American Airlines Mismanaged Employees’ Retirement Funds by Investing in ESG, Court Rules

ESG investments tend to underperform traditional funds by approximately 10 percent, the judge observed.
American Airlines Mismanaged Employees’ Retirement Funds by Investing in ESG, Court Rules
An American Airlines passenger plane is parked at a gate at Philadelphia International Airport on Dec. 13, 2024. Photo by Daniel SLIM / AFP
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A district court has ruled that American Airlines failed to prioritize the financial interests of its employees’ retirement funds by enabling fund managers to pursue environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investments.

The judgment came as part of a 2023 lawsuit filed against American Airlines and the company’s Employee Benefits Committee. The class action alleges that the defendants violated their duty of loyalty under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, which states that fiduciaries managing retirement investments must act in the best financial interest of the participants.
Naveen Athrappully
Naveen Athrappully
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Naveen Athrappully is a news reporter covering business and world events at The Epoch Times.