BlackRock was hit with a lawsuit by Tennessee on Monday alleging that the world’s largest asset supervisor violated the state’s client safety legislation over its promotion of ESG investing.
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, a Republican, accused BlackRock of creating conflicting statements on maximizing funding returns whereas giving “special consideration to environmental factors.”
“We allege that BlackRock‘s inconsistent statements about its investment strategies deprived consumers of the ability to make an informed choice,” Mr. Skrmetti said in a statement. “Ultimately, I want to make certain that corporations, no matter their size, treat Tennessee consumers fairly and honestly.”
It’s a first-of-its-kind civil swimsuit towards the corporate’s use of the controversial funding technique referred to as environmental, social and company governance — or ESG — that prioritizes local weather change and social justice politics deemed “woke capitalism” by conservatives.
BlackRock refuted Mr. Skrmetti‘s allegations and told The Washington Times it will “vigorously contest any accusations that BlackRock violated Tennessee’s client safety legal guidelines.”
“Contrary to the attorney general’s claims, BlackRock fully and accurately discloses our investment practices and our approach to proxy voting,” a BlackRock spokesperson mentioned.
They mentioned the corporate has invested roughly $40 billion in Tennessee on behalf of its shoppers.
BlackRock has repeatedly rejected assertions that it boycotts oil and pure gasoline corporations over its assist for ESG and company net-zero emissions targets, or that it places political agendas earlier than its fiduciary obligation.
The lawsuit intensifies the anti-ESG warfare from purple states towards BlackRock and different main funding companies and banks, together with Vanguard, State Street, Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase.
Tennessee’s 64-page lawsuit, filed in Williamson County close to Nashville, seeks a grand jury trial and that BlackRock pay authorized charges and civil penalties and restitution to customers of $1,000 per violation of the state’s client safety legislation.
The lawsuit alleges BlackRock‘s ESG investments violate their fiduciary duty to clients and constitute “deceptive acts and practices under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act.”
“BlackRock marketed many of its funds as devoid of ESG considerations and has admitted that ESG aims — in particular, radically reducing portfolio companies’ carbon output — ‘do not provide an indication of current or future performance nor do they represent the potential risk and reward profile of a fund,’” Mr. Skrmetti‘s lawsuit said. “Regardless, BlackRock committed to global organizations that it would pursue these aims across all assets under management. And it did. For years, however, BlackRock has misled consumers about the scope and effects of its widespread ESG activity.”
Tennessee is among the many states the place Republican state lawmakers have handed legal guidelines prohibiting ESG investments with state funds or partaking with pro-ESG asset managers and banks.
The ESG backlash has resulted in states divesting billions of {dollars} from BlackRock, whose belongings underneath administration stood at roughly $9.5 trillion as of earlier this 12 months.
