Mercer Ethical Leaders Hedged Global Fixed Interest Index Fund

Companies of concern

• Human Rights Violations

  • Wells Fargo 0.22%
    Business Ethics

    Where low standards of ethics create harm because of poor culture and inappropriate incentives, inadequate governance and oversight, and incidents of bribery and corruption.

  • Ubs 0.20%
    Business Ethics

    Where low standards of ethics create harm because of poor culture and inappropriate incentives, inadequate governance and oversight, and incidents of bribery and corruption.

    UBS Business Ethics

    Acquired Credit Suisse in 2023, a bank with very poor governance which aided clients with tax evasion and money laundering. As a result, UBS has inherited ongoing regulatory fines and lawsuits relating to these failures. UBS has also been subject to lawsuits relating to its own manipulation of foreign exchange and interbank rates. It holds a provision of USD $4bn for claims (which may not be sufficient).

  • Thermo Fisher Scientific 0.08%
    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 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.

  • Johnson & Johnson 0.07%
    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.

    JOHNSON & JOHNSON Public Safety

    Johnson & Johnson is the world's largest and most diverse healthcare firm. The company has been involved in repeated incidents related to the quality and safety of several of its products across all three of the company’s business segments — drugs, devices, and consumer products. Several products have been associated with allegations of severe or even fatal adverse impacts on patients.

  • Nestlé 0.07%
    Human Rights Abuses

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

    NESTLÉ Human Rights Abuses

    Nestle manufactures and sells food and beverages. The company has been criticised for exploiting local water resources for its bottled water production, which has forced underprivileged communities to pay a premium for their groundwater while alternatives have been exhausted. There have also been several allegations of labour conflicts and human rights violations in Nestle’s palm oil, coffee, fruits and seafood supply chains.

  • Meta Platforms, Inc. 0.06%
    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. 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. 0.03%
    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.

• Environmental Harm

  • 3M 0.03%
    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.

  • Cargill, Inc. 0.02%
    Deforestation

    Where companies are involved in, or directly linked to through their supply chain, the act of deforestation or clearance of forest that is then converted to a non-forest use.

    Environmental Damage

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

    Palm Oil

    Where companies are involved in the production or distribution of palm oil.

    CARGILL, INC. Deforestation Environmental Damage Palm Oil

    Cargill is a privately held American global food corporation. Cargill specialises in food service, agriculture, meat, and poultry, as well as transportation, pharmaceutical ingredients, and beauty products. The company's supply chain, particularly for soy products, has been linked to several allegations of illegal deforestation in the Amazon rainforest.

  • Jbs Usa Finance, Inc. 0.02%
    Deforestation

    Where companies are involved in, or directly linked to through their supply chain, the act of deforestation or clearance of forest that is then converted to a non-forest use.

    Environmental Damage

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

  • Nutrien Ltd. 0.01%
    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.

    Highly Hazardous Pesticides

    Where companies are involved in the production or distribution of highly hazardous pesticides, according to the PAN International List of Highly Hazardous Pesticides.

• Animal Cruelty

  • Unilever PLC 0.07%
    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.

    UNILEVER PLC Animal Testing

    Diversified personal-care, homecare, and packaged food company. The company states that its products are sold in countries where animal testing of cosmetic products is required by law.

  • Procter & Gamble Co. 0.05%
    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.

  • Arkema SA 0.04%
    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.

  • International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. 0.04%
    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.

  • Jab Holding Company 0.04%
    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.

  • 3M 0.03%
    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.

  • Dupont De Nemours 0.03%
    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.

  • Kering SA 0.03%
    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).

  • The Sherwin-Williams Co. 0.03%
    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.

  • Kimberly-Clark Corp. 0.02%
    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.

  • Tyson Foods Inc 0.02%
    Factory Farming

    Where companies are involved in intensive poultry operations, including managing direct operations which raise birds or managing a network of contracted farmers, slaughtering, packaging and onward sale to wholesalers, retailers, and restaurant chains.

  • Nutrien Ltd. 0.01%
    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.

    Highly Hazardous Pesticides

    Where companies are involved in the production or distribution of highly hazardous pesticides, according to the PAN International List of Highly Hazardous Pesticides.

  • Tapestry, Inc. 0.01%
    Fur & Speciality Leather

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

• Fossil Fuels

  • National Grid PLC 0.04% !!
    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
    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.

    NATIONAL GRID PLC Fossil Fuel Production

    Operates electric and natural gas transmission systems in the UK and US. It also operates facilities for storing LNG. including the Grain LNG terminal in the UK which is the largest LNG facility in Europe and 8th globally.

  • Ccep Finance (Ireland) Dac 0.03%
    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.