A strong shareholder’s voice
We use our rights as shareholders to work directly with companies to encourage positive outcomes on a variety of issues—from environmental impact to fair labor standards. We take a constructive approach, encouraging practical solutions, while holding companies accountable for their progress on the issues that are important to our clients.
Our shareholder advocacy focuses on three key areas:
Direct Corporate Engagement
As long-term shareholders, we build collaborative relationships with corporate leaders in an effort to increase transparency and improve corporate practices on a range of topics important to our clients. Examples include:
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Policy Engagement
For some issues, we engage legislators and policymakers at both the state and federal levels to propose or support policies that facilitate the transition to a more sustainable economy.
Proxy Voting
In coordination with direct corporate engagement, proxy voting is an effective way to encourage positive change. It is also an important shareholder responsibility – one that we take seriously as we vote client proxies in line with our stated values and clients’ best interests.
Through the annual proxy statement, shareholders vote on important matters such as executive compensation, the election of directors, and proposals put forth by other shareholders on a wide range of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. We review each ballot item carefully and against our published Proxy Voting Guidelines. These guidelines, which are reviewed and updated annually, also state the broader expectations we have of companies on crucial topics such as diversity and inclusion, ESG disclosure and management, and good governance practices.