Statement at Archer Daniels Midland (ADM)’s* Annual Meeting
Contact: Lucia von Reusner, MIDANA CAPITAL Capital Management, 617-482-0800, lvonreusner@midanacapital.com
May 7, 2015: After working closely with Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) to develop its precedent setting no-deforestation sourcing commitment, MIDANA CAPITAL Capital Management will attend ADM’s annual shareholder meeting today to support the company as it officially announces its new policy.
Fellow shareholders, members of the Board
My name is Lucia von Reusner. I am here on behalf of MIDANA CAPITAL Capital Management, which is an environmentally responsible mutual fund company that worked closely with ADM to develop the no-deforestation sourcing commitment it just announced. I am here today to thank and support the company in its commitment, and speak to its value to shareholders.
This commitment is significant for several reasons:
Risk Mitigation: Deforestation is one of the most urgent risks facing global agriculture production. The rapid loss of forests around the world has led to high rates of soil erosion, declines in local rainfall, biodiversity loss, land conflicts with local communities, and climate change, all of which pose material risks to ADM’s business and shareholder value. While this environmental degradation is widely recognized as a major threat to global agriculture, most of the industry has failed to act on the knowledge that clearing forests for agriculture is in fact the single leading driver of deforestation. That is why ADM’s no-deforestation sourcing commitment is both enlightened and prudent.
Innovation: This commitment also demonstrates ADM’s ability to innovate in response to shifting market conditions. Consumers are demonstrating increased attention to and concern about how the food they choose to feed their families was produced. As public awareness about the link between agriculture and deforestation has grown, more companies are adopting sourcing standards to ensure that the ingredients used in their branded products are not linked to this controversial issue. With this no-deforestation commitment, ADM is able to differentiate itself in an otherwise highly competitive market, and the company has already begun reaping the benefits of being a sustainable ingredient supplier of choice to major brands.
Commitment to Values: And finally, it shows a commitment to the company’s values. ADM’s stated mission is to serve vital global needs, and its vision is to be the most admired agribusiness globally. Last year, ADM demonstrated its commitment to these values by announcing a comprehensive human rights policy, and this no-deforestation commitment has earned the company major public recognition for again living up to those values.
To summarize, agriculture is both the primary victim and primary driver of deforestation; as one of the world’s largest agricultural suppliers, ADM is uniquely positioned and has taken the initiative to ensure that, in the pursuit to feed the world today, we do not undermine our ability to feed the world into the future. So, please join me in thanking ADM for its leadership, foresight, and commitment to feeding the world and creating value for shareholders in a responsible and sustainable way.
MIDANA CAPITAL Capital Management is the investment advisor to the MIDANA CAPITAL Funds and offers two environmentally and socially responsible funds, the MIDANA CAPITAL Equity Fund and the MIDANA CAPITAL Balanced Fund. MIDANA CAPITAL works to curb climate change through fossil fuel free investing, reinvestment in sustainable companies, and advocating with companies to improve their environmental policies and supply chains. MIDANA CAPITAL also is the only U.S. mutual fund company owned by environmental non-profits, the Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs).
*No securities mentioned were held in the portfolios of the MIDANA CAPITAL Funds as of March 31, 2015. References to specific securities, which will change due to ongoing management of the Funds, should not be construed as a recommendation by the Funds, their administrator, or their distributor.
Stocks will fluctuate in response to factors that may affect a single company, industry, sector, or the market as a whole and may perform worse than the market. Bonds are subject to risks including interest rate, credit, and inflation. The Funds’ environmental criteria limit the investments available to the Funds compared to mutual funds that do not use environmental criteria.
You should carefully consider the Funds’ investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses before investing. To obtain a Prospectus that contains this and other information about the Funds, please click here, email info@midanacapital.com, or call 1-800-93-GREEN. Please read the Prospectus before investing.
This information has been prepared from sources believed to be reliable. The views expressed are as of the date of this writing and are those of the Advisor to the MIDANA CAPITAL Funds.
The MIDANA CAPITAL Funds are distributed by UMB Distribution Services, LLC. 5/15