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U.S. Republican states support Exxon in investor advocacy disagreement

Officials from 19 Republican U.S. states urged major cash managers on Thursday not to vote versus ExxonMobil's directors at a conference next week where some investors prepare to voice their opposition to a lawsuit introduced by the oil company versus climate activists.

The group, including Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis and Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming, said in a. letter to business consisting of BlackRock, Goldman Sachs. and JPMorgan that Exxon's board deserve our. thanks and support ... for looking for to check activist. investors.

Exxon's pursuit of the case against Arjuna Capital and. Follow This over a proposal the business push for more stringent. climate targets, even after the financier groups withdrew it, has. split opinion amongst shareholders and state authorities.

A group of Democratic officials asked some of the very same property. supervisors to vote versus the board earlier this week, saying the. match would undermine investor rights. Norway's $1.6 trillion. sovereign wealth fund stated on Friday it would vote versus the. reappointment of Exxon director Joseph Hooley.

Not all signatories to Thursday's letter have direct control. over voting at business where state pensions are invested, but. their taking a position marks a modification from a previous. investor fight at Exxon, in which Democratic state pension. funds sided with a climate-focused hedge fund.

They did not explicitly call for a vote in favour of the. board at the May 29 meeting.

These activists have actually been flooding corporate proxy. statements with politically inspired propositions very finely veiled as. business danger mitigation steps, the letter stated.

BlackRock did not respond to an ask for remark. Goldman. Sachs and JPMorgan decreased to comment. Exxon, Arjuna Capital. and Follow This did not immediately react to requests for. remark.

The Republican officials took specific problem with Arjuna. and Follow This asking Exxon to minimize greenhouse gas emissions. from its providers and end-users, known as Scope 3.

The only way that Exxon can get rid of Scope 3 emissions is. to close down its operations, cap its wells, shutter its windows,. and fire its employees, the letter stated.