Shares in Glencore PLC (LSE:GLEN) are firmly in the red after dozens of the world’s biggest asset managers accused it of lying in past share prospectuses to cover up corrupt activities.
The stock, which is also trading ex-dividend today, is down 4.6% after the Financial Times reported an escalation in an action in London’s High Court that could have significant ramifications for the natural resources industry.
Nearly 200 funds - including some managed by Fidelity, Vanguard, Legal & General, HSBC, Abrdn and Invesco - are seeking damages from Glencore over allegations that the company and its senior leadership made misleading statements that covered up corrupt activities, the report said.
The claimants allege they “suffered loss” as a result of “untrue statements” and omissions in Glencore’s 2011 prospectus for its listing on the London Stock Exchange and the later, 2013 prospectus for its merger with Xstrata.
The long list of claimants includes sovereign wealth funds such as GIC, Norges Bank, Mubadala, Aabar Holdings, Kuwait Investment Authority, and Oman Investment Authority.
Dozens of pension funds have also joined, including Scottish Widows, Ontario Pension Board, and BP and Shell pension funds.
The 197 funds listed as claimants allege they suffered losses because of “untrue and misleading statements” that covered up corrupt practices within the company.