Milford Global Equity Fund

Companies of concern

• Human Rights Violations

  • Meta Platforms Inc-Class A 4.78%
    Public Safety

    Where companies are involved in significant harm to individuals or communities, through the unsafe nature of their products or delivery of services and inadequate response to evidence of harm.

    META PLATFORMS INC-CLASS A Public Safety

    Meta is the world’s largest online social network consisting of the Facebook app, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp, and many features surrounding these products. The company has faced several investigations and legal action linked to privacy-related allegations, including its handling of user data, and breaches of user privacy. Meta has also been criticised for its poor governance model, as well as allowing its platform in non-English speaking countries to be used to incite ethnic violence.

  • Uber Technologies, Inc. 2.46%
    Labour Rights Violations

    Where the actions of companies have violated global standards on labour rights and freedoms; including poor treatment of workers, child and forced labour, and modern slavery.

    UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC. Labour Rights Violations

    Uber is a ride and food delivery service provider. Evidence shows the company has been prioritising revenue growth over driver welfare and user safety. As Uber considers its drivers to be contractors, this limits their employee rights to the minimum wage and other benefits, meaning drivers and vehicles are not subject to the labour standards expected from traditional taxi companies.

  • Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc 1.14%
    Human Rights Abuses

    Where the actions of companies have violated global standards on human rights and freedoms including customary rights of indigenous people.

    THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC INC Human Rights Abuses

    Thermo Fisher Scientific sells scientific instruments and laboratory equipment, diagnostics consumables, and life science reagents. Thermo Fisher DNA testing kits have been linked to surveillance and discriminatory purposes by the legal authorities in Xinjiang (a region of China) for monitoring and tracking the Muslim Uyghur ethnic group and other minorities. Evidence shows Thermo Fisher Scientific continues to supply DNA sequencing products to the Xinjiang region, despite the company announcing it would halt sales to the region in 2019.

• Environmental Harm

  • Shell PLC 2.74% !!
    This company is expanding their fossil fuel production and
    is off track with the UN target to limit global temperature
    rise to 1.5°C
    Animal Testing

    Where companies are involved in testing products on animals for cosmetic, personal care, household product, chemical and other uses. We do not include companies which conduct animal testing for pharmaceutical products, medical devices, biotechnology, human food, or pet food.

    Environmental Damage

    Where companies, through their products or operations, are involved in environmental degradation e.g., pollution, chemical spills.

    Fossil Fuel Production

    Where companies are involved in the production of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, coal, shale oil) including exploration, production (including core services), storage, transport (except by rail) and refining.

    SHELL PLC Animal Testing Environmental Damage Fossil Fuel Production

    Shell, headquartered in the UK, is an integrated oil and gas company that explores for, produces, and refines oil around the world. The company engages in the exploration and production, refining, transportation and storage of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids. Between 2021 and 2023, the company spent an average of USD $2,015 million per year on exploration activities alone. After generating 1,250 million barrels of oil in 2023, the company plans to expand their operations an additional 5,650 million barrels in the short term (1-7 years).

    The expansion is proposed to extend far and wide across the globe, including in Australia, Malaysia, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Oman, Cameroon, Nigeria, Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, USA, Canada, the UK, and Norway. Evidence shows the company is far from being on a climate change pathway aligned with 1.5°C of global temperature rise, as the company’s planned short-term expansion overshoots the IEA Net-Zero Emissions Scenario by 66.5%.

• Animal Cruelty

  • Shell PLC 2.74% !!
    This company is expanding their fossil fuel production and
    is off track with the UN target to limit global temperature
    rise to 1.5°C
    Animal Testing

    Where companies are involved in testing products on animals for cosmetic, personal care, household product, chemical and other uses. We do not include companies which conduct animal testing for pharmaceutical products, medical devices, biotechnology, human food, or pet food.

    Environmental Damage

    Where companies, through their products or operations, are involved in environmental degradation e.g., pollution, chemical spills.

    Fossil Fuel Production

    Where companies are involved in the production of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, coal, shale oil) including exploration, production (including core services), storage, transport (except by rail) and refining.

    SHELL PLC Animal Testing Environmental Damage Fossil Fuel Production

    Shell, headquartered in the UK, is an integrated oil and gas company that explores for, produces, and refines oil around the world. The company engages in the exploration and production, refining, transportation and storage of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids. Between 2021 and 2023, the company spent an average of USD $2,015 million per year on exploration activities alone. After generating 1,250 million barrels of oil in 2023, the company plans to expand their operations an additional 5,650 million barrels in the short term (1-7 years).

    The expansion is proposed to extend far and wide across the globe, including in Australia, Malaysia, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Oman, Cameroon, Nigeria, Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, USA, Canada, the UK, and Norway. Evidence shows the company is far from being on a climate change pathway aligned with 1.5°C of global temperature rise, as the company’s planned short-term expansion overshoots the IEA Net-Zero Emissions Scenario by 66.5%.

  • LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vui 1.02%
    Animal Welfare Issues

    Where companies, through their products or operations, cause harm to animals e.g., animal entertainment (such as marine parks and rodeos), livestock exports, whale meat etc.

    Fur & Speciality Leather

    Where companies are involved in the production or retail of fur & speciality leather products (where animals are raised purely for skins).

  • Estee Lauder Co Inc 0.77%
    Animal Testing

    Where companies are involved in testing products on animals for cosmetic, personal care, household product, chemical and other uses. We do not include companies which conduct animal testing for pharmaceutical products, medical devices, biotechnology, human food, or pet food.

    ESTEE LAUDER CO INC Animal Testing

    Estee Lauder is a multinational cosmetics company, a manufacturer and marketer of makeup, skincare, fragrance, and hair care products. The company states that its products are sold in countries where animal testing of cosmetic products is required by law.

  • L'Oreal 0.76%
    Animal Testing

    Where companies are involved in testing products on animals for cosmetic, personal care, household product, chemical and other uses. We do not include companies which conduct animal testing for pharmaceutical products, medical devices, biotechnology, human food, or pet food.

    L'OREAL Animal Testing

    L'Oréal is a personal care company and cosmetics company concentrating on hair colour, skin care, sun protection, make-up, perfume, and hair care. The company states that its products are sold in countries where animal testing of cosmetic products is required by law.

• Weapons

  • Transdigm Group Inc 0.86%
    Military Weapons

    Where companies derive revenue from the manufacturing of weapons or weapon components and services to the defence industry. We do not include non-weapons-related military support.

• Fossil Fuels

  • Shell PLC 2.74% !!
    This company is expanding their fossil fuel production and
    is off track with the UN target to limit global temperature
    rise to 1.5°C
    Animal Testing

    Where companies are involved in testing products on animals for cosmetic, personal care, household product, chemical and other uses. We do not include companies which conduct animal testing for pharmaceutical products, medical devices, biotechnology, human food, or pet food.

    Environmental Damage

    Where companies, through their products or operations, are involved in environmental degradation e.g., pollution, chemical spills.

    Fossil Fuel Production

    Where companies are involved in the production of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, coal, shale oil) including exploration, production (including core services), storage, transport (except by rail) and refining.

    SHELL PLC Animal Testing Environmental Damage Fossil Fuel Production

    Shell, headquartered in the UK, is an integrated oil and gas company that explores for, produces, and refines oil around the world. The company engages in the exploration and production, refining, transportation and storage of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids. Between 2021 and 2023, the company spent an average of USD $2,015 million per year on exploration activities alone. After generating 1,250 million barrels of oil in 2023, the company plans to expand their operations an additional 5,650 million barrels in the short term (1-7 years).

    The expansion is proposed to extend far and wide across the globe, including in Australia, Malaysia, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Oman, Cameroon, Nigeria, Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, USA, Canada, the UK, and Norway. Evidence shows the company is far from being on a climate change pathway aligned with 1.5°C of global temperature rise, as the company’s planned short-term expansion overshoots the IEA Net-Zero Emissions Scenario by 66.5%.

  • Teck Resources Ltd-Cls B 2.45%
    Fossil Fuel Production

    Where companies are involved in the production of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, coal, shale oil) including exploration, production (including core services), storage, transport (except by rail) and refining.

• Social Harm

  • Pernod Ricard SA 1.70%
    Alcohol

    Where companies are involved in the production or retail of alcoholic beverages, or alcohol-related products and services.