ACCR Company Engagement AGL Energy Ltd

AGL Energy is an electricity, gas and essential service retailer operating Australia’s largest electricity generation portfolio.

AGL Energy (AGL) operates Australia’s largest electricity generation portfolio, comprising approximately 20% of the total generation capacity in the Australian electricity market. It is a major participant in the gas and electricity wholesale markets, and consequently, remains Australia's largest producer of greenhouse gas emissions. AGL’s operational emissions in FY21 were 40.8 million tonnes CO2-e, or approximately 8% of Australia's total emissions.


ACCR has engaged with AGL Energy for many years on its management of climate risk, decarbonisation strategy and governance of industry associations. In 2021, ACCR filed a shareholder resolution with AGL for the Board to disclose short-, medium-, and long-term decarbonisation targets for Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions that align with the Paris Agreement. Additionally, ACCR requested that AGL demonstrate that the proposed demerged companies’ capital expenditure aligns with the targets, and demonstrate how the proposed demerged companies' remuneration policies will incentivise progress against the targets. This resolution was supported by 52.56% of shareholders.


In March 2021, AGL announced that it would demerge into two entities: Accel Energy and AGL Australia. On 30 May 2022 the demerger was abandoned by the board due to the probability it would not be supported by shareholders.


At the 2022 Annual General Meeting, four directors nominated by Grok Ventures (Christine Holman, Kerry Schott, Mark Twidell and John Pollaers) received majority support and joined the company board. AGL also received a ‘first strike’ on remuneration.

Updates

  1. Insights

    Investor Bulletin: AGL one year on - reflections and opportunities

    A late-starter to the energy transition, AGL needs to fire up its tenacity if it wants to deliver and enhance its strategy, ward off the competition nipping at its heels and ensure it doesn’t return to being viewed as a company existing primarily to sweat its coal assets.

  2. Media release

    AGL shareholders make history by renewing board with climate competence and ambition

    ACCR is commenting on the results of the AGL Energy (ASX: AGL) 2022 Annual General Meeting, where the four directors nominated by Grok Ventures received majority support and will join the company board.

  3. Media release

    Proxy advisers reinforce AGL chair concerns

    ACCR is commenting on the published details of the Glass Lewis and ISS proxy advice regarding AGL Energy (ASX: AGL).

  4. Research

    AGL Energy Ltd: Assessment and summary of 2022 AGM voting intentions

    ACCR is confident that with a suitably qualified CEO and refreshed board, AGL Energy Ltd (ASX:AGL) will produce a significantly enhanced CTAP in the next 12 months.

  5. Media release

    AGL climate plan falls short of Paris, McKenzie not the Chair to deliver

    ACCR will vote against AGL Energy’s (ASX: AGL) climate plan at the company's upcoming AGM, on November 15, 2022. ACCR will also be voting against the re-election of AGL Chair, Ms Patricia McKenzie.

  6. Media release

    AGL finally reads the room, brings forward Loy Yang closure by 10 years

    ACCR is commenting on AGL Energy’s (ASX: AGL) announced Strategic Review and Climate Transition Action Plan (CTAP) including the closure of the Loy Yang A power station.

  7. Media release

    AGL: Botton, Smith-Gander and Hunt exit brings scope for fresh strategy

    ACCR is commenting on AGL Energy’s (ASX: AGL) announcement that Peter Botten and Diane Smith-Gander are exiting the AGL board immediately.

  8. Media release

    It’s showtime: HESTA not giving up on 1.5°C, holding fossil fuels to account

    HESTA will be holding AGL Energy, Origin Energy, Woodside Energy and Santos to account over the gaps between their strategies and a 1.5C pathway.

  9. Media release

    Questions must be asked about delayed AGL board renewal and CEO appointment

    ACCR is commenting on AGL’s annual results (ASX:AGL) which were at the low end of previous guidance for the year ended 30 June 2022.

  10. Media release

    AGL Energy bloodbath was years in the making

    ACCR is commenting on AGL Energy’s (ASX:AGL) withdrawal of its demerger proposal, and the departure of four directors from the board.

  11. Research

    AGL Energy Demerger

    What should a climate aware investor consider?

  12. Media release

    AGL ignores majority of shareholders, fails to set Paris-aligned targets

    ACCR is commenting on the demerger scheme booklet published by AGL Energy (ASX:AGL).

  13. Media release

    AGL Energy board gambling with other people’s money

    ACCR is commenting on the decision by the AGL Energy (ASX:AGL) board to reject a second bid from the Brookfield consortium of $8.25.

  14. Media release

    AGL Energy directors lack skin in the game

    ACCR is challenging AGL Energy (ASX:AGL) directors’ claims that the takeover bid by the Brookfield consortium does not represent fair value for shareholders.

  15. Media release

    AGL takeover bid unlikely to be the last

    ACCR is commenting on the board of AGL Energy’s (ASX:AGL) decision to reject an unsolicited, non-binding takeover bid from a consortium of investors led by Brookfield Asset Management.

  16. Media release

    AGL ignoring shareholders, still failing on climate

    ACCR is commenting on AGL Energy’s changes to the closure dates of its coal-fired power stations, announced today.

  17. Media release

    Majority of AGL shareholders demand alignment with the Paris Agreement

    Comment on the results of AGL Energy’s (ASX:AGL) annual general meeting, at which ACCR’s shareholder resolution calling for Paris-aligned targets was supported by 52.56% of shareholders.

  18. Briefing note

    Investor briefing: Shareholder Resolution to AGL Energy Ltd on Paris-aligned goals and targets.

    Supporting brief to our Shareholder Resolution to AGL Energy Ltd on Paris-aligned goals and targets.

  19. Research

    Investor briefing: Shareholder Resolution to AGL Energy Ltd on Paris-aligned goals and targets.

    Supporting investor brief to our Shareholder Resolution to AGL Energy Ltd (ASX:AGL) on Paris-aligned goals and targets.

  20. Media release

    AGL says it won’t adhere to Paris Agreement

    Unfortunately for AGL shareholders, the market will take care of replacing that capacity, which will make AGL’s coal-fired power stations unprofitable and destroy even more shareholder value.

  21. Media release

    Tomago going green is the nail in the coffin for AGL’s Bayswater

    Tomago aluminium smelter will switch to predominantly renewable energy by 2029. It is the final nail in the coffin for AGL's Bayswater coal-fired power station.

  22. Media release

    AGL’s Say on Climate commitment welcome, Paris-aligned targets still needed

    Despite saying that AGL couldn’t commit to Paris-aligned targets for the proposed demerged companies, as that would be a matter for the new boards, it has now made this commitment to ‘Say on Climate’.

  23. Media release

    AGL must set Paris-aligned targets for demerged companies

    Recent meetings with members of the Board suggest AGL is not prepared to set Paris-aligned targets, despite that now being a clear expectation of emissions intensive companies.

  24. Shareholder Resolution

    ACCR Shareholder Resolution to AGL Energy Ltd on Paris Goals and Targets

    ACCR has filed a Shareholder Resolution to AGL (ASX: AGL) on the disclosure of the proposed demerged companies’ Paris goals and targets.

  25. Media release

    AGL demerger plans underwhelm, ignore climate concerns

    Investors continue to be frustrated by AGL’s continued denial of the need to bring forward the closure dates of its Bayswater and Loy Yang A coal-fired power stations.

  26. Media release

    Fresh thinking needed at AGL

    “Spending years attempting a demerger will not absolve AGL of its responsibilities to its investors and the communities in which it operates.”

  27. Media release

    AGL abandons responsibility on coal closure

    Following a halving in AGL’s share price over the last year, CEO Brett Redman is attempting to sell the demerger as a win for shareholders

  28. Media release

    AGL must lead the energy transition

    AGL is Australia’s largest emitter, responsible for approximately 8% of annual emissions. Its actions will have a real impact on Australia’s emissions trajectory.

  29. Media release

    AGL and Origin writedowns: stranded assets in real time

    “This is a problem largely of the companies’ own making, having acquired the coal-fired power stations from state governments in the last decade, knowing full well the risks embedded in emissions intensive assets”.

  30. Media release

    AGL AGM: Blackrock support demonstrates Australian investors lag foreign peers

    “Blackrock’s support for this resolution embarrasses Australian super funds and asset managers who voted against the resolution.”

  31. Shareholder Resolution

    ACCR Shareholder Resolution to AGL Energy Ltd on closure dates of Bayswater and Loy Yang A coal-fired power stations

    ACCR Shareholder Resolution and supporting statements to AGL Energy Ltd (ASX:AGL), requesting the company bring forward the closure dates of its Bayswater and Loy Yang A coal-fired power stations.