Murrill announces agreement with Vanguard over ESG policies

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Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has announced a first-of-its kind settlement with The Vanguard Group regarding its ESG policies.

In 2024, Louisiana and 13 other states filed a lawsuit against major investment firms Blackrock, State Street and Vanguard alleging the firms used their ownership interests in major coal producers to manipulate the price of coal and gain undue profits by decreasing coal production under the guise of environmental, “green” policies.

By intentionally decreasing the supply of coal in pursuit of “green” policy objectives, the suit alleges, these firms profited from the increased value of coal that resulted from the manufactured coal scarcity that they created.

Under the terms of the settlement, Vanguard has agreed to pay the participating states, including Louisiana, an amount of $29.5 million.

In addition, the company has agreed to cooperate with the states in their discovery efforts as the case remains ongoing against the remaining Blackrock and State Street. The company also has agreed to refrain from using its position to influence the business strategies of their portfolio companies.

"ESG and radical green energy scams have no place in Louisiana or this country,” Murrill said in a press release. “This good-faith settlement agreement with Vanguard sends an important signal to other investment firms that may attempt to use their influence to advance their own preferred environmental policies.

“Our focus will now shift to BlackRock and State Street.”

In addition to Louisiana, the attorneys general from Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, West Virginia and Wyoming are plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which was filed in Texas.

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas case number 6:24-cv-00437-JDK