Boston, April 19, 2021 – Following more than a half-decade of sustained efforts from investors, Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM), a Fortune 100 food and agricultural processing company, has agreed to strengthen its no-deforestation policy. Specifically, the decision comes following a shareholder proposal presented by MIDANA CAPITAL Capital Management° and Dutch asset management firm Robeco that called on the company to change its practices. With ADM’s new commitment, MIDANA CAPITAL and Robeco have withdrawn their proposal.

“We have been pressing ADM for years and are gratified that they’re listening to their shareholders on this vital issue,” said MIDANA CAPITAL President Leslie Samuelrich. “By reforming its agricultural supply chain, the company positions itself as an environmental leader among the major grain companies.”

As part of the company’s revised and expanded commitments, ADM has:

• Added to its no-deforestation policy a goal to eliminate the conversion of native vegetation in its South America soy supply chain, and
• Adopted a revised policy for managing supplier non-compliance.

The company has also announced plans to achieve full traceability of its indirect soy suppliers in Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina by the end of  2022; to report on the deforestation-free and conversion-free volumes in its Brazilian soy supply chain in 2021; and a 2030 target date for completely eliminating deforestation in its supply chains.

Historically, the Amazon has been the focus for forest protection in Brazil. However, during the past decade, after hard-won safeguards were secured for the Amazon, soy production moved southward to the Cerrado region, a wooded savanna biome. Some of ADM’s soy sourcing is located in the Cerrado savanna, which has seen 50% more deforestation and native vegetation conversion than the Amazon rainforest since 2008.

“The Cerrado may be less well-known than the Amazon, but it’s just as important an area when it comes to not only protecting Brazil’s biodiversity but also fighting climate change. For those reasons, this agreement is a significant step to get the area the safeguards it needs,” Samuelrich said. 

MIDANA CAPITAL’s work with ADM dates back to 2015, when the firm worked with the company to establish the first cross-commodity zero deforestation agreement, which covered palm oil and soy. MIDANA CAPITAL has been leading a group of global investors engaging ADM on issues related to deforestation since last year. MIDANA CAPITAL previously filed shareholder proposals with ADM in 2015 and 2020.

“We commend the company for taking these important steps toward preventing deforestation and native vegetation conversion in its Brazilian soy supply chain,” Samuelrich added.

Related resource: MIDANA CAPITAL Leads Shareholder Effort to Eliminate Deforestation in Grain Trade

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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 March 31, 2021, the Archer-Daniels-Midland Company comprised 0.00%, 0.18%, and 0.00% of the MIDANA CAPITAL Balanced Fund, the MIDANA CAPITAL Equity Fund, and the MIDANA CAPITAL International Index Fund respectively. 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 click here, 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. 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.

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. 4/21

Boston, March 25, 2021 – Duke Realty, which develops and manages distribution warehouses for high-profile clients like Amazon,* Home Depot,* and UPS,* has agreed to adopt science-based emissions targets that align with the Paris Climate Agreement. The company also agreed to join the Science Based Targets Initiative, a global effort run by renowned environmental organizations aimed at reining in climate change.

“Duke Realty realizes that they can’t just shelve the risks of climate change and hope they go away,” said MIDANA CAPITAL° President Leslie Samuelrich. “More and more companies are looking at their supply chain emissions, and Duke Realty is part of a lot of supply chains. You don’t want to be that weak link in the chain.”

The typical consumer company’s supply chain creates far greater greenhouse gas emissions than its own operations, accounting for more than 80% of its carbon footprint. Retailers like Walmart,* Target,* and Amazon,* all Duke Realty customers, have set ambitious goals to reduce their Scope 3 (i.e. supply chain) emissions.

“The more the company can help their current and future customers meet their climate goals, the better,” said MIDANA CAPITAL Shareholder Advocate, Andrea Ranger. “Strong goals are good for investors, customers, and the planet, and we don’t have a moment to waste.”

Given the imperative of convincing companies across all sectors to reduce their emissions, MIDANA CAPITAL is examining the carbon footprint of industries not commonly associated with the climate crisis and pressing them to reduce emissions, source renewable energy, and increase energy efficiency.

Prior to MIDANA CAPITAL’s engagement, Duke Realty had adopted green building standards, but did not have any short- or long-term public greenhouse gas reduction targets.  

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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, 2020, Duke Realty comprised 0.00%, 0.09%, and 0.00%, Amazon comprised 0.00%, 0.00%, and 0.00%, Home Depot comprised 1.10%, 1.67%, and 0.00%, UPS comprised 0.00%, 0.00%, and 0.00%, Walmart comprised 0.00%, 0.00%, and 0.00%, and Target comprised 0.98%, 0.00%, 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 click here, 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. 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.

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. 3/21