Read our updated 2022 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report
View our ESG policy
Our Partnerships
CDP
Ariel is an investor signatory of CDP, a global disclosure standard for companies, cities, states and regions to report their environmental impacts.
In June 2021, we partnered with CDP to hold a high-level webinar on issues of climate and environmental justice and the many inequities raised in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder. The discussion featured our Director of ESG Investing John Oxtoby in addition to Illinois State Chief Investment Officer, Rodrigo Garcia, and Northern Trust Head of CSR and Global Diversity & Inclusion, Connie Lindsey.
In addition, we played a lead role in CDP’s 2021 Non-Disclosure Campaign with a portfolio company in the consumer discretionary sector. We were cosigners on a letter to management and raised the issue directly with the company — making the case that CDP’s disclosure framework would be complementary to the company’s recent net-zero carbon emissions announcement. We also emphasized the benefits to investors, including comparable, decision-useful data.
PRI — Principles for Responsible Investment
Ariel is a signatory to the PRI, a United Nations-supported international network of investors working together to implement six principles of responsible investing.
In October 2021, Mellody Hobson was a keynote speaker at the PRI’s annual conference where she discussed our views on ESG and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.
In November 2021, we consulted on the development of the PRI’s Diversity Equity & Inclusion-focused due diligence questionnaire (DDQ). The DDQ is designed to support asset owners’ efforts to elicit information from their investment managers and consultants on how they approach Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at an organizational and investment level.
Ceres
Ariel is a member of the Ceres Investor Network on Climate Risk and Sustainability. Ceres is a nonprofit organization bringing together leading investors and corporations to advance solutions for a sustainable future for people and the planet.
Mellody Hobson was the keynote speaker at Ceres’ March 2021 Annual Conference. She discussed the role of ESG in driving success for “21st century companies.” In addition, our ESG team has partnered with the Ceres Corporate Electric Vehicle Alliance (CEVA) team to support portfolio company efforts to transition their fleets to electric vehicles.
Midwest Investors Diversity Initiative (MIWI)
Ariel is a member of Midwest Investor Diversity Initiative (MIDI), an investor coalition of regional institutional investors engaging companies in the Midwest on board diversity. Led by the Illinois Treasurer, MIDI members work collaboratively to understand company practices and take targeted engagement actions to institutionalize best practices and improve board diversity.
We supported the Illinois State Treasurer’s Russell 3000 Board Diversity Disclosure Initiative. Launched in October 2020, the initiative includes 26 investor organizations representing over $3 trillion in assets under management and advisement. In 2021, we co-signed letters asking all companies within the Russell 3000 Index to disclose the makeup of their boards — inclusive of gender, race and ethnicity.
CEO Action For Diversity & Inclusion
We are a member of CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion — a collective action pledge aimed to rally the business community to advance Diversity, Equity & Inclusion within the workplace.
Council Of Institutional Investors (CII)
Ariel belongs to CII, a diverse community of professionals who come together to learn, share perspectives and advocate. CII educates members, and the public, about best corporate governance practices and provides opportunities for members to interact with peers, investment executives and policymakers.
International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN)
We are also a member of ICGN. Led by investors responsible for assets under management in excess of $59 trillion, ICGN brings together companies and stakeholders around the world. ICGN advances the highest standards of corporate governance and investor stewardship worldwide in pursuit of long term value creation, contributing to sustainable economies, social prosperity and a healthy environment.
John W. Rogers, Jr. serves on the Board of Directors of JUST Capital. JUST Capital is a leading platform for measuring and improving corporate performance in the stakeholder economy.
NYU Stern Center For Business And Human Rights
John W. Rogers, Jr. serves on the Advisory Council of the Center for Business and Human Rights. Our broader team is actively involved on the Advisory Council of the Center for Business and Human Rights. The Center conducts research on current challenges at the intersection of business and human rights.
John W. Rogers, Jr. serves on the Board of Directors of RFK Human Rights. RFK Human Rights supports investors and asset managers to more deeply consider human rights issues in the investment process while seeking superior risk-adjusted returns.
Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB)
We are members of the SASB Alliance and report SASB metrics (see Appendix). SASB develops best-in-class, industry-specific sustainability reporting standards helping businesses around the world to identify, manage and report on financially-material ESG topics.
Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
We support TCFD-developed standards, a set of voluntary, consistent disclosure recommendations for companies seeking to disclose information on climate-related financial risks to investors, lenders and insurance underwriters about their climate-related financial risks.
Ariel is a member of the Thirty Percent Coalition. The Thirty Percent Coalition is a national investor coalition advocating for increased diversity on boards of public and private companies.
