Wesley Davis

Plan sponsors and financial services firms that act as fiduciaries to ERISA plans and “plan asset” funds should take note of a new rule proposal that the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced today. The proposed rule, “Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights,” would address ERISA fiduciaries’ duties with regard to considering climate change and other environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors when selecting investments and exercising shareholder rights.

This rule, if adopted, would have significant implications for financial services firms that act as ERISA fiduciaries. The comment period will run for 60 days after the rule’s publication in the Federal Register. We will be preparing a detailed analysis in the coming days.

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