Axalta Coating Systems - 1792 Exchange

Rating Overview

Axalta Coating Systems is Lower Risk.

Axalta Coating Systems is Lower Risk. The company does not yield to political activism in shaping corporate governance, preventing initiatives that potentially alienate consumers, divide employees, and harm shareholders. The company implements race and identity-based policies that replace merit, excellence, and integrity with preferential treatment and outcomes. Overall, the company does not embrace corporate initiatives that redirect its central focus from business goals to partisan policies and divisive issues. This approach protects free exercise, free speech, and free enterprise.

Rating Criteria

Corporate Weaponization Risk Levels
Criteria	Risk Level
Cancellations	Lower Risk
Discriminatory Philanthropy	Lower Risk
Employment Protection	High Risk

Corporate Weaponization ⓘ

Corporate Governance and Public Policy Risk Levels
Criteria	Risk Level
Advocacy Bias	High Risk
Funding	Lower Risk
Political Actions	No Data

Corporate Governance and Public Policy ⓘ

Rating Criteria Detail

Criteria Risk Level Rationale

Corporate Weaponization

Criteria:

Has canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors due to their political views or religious beliefs OR corporately boycotts, divests, or sanctions regions, people groups, or industries.

Risk Level:

Lower

Rationale:

Axalta’s Supplier Code of Conduct requires suppliers to create a workplace “free of discrimination”, however, it is unclear if this includes discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity (1). The company has not publicly canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs (2).

Criteria:

Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.

Risk Level:

Lower

Rationale:

Axalta does not discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or beliefs. Its charitable donations are mostly focused on its Bright Futures scholarship fund (1)(2).

Criteria:

Employment policies fail to protect against viewpoint or other discrimination and/or are ideological in nature.

Risk Level:

High

Rationale:

Axalta appears to prioritize diversity over merit in its hiring. From its careers page: “Board of Directors, employees, customers, candidates and others, we have developed a three-year diversity and inclusion strategy which focuses on things such as the establishment of an Inclusion Index (as measured by our engagement survey), expansion of Employee Resource Groups, targeted training efforts and enhanced Talent Acquisition processes” (1). The company does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (2).

Corporate Governance and Public Policy

Criteria:

Uses corporate reputation to support causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level:

High

Rationale:

Axalta is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2040 (1). The company supports DEI and ESG within its business practices. From its Diversity at Axalta page: “A diverse workforce is imperative to our ability to operate and grow” (2). From its Sustainability page: “From environmental and social performance to the sustainability benefits our products and services provide and our strong corporate governance practices, being an engaged business partner and a good neighbor are fundamental to our growth and success” (3).

Criteria:

Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level:

Lower

Rationale:

Axalta has not used corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies (1).

Criteria:

Uses corporate political actions and/or financial contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.

Risk Level:

N/A

Rationale:

Axalta does not operate a PAC or engage in lobbying at this time (1)(2)(3).