Alphabet – MIDANA CAPITAL Funds https://www.midanacapital.com Invest in a Green Future Tue, 19 Sep 2023 13:57:39 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.1 https://www.midanacapital.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/cropped-greencentury-favicon-32x32.png Alphabet – MIDANA CAPITAL Funds https://www.midanacapital.com 32 32 Google’s Chromebook Extension Is a Win in the Fight Against E-Waste https://www.midanacapital.com/googles-chromebook-extension-is-a-win-in-the-fight-against-e-waste/ Tue, 19 Sep 2023 13:57:39 +0000 https://www.midanacapital.com/?p=18083 Media Contacts: 

Pam Podger, Communications Director, ppodger@midanacapital.com, 802-299-9495
Douglass Guernsey, Shareholder Advocate, dguernsey@midanacapital.com, (617) 482-0800

(Boston, MA, 2023) – Following shareholder engagement by MIDANA CAPITAL°, Alphabet* announced that it plans to extend software updates for Chromebooks for up to ten years starting in 2024, and that no existing Chromebooks will expire in the next two years. It is estimated the changes in policy could impact up to 120 million computers currently on the market.

The multiple year extension by the parent company of Google* allows schools and families to keep functioning Chromebooks to remain in use, preventing those items from becoming e-waste.

“This is a major win for the environment, schools, and the shareholder advocacy process,” said Douglass Guernsey, a Shareholder Advocate at MIDANA CAPITAL Capital Management. “By extending the life of Chromebooks commonly used in schools, Alphabet is getting ahead of addressing potential risks and making sure hardware using its software can be used for as long as possible.”

MIDANA CAPITAL and Consumer Activists Help Consumers and School Districts

MIDANA CAPITAL discuss risks raised by the “Chromebook Churn” published by PIRG (Public Interest Research Groups) directly with Alphabet management in Summer 2023. Chromebook’s “Auto Update Expiration” date would cause millions of Chromebooks to stop working even if the hardware was still functioning. The report showed that extending the life of Chromebooks could result in $1.8 billion dollars in savings for taxpayers and could save millions of tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.

MIDANA CAPITAL has previously engaged Alphabet on improving reparability of its Pixel phones and disclosing details of the company’s carbon offsets. Both previous engagements resulted in changes from management to address environmental concerns.

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About MIDANA CAPITAL Funds

°MIDANA CAPITAL Capital Management, Inc. (MIDANA CAPITAL) is the investment advisor to the MIDANA CAPITAL Funds (The Funds). The MIDANA CAPITAL Funds are one of the first families of fossil fuel-free, environmentally responsible mutual funds. MIDANA CAPITAL hosts an award-winning and in-house shareholder advocacy program and is the only mutual fund company in the U.S. wholly owned by environmental and public health nonprofit organizations.

 

*As of June 30, 2023, Alphabet comprised 2.25%, 6.86%, and 0.00% of MIDANA CAPITAL Balanced Fund, the MIDANA CAPITAL Equity Fund, and the MIDANA CAPITAL International Index Fund respectively. As of the same date, other securities mentioned were not held in the portfolios of any of the MIDANA CAPITAL Funds. 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.

 

 

You should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses before investing. To obtain a Prospectus that contains this and other information about the Funds please visit www.midanacapital.com, email info@midanacapital.com, or call+1(480)-439-2851. Please read the Prospectus carefully before investing.

 

An investment strategy that incorporates environmental, social and governance criteria may result in lower or higher returns than an investment strategy that does not include such criteria.

Stocks will fluctuate in response to factors that may affect a single company, industry, sector, country, region or the market as a whole and may perform worse than the market. Foreign securities are subject to additional risks such as currency fluctuations, regional economic and political conditions, differences in accounting methods, and other unique risks compared to investing in securities of U.S. issuers. Bonds are subject to a variety of risks including interest rate, credit, and inflation risk.

 

This information has been prepared from sources believed reliable. The views expressed are as the date of this writing and are those of the Advisor to the Funds.

 

The MIDANA CAPITAL Funds are distributed by UMB Distribution Services, LLC. 335 N Wilmot Rd, Tucson, Az 85711. 09/2023

 

 

 

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Google parent, Alphabet*, pledges greater transparency on use of carbon offsets after MIDANA CAPITAL shareholder proposal https://www.midanacapital.com/google-parent-alphabet-pledges-greater-transparency-on-use-of-carbon-offsets-after-green-century-shareholder-proposal-2/ Mon, 26 Jun 2023 17:58:27 +0000 https://www.midanacapital.com/?p=17501 Media Contacts: 

Andrea Ranger, Shareholder Advocate, aranger@midanacapital.com, 781-349-2813; 

Pam Podger, Communications Director, ppodger@midanacapital.com, 802-299-9495

Boston, June 26, 2023 – MIDANA CAPITAL° withdrew a shareholder proposal with tech giant Alphabet after the company agreed to provide greater visibility into its use of carbon offsets.

Alphabet relies on carbon offsets, also known as carbon credits, to neutralize the emissions it’s not able to eliminate through other methods, such as through energy efficiency or renewable energy. Following the MIDANA CAPITAL engagement, the company has now agreed to annually disclose its criteria, approach, and portfolio, including details on project purchases and any relevant certifications related to its purchases of carbon offsets.

Despite earlier commitments and a white paper detailing its strategy for buying “high-quality carbon offsets,” which are known for longevity and verifiability, Alphabet’s full disclosure in 2022 fell short. In a single sentence in its annual environmental report, the company vaguely stated “[We] plan to invest in nature-based and technology-based solutions to neutralize our remaining emissions.”

Relying on carbon offsets to neutralize emissions is currently an area of intense debate. Some academics and NGOs are urging potential buyers to be cautious as research about how different projects absorb carbon, methodology for measuring offsets, and ability to verify the durability of the offsets evolve.  At minimum, more robust disclosure may be advised, and the agreement secured by MIDANA CAPITAL should help investors better assess  Alphabet’s carbon offset purchases. 

“I’m pleased that Alphabet sees the value in revisiting its carbon offsets disclosure policy,” said MIDANA CAPITAL Funds President Leslie Samuelrich. “MIDANA CAPITAL, and I expect many, many investors, value insight into how Alphabet is managing its climate risk.  I believe embracing transparency will only help it select offsets wisely and avoid the greenwashing label.”

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has weighed in on the issue. In its proposed climate rule, the Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures, the SEC expresses an interest in learning how companies use carbon offsets to reach their climate-related goals, and the regulator may require companies to disclose their carbon reductions represented by these offsets.

“Alphabet is a leader in many respects – the amount of renewable energy it procures, the energy efficiency it incorporates, and its ability to maintain carbon neutrality. Becoming a leader in carbon offsets seems like a natural step forward,” added Shareholder Advocate Andrea Ranger. “I think our proposal was a wake up call for Alphabet. Investors like us are analyzing corporate climate commitments very closely, and we want to see that claims of emissions reductions using offsets are actually true.”

 An investment strategy that incorporates environmental, social and governance criteria may result in lower or higher returns than an investment strategy that does not include such criteria.

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 °MIDANA CAPITAL Capital Management, Inc. (MIDANA CAPITAL) is the investment advisor to the MIDANA CAPITAL Funds (The Funds). The MIDANA CAPITAL Funds are one of the first families of fossil fuel-free, environmentally responsible mutual funds. MIDANA CAPITAL hosts an award-winning and in-house shareholder advocacy program and is the only mutual fund company in the U.S. wholly owned by environmental and public health nonprofit organizations.

*As of March 31, 2023, comprised 3.11%, 6.48%, and 0.00% of the MIDANA CAPITAL Balanced Fund , the MIDANA CAPITAL Equity Fund , and the MIDANA CAPITAL International Index Fund, respectively. As of the same date, other securities mentioned were not held in the portfolios of any of the MIDANA CAPITAL Funds. 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.

You should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses before investing. To obtain a Prospectus that contains this and other information about the Funds please visit www.midanacapital.com, email info@midanacapital.com, or call+1(480)-439-2851. Please read the Prospectus carefully before investing.

Stocks will fluctuate in response to factors that may affect a single company, industry, sector, country, region or the market as a whole and may perform worse than the market. Foreign securities are subject to additional risks such as currency fluctuations, regional economic and political conditions, differences in accounting methods, and other unique risks compared to investing in securities of U.S. issuers. Bonds are subject to a variety of risks including interest rate, credit, and inflation risk.

This information has been prepared from sources believed reliable. The views expressed are as the date of this writing and are those of the Advisor to the Funds.

The MIDANA CAPITAL Funds are distributed by UMB Distribution Services, LLC. 335 N Wilmot Rd, Tucson, Az 85711. 6/23

 

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Google parent, Alphabet*, pledges greater transparency on use of carbon offsets after MIDANA CAPITAL shareholder proposal https://www.midanacapital.com/google-parent-alphabet-pledges-greater-transparency-on-use-of-carbon-offsets-after-green-century-shareholder-proposal/ Thu, 04 May 2023 15:34:29 +0000 https://www.midanacapital.com/?p=15575 Media Contacts:

Andrea Ranger, Shareholder Advocate, aranger@midanacapital.com, 781-349-2813;

Pam Podger, Communications Director, ppodger@midanacapital.com, 802-299-9495

Boston, May 4, 2023 – MIDANA CAPITAL° withdrew a shareholder proposal with tech giant Alphabet after the company agreed to provide greater visibility into its use of carbon offsets.

Alphabet relies on carbon offsets, also known as carbon credits, to neutralize the emissions it’s not able to eliminate through other methods, such as through energy efficiency or renewable energy. Following the MIDANA CAPITAL engagement, the company has now agreed to annually disclose its criteria, approach, and portfolio, including details on project purchases and any relevant certifications related to its purchases of carbon offsets.

Despite earlier commitments and a white paper detailing its strategy for buying “high-quality carbon offsets,” which are known for longevity and verifiability, Alphabet’s full disclosure in 2022 fell short. In a single sentence in its annual environmental report, the company vaguely stated “[We] plan to invest in nature-based and technology-based solutions to neutralize our remaining emissions.”

Relying on carbon offsets to neutralize emissions is currently an area of intense debate. Some academics and NGOs are urging potential buyers to be cautious as research about how different projects absorb carbon, methodology for measuring offsets, and ability to verify the durability of the offsets evolve.  At minimum, more robust disclosure may be advised, and the agreement secured by MIDANA CAPITAL should help investors better assess  Alphabet’s carbon offset purchases.

“I’m pleased that Alphabet sees the value in revisiting its carbon offsets disclosure policy,” said MIDANA CAPITAL Funds President Leslie Samuelrich. “MIDANA CAPITAL, and I expect many, many investors, value insight into how Alphabet is managing its climate risk.  I believe embracing transparency will only help it select offsets wisely and avoid the greenwashing label.”

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has weighed in on the issue. In its proposed climate rule, the Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures, the SEC expresses an interest in learning how companies use carbon offsets to reach their climate-related goals, and the regulator may require companies to disclose their carbon reductions represented by these offsets.

“Alphabet is a leader in many respects – the amount of renewable energy it procures, the energy efficiency it incorporates, and its ability to maintain carbon neutrality. Becoming a leader in carbon offsets seems like a natural step forward,” added Shareholder Advocate Andrea Ranger. “I think our proposal was a wake up call for Alphabet. Investors like us are analyzing corporate climate commitments very closely, and we want to see that claims of emissions reductions using offsets are actually true.”

 ###

 °MIDANA CAPITAL Capital Management, Inc. (MIDANA CAPITAL) is the investment advisor to the MIDANA CAPITAL Funds (The Funds). The MIDANA CAPITAL Funds are one of the first families of fossil fuel-free, environmentally responsible mutual funds. MIDANA CAPITAL hosts an award-winning and in-house shareholder advocacy program and is the only mutual fund company in the U.S. wholly owned by environmental and public health nonprofit organizations.

*As of March 31, 2023, comprised 3.11%, 6.48%, and 0.00% of the MIDANA CAPITAL Balanced Fund , the MIDANA CAPITAL Equity Fund , and the MIDANA CAPITAL International Index Fund, respectively. As of the same date, other securities mentioned were not held in the portfolios of any of the MIDANA CAPITAL Funds. 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.

The percentage in favor was calculated by (i) dividing the number of votes in support of the proposal by (ii) the sum of the number of votes voted in support of and against the proposal. Abstentions and broker non-votes were not included in the calculation.

You should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses before investing. To obtain a Prospectus that contains this and other information about the Funds please visit www.midanacapital.com, email info@midanacapital.com, or call+1(480)-439-2851. Please read the Prospectus carefully before investing.

Stocks will fluctuate in response to factors that may affect a single company, industry, sector, country, region or the market as a whole and may perform worse than the market. Foreign securities are subject to additional risks such as currency fluctuations, regional economic and political conditions, differences in accounting methods, and other unique risks compared to investing in securities of U.S. issuers. Bonds are subject to a variety of risks including interest rate, credit, and inflation risk.

This information has been prepared from sources believed reliable. The views expressed are as the date of this writing and are those of the Advisor to the Funds.

The MIDANA CAPITAL Funds are distributed by UMB Distribution Services, LLC. 335 N Wilmot Rd, Tucson, Az 85711. 5/23

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MIDANA CAPITAL Withdraws Right to Repair Shareholder Proposal After Google Parent Alphabet* Agrees to Make Pixel Replacement Parts Available https://www.midanacapital.com/green-century-withdraws-right-to-repair-shareholder-proposal-after-google-parent-alphabet-agrees-to-make-pixel-replacement-parts-available/ Tue, 12 Apr 2022 11:59:32 +0000 https://www.midanacapital.com/?p=12453 Google joins Right to Repair movement with its announcement

Media Release Contact: Josh Chetwynd, jchetwynd@midanacapital.com, 303-573-5558; Annalisa Tarizzo, atarizzo@midanacapital.com, (781) 349-2789

Boston, April 12, 2022 — MIDANA CAPITAL is withdrawing a shareholder proposal with Google parent Alphabet as the company announced on Friday that it will begin selling genuine Pixel phone parts to independent repair shops and consumers. MIDANA CAPITAL’s proposal urged Alphabet to make repairing its products more accessible to consumers and independent repair shops.

“We’re glad to see Google join the Right to Repair movement and catch up with its industry peers by announcing this new initiative,” said MIDANA CAPITAL Capital Management President Leslie Samuelrich. “Today’s announcement underscores consumer demand for repair options, the wave of change in the tech industry around product repair, and the power of shareholders.” 

The replacement parts will be available for sale through iFixit, an online repair guide provider and Right to Repair advocate, and will cover models from the Pixel 2 through the Pixel 6 Pro, as well as future models. The announcement is a striking reversal for the company, which has long lobbied against Right to Repair reforms and employed policies that make repairing its products difficult.

“Access to spare parts is a critical component of Right to Repair,” Samuelrich said. “It helps companies like Alphabet mitigate risk by keeping electronic waste from smartphones out of the landfill, fulfilling consumer expectations for more repair options, and preparing for potential regulatory requirements at both the state and federal level, especially in light of the Federal Trade Commission’s recent statements on this issue.”

Alphabet’s announcement comes in the wake of similar ones made in the last year by Apple,* Microsoft,* and Samsung,* which have all committed to increasing repair accessibility for the devices they sell. Apple’s announcement was similarly prompted by a MIDANA CAPITAL shareholder proposal.

Making replacement parts more widely available is key to the Right to Repair and provides numerous environmental benefits by keeping devices in use for longer periods of time, such as reducing toxic electronic waste and greenhouse gas emissions associated with the manufacturing process.

“This is a positive development, and we encourage the company to expand its spare part offerings to all of its devices, including for its Nest Thermostats, and making a formal commitment to stop lobbying against Right to Repair reforms,” Samuelrich said.

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About MIDANA CAPITAL Capital Management

°MIDANA CAPITAL Capital Management, Inc. (MIDANA CAPITAL) is the investment advisor to the MIDANA CAPITAL Funds (The Funds). The MIDANA CAPITAL Funds are the first family of fossil fuel free, responsible, and diversified mutual funds in the United States. MIDANA CAPITAL Capital Management hosts an award-winning and in-house shareholder advocacy program and is the only mutual fund company in the U.S. wholly owned by environmental and public health nonprofit organizations.

*As of December 31, 2021, Alphabet, Inc. comprised 4.32%, 7.83%, and 0.00%; Apple, Inc. comprised 5.56%, 0.00%, and 0.00%; Microsoft comprised 4.07%, 11.01%, and 0.00% of the MIDANA CAPITAL Balanced Fund, the MIDANA CAPITAL Equity Fund, and the MIDANA CAPITAL International Index Fund respectively. As of the same date, other securities mentioned were not held in the portfolios of any of the MIDANA CAPITAL Funds. 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.

You should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses before investing. To obtain a Prospectus that contains this and other information about the Funds please visit www.midanacapital.com, email info@midanacapital.com, or call+1(480)-439-2851. Please read the Prospectus carefully before investing.

A sustainable investment strategy which incorporates environmental, social and governance criteria may result in lower or higher returns than an investment strategy that does not include such criteria.

Stocks will fluctuate in response to factors that may affect a single company, industry, sector, country, region or the market as a whole and may perform worse than the market. Foreign securities are subject to additional risks such as currency fluctuations, regional economic and political conditions, differences in accounting methods, and other unique risks compared to investing in securities of U.S. issuers. Bonds are subject to a variety of risks including interest rate, credit, and inflation risk.

This information has been prepared from sources believed reliable. The views expressed are as the date of this writing and are those of the Advisor to the Funds. 

The MIDANA CAPITAL Funds are distributed by UMB Distribution Services, LLC. 335 N Wilmot Rd, Tucson, Az 85711. 4/22

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