities regulations and accounting
standards, limited public information, possible changes in taxation, and
periods of illiquidity. These risks are magnified in emerging markets.
DSIL
Investment Services LLC (DSILD), Distributor. 02/07
November 29, 2006
DOMINI EUROPEAN SOCIAL EQUITY FUND OUTPERFORMS IN FIRST
YEAR
Socially Responsible Fund Returns
32.5%, Beats Benchmark by 8.7%
New York, NY – The Domini European
Social Equity Fund(NASDQ: DEUFX) completed its first year of operations on October 3, 2006,
with a total return of 32.54%. The MSCI Europe Index returned 23.75% for the
same period. The Fund returned 42.64% for the year ended October 31, versus
32.30% for the index.
View
performance information current to most recent month-end.
“In developing the Domini European Social Equity Fund, our
goal was to give social investors a way to invest actively in Europe’s dynamic
markets, where companies are leading the world in building sustainable
businesses,” said Amy Domini, Founder and CEO of Domini Social Investments.
“We were confident that our strategy would produce strong
investment performance, and that confidence has been borne out by the Fund’s
significant outperformance in its first year. European markets have performed
well, and we’ve identified companies that are making a real contribution to
building a more sustainable future through cleaner technologies, energy
efficiency, and a commitment to their employees and communities.”
The Fund’s performance is the result of a disciplined active
strategy created by Domini Social Investments and Wellington Management
Company, LLP, the Fund’s submanager. The Domini European Social Equity Fund,
the only socially responsible mutual fund for U.S. investors focused
exclusively on the dynamic European region, has grown to $65.9 million in
assets during its first year.
“The Domini European Social Equity Fund is managed through a
two-part process,” said Steven Lydenberg, Domini’s Chief Investment Officer.
“Our in-house team of social researchers identifies European companies that
meet our social and environmental standards. Wellington Management then selects
stocks through an active, quantitative model based on value and momentum, which
considers factors such as earnings quality and capital efficiency.” Domini also
uses its leverage as a shareholder to encourage stronger corporate governance,
social and environmental practices through its proxy votes, and direct dialogue
with portfolio companies.
Domini and Wellington intend to use this strategy in other
geographically focused funds, the Domini PacAsia Social Equity Fund
and the Domini
EuroPacific Social Equity Fund, set to launch on December 27, 2006,
as well as for the Domini Social Equity
Fund (NASDQ: DSEFX), which was launched in 1991. The Domini Social
Equity Fund’s new active strategy will commence on December 1.
As of September 30, 2006, notable companies in the portfolio
of the Domini European Social Equity Fund included the Norwegian
telecommunications company Telenor,
which sponsors a microenterprise program in Bangladesh called Village Phone,
and the British retailer Marks &
Spencer, which helps the homeless and other disadvantaged people to join
the workforce.
Call Domini at 1-800-762-6814 for a copy of our Global Investment Standards booklet.
About
Domini Social Investments
Domini Social Investments manages $1.8 billion in assets for
individual and institutional mutual fund investors seeking to create positive
change in society by integrating social and environmental standards into their
investment decisions. Two fundamental principles underlie the global investment
standards that Domini applies to each of its investment products: the promotion
of a society that values human dignity and the enrichment of our natural
environment. Domini views these twin goals as crucial to a healthier,
wealthier, and more sustainable world.
Each investor should consider
the Domini Funds’ investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully
before investing. Obtain a copy of each Fund’s current prospectus for more
complete information on these and other topics by calling 1-800-762-6814 or at www.domini.com. Please read the
prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.
Past performance is
no guarantee of future results. The returns quoted above represent past performance after all
expenses. Economic and market conditions change, and both will cause investment
return, principal value, and yield to fluctuate so that an investor’s shares,
when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current
performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. For
performance information current to the most recent month-end, call
1-800-762-6814 or visit www.domini.com.
A 2.00% redemption fee is charged on sales or exchanges of shares made
less than 60 days after the settlement of purchase or acquisition through
exchange, with certain exceptions. Performance data quoted above does not
reflect the deduction of this fee which would reduce the performance
quoted. See the Fund’s prospectus for further information. The
Domini Funds are subject to market risks and are not insured. As of September
30, 2006, Telenor and Marks & Spencer represented 0.45% and 0.99%,
respectively, of the portfolio of the Domini European Social Equity Fund.
Investing
internationally involves special risks, such as currency fluctuations, social
and economic instability, differing securities regulations and accounting
standards, limited public information, possible changes in taxation, and
periods of illiquidity. DSIL Investment Services LLC (DSILD), Distributor.
11/06