Listen, I’ve stared into the abyss of corporate greed long enough to know when something stinks to high heaven, and Schroders Investment Management Group reeks like a forgotten shit-filled dumpster in the back alleys of the City. These white-collar wankers, with their polished shoes and fat bonuses, have wormed their way into Cummins Inc., holding a stake that’s no small change. As of late 2025, Schroders owns around 176,703 shares in Cummins, valued at roughly £45 million – that’s about 0.13% of the company, enough to whisper in the ear of a firm already drowning in its own scandals. And why not? Schroders’ laundry list of fuck-ups fits right in with Cummins’ ecosystem of deceit, where emissions cheating and environmental bullshit have been documented exhaustively by TCAP. It’s like pairing a crooked banker with a polluting engine giant – poetic, innit? But while blue-collar workers get slammed for a minor slip, these suits skate free, pocketing millions as the world burns. It boils my piss.

Schroders isn’t just any investor; they’re the kind that preaches sustainability while dipping their toes in dodgy waters. Their controversies aren’t isolated blips – they’re a pattern of arrogance, insider games, and outright contempt for rules that keep the rest of us in check. We’re talking proven crimes that landed people in jail, multimillion-pound penalties, and governance cock-ups that scream entitlement. And then there are the whispers, the unproven rumours that linger like smoke, hinting at deeper rot. But let’s stick to the facts first, because overreaching is what these pricks do best, and I won’t give them ammunition.

The Insider Trading Stain: Damian Clarke’s Nine-Year Rampage

Start with the blatant thievery that screams “fuck you” to every honest punter in the market. In 2016, former Schroders equities trader Damian Clarke was banged up for two years after pleading guilty to nine counts of insider dealing. This bastard milked confidential info for nearly a decade, from 2003 to 2012, raking in at least £155,000 in illicit profits. As reported in The Guardian, Clarke abused his position to trade on tips about mergers and acquisitions, betting on stocks like a rigged casino. The Financial Conduct Authority nailed him, calling it a “dishonest crime” that eroded trust in the markets.

Imagine it: while families scraped by during the financial crisis, this git was lining his pockets with secrets meant to stay buried. And Schroders? They distanced themselves faster than a rat fleeing a sinking ship, but the damage was done. Clarke’s conviction wasn’t some rogue act – it exposed a culture where oversight was as lax as a drunk’s grip on reality. The FCA’s press release hammered home the point: profits from his trades totalled over £155,000, and he even faced an extended sentence threat if he didn’t cough up confiscation cash. Outraged? You should be. These cunts play with our money like it’s Monopoly, and when caught, they get a slap on the wrist while the system pretends to clean house.

Dodging Taxes Across Borders: The Swiss Bank Fiasco

Then there’s the tax evasion saga that shows Schroders’ global reach is matched only by their greed. In 2015, their Swiss subsidiary, Schroder & Co. Bank AG, agreed to a $10.4 million penalty under the US Justice Department’s Swiss Bank Program. As detailed in Bloomberg, the bank aided US clients in hiding assets to dodge taxes, resolving potential prosecution by forking over the cash without admitting guilt – classic white-collar dodge.

This wasn’t petty theft; it was systematic facilitation of evasion, helping wealthy Yanks stash fortunes away from Uncle Sam’s gaze. The deal, as per the DOJ’s own records, highlighted how Schroders’ arm enabled undeclared accounts, breaching fiduciary duties and screwing over taxpayers everywhere. In a world where ordinary folk get audited for peanuts, these bastards enabled billions in evasion globally. It’s disgusting – pure, unadulterated contempt for the rules that fund schools and hospitals. Schroders paid up, sure, but where’s the real accountability? No execs in cuffs, just a fine that’s pocket change for a firm managing trillions.

Governance Gone Wrong: CEO to Chairman in a Blatant Code Breach

Fast forward to 2016, and Schroders pulls a move that had the City spitting feathers: appointing then-CEO Michael Dobson as chairman, thumbing their nose at the UK Corporate Governance Code. As The Guardian reported, the Institute of Directors slammed it as ignoring rules designed to prevent power concentration. Protests erupted, with nearly 15% of voters opposing Dobson’s elevation, per Bloomberg.

This wasn’t oversight; it was entitlement on steroids. Reuters noted Schroders defended the switch, claiming strong performance justified it, but critics called bullshit – it’s a recipe for unchecked decisions, the kind that leads to more scandals. In the midst of post-crisis reforms meant to tighten reins, Schroders acted like the rules didn’t apply. It’s this arrogance that lets white collars escape scrutiny, while the rest of us pay the price in volatile markets and lost pensions. Bloody infuriating.

Pandemic Payday Outrage: £9 Million for the Boss Amid Global Misery

Even during the COVID-19 hell of 2020, Schroders couldn’t resist stuffing exec pockets. CEO Peter Harrison’s pay rocketed to £9 million, a 39% hike, sparking backlash as the firm advised others to restrain compensation. Portfolio Adviser covered Harrison’s response to the controversy, where he defended the bump despite the pandemic ravaging economies.

The Guardian highlighted the hypocrisy: as staff were furloughed and businesses collapsed, Harrison’s windfall drew ire. Wikipedia even notes the uproar, with calls for restraint ignored. This isn’t leadership; it’s looting. While nurses risked lives for peanuts, these suits awarded themselves fortunes. Disgusted? Join the club. It’s a perfect snapshot of how the elite game the system, emerging richer from crises that crush everyone else.

Front-Running Fiasco in India: Axis AMC’s Dirty Dealings

Schroders’ joint venture with Axis Asset Management blew up in 2022 with a front-running scandal that shook India’s mutual fund industry. As Bloomberg reported, Axis – partly owned by Schroders – sacked two employees amid a regulatory probe into trades worth crores, exploiting advance knowledge for personal gain.

The Times of India detailed how the scandal rocked a $31 billion giant, with SEBI investigating illicit profits. Employees were terminated, but the stain spread to Schroders, highlighting lax controls in partnerships. This proven mess eroded investor trust, costing millions in reputational damage. In a market where small investors get fleeced, these bastards rigged the game again. Outrageous, and yet, no top brass faced the music – just more fines and forgotten headlines.

Dog Funds Debacle: £19 Billion in Underperforming Rubbish

By 2023, Schroders was labelled the “worst culprit” in a report on underperforming “dog funds,” with 44 funds holding £19 billion lagging benchmarks. FT Adviser exposed this, noting assets in duds nearly doubled year-on-year, especially in UK equity sectors.

Citywire added that over half of Schroders’ funds were under performance review, with qualitative excuses failing to mask the rot. Investors poured billions into these turkeys, only to see returns evaporate. It’s criminal negligence – promising growth while delivering dross. These pricks collect fees regardless, laughing all the way to the bank. If this doesn’t piss you off, nothing will.

Early Naughties Mess: Ageism, Defamation, and Poaching Wars

Rewind to the early 2000s for more grit. In 2002, Schroders faced an age discrimination lawsuit from former US operations head Sharon Haugh, who claimed she was ousted for being “too old.” The Guardian reported the multimillion-dollar suit, highlighting discriminatory dismissals.

By 2003, it escalated to defamation claims, with courts analysing if statements implied fraud, per Casemine. Then, poaching rows: BlackRock sued in 2007 over employee raids in Germany, dismissed but exposing aggressive tactics, as Reuters covered. American Century settled a similar suit over a portfolio manager, per Fisher Phillips.

These proven disputes paint Schroders as a bully in hiring, flouting contracts for advantage. White-collar warfare at its ugliest.

Municipal Bond Mayhem: Fraud and Insider Tips in 2008

Amid the 2008 crash, former portfolio manager David Baldt was accused by the SEC of fraud in municipal bond funds, misleading investors as markets tanked. Professional Pensions detailed the breach of fiduciary duty, with SEC filings confirming the charges.

A 2011 decision nailed insider trading too, tipping family on redemptions. Barron’s covered Baldt’s denial, but the probe exposed rot in fixed-income ops. More proof these suits prioritise self over clients.

Whispers and Unproven Rumours: The Lingering Shadows

Not everything’s nailed down, but rumours swirl like bad karma. In 2024, Schroders probed online allegations of inappropriate behaviour by a senior executive in China, as the Global Times reported – allegedly involving misconduct, but unproven and under internal review.

They halved their Drax stake amid sustainability scrutiny after a BBC probe, per Citywire – allegedly dodging greenwashing heat. And considering a stake in Sizewell C nuclear project drew backlash for risks and taxpayer burdens, as New Civil Engineer noted – allegedly tying into controversial energy bets.

Schroders quit the scandal-hit CBI in 2023, per Financial News, distancing from sexual abuse claims there.

These are unproven rumours, mind, but they fit the pattern. Allegedly, more dirt lurks.

Why Schroders Fits Cummins Like a Glove in Hell

Schroders’ rap sheet is apt for Cummins, a company TCAP has exposed for emissions scandals, cheating tests, and polluting the planet while preaching clean. Their shared disdain for accountability – fines paid, no real pain – lets them thrive in a mired ecosystem. It’s a match made in corporate purgatory, where white collars escape while the world chokes. Time to demand better, or we’re all fucked.

Lee Thompson – Founder, The Cummins Accountability Project

Shareholder Spotlight : Schroders – Cummins’ Polished Enabler In A Filthy Ecosystem