It's Time for Accountability at Smith & Wesson

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It's Time for Accountability at Smith & Wesson

BlackRock, Vanguard, and other major fund managers

Smith & Wesson (also known as American Outdoor Brands) is one of the country's largest gun manufacturers and is holding its annual shareholder meeting later this month. It's a critical opportunity to demand accountability and reign in the company's bad behavior.

The bad behavior is extensive. At the top of the list: the company failed to disclose to shareholders that they gave $1.5 million to gun lobby groups like the NRA, which has constantly blocked common-sense reforms. And the company is dragging its feet on improving the safety of its products, ignoring evidence that gun owners and the American public want greater safety.

On September 25th, shareholders will vote on a resolution demanding the company to report on what it's doing to improve safety and stop gun violence. And they’ll vote on whether a particularly problematic board member flagged by Glass Lewis—a firm that advises how shareholders on how to vote—should be ousted. Your voice can help make sure shareholders do both.

For these votes to successfully hold the company accountable, investment companies like BlackRock, the company’s largest shareholder, need to vote with us, and use their power to create desperately needed change at the company. They should side with safety-minded Americans who are willing to stand up against harmful decision-making at gun manufacturers and the NRA.

Please join us in calling on BlackRock and others to vote for greater gun safety and corporate transparency, continuing a trend of investors demanding more accountability and transparency from gun manufacturers.

Sponsored by

BE/ALL

To: BlackRock, Vanguard, and other major fund managers
From: [Your Name]

On September 25th, you have the opportunity to vote for a resolution that would be an important step towards greater accountability and transparency at one of the largest gun manufacturers, American Outdoor Brands Corporation (AOBC).

In 2016, AOBC gave $1.5 million to the National Rifle Association (NRA) and National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), and failed to disclose it even though a majority of AOBC shareholders have called on them to do so. The company is dragging its feet on improving the safety of its products, ignoring evidence that its customers want better safety measures. AOBC also failed to disclose a significant conflict of interest of one of its board members.

We are calling on you as a major fund manager to demand greater accountability from American Outdoor Brands by voting for the resolution brought by Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, U.S.-Ontario Province and withholding support for director Mitchell Saltz, who has been singled out by Glass Lewis, in part for failing to disclose a relevant conflict of interest at AOBC.