We view proxy voting as an integral part of our investment management responsibilities. Exercising all voting rights when possible is an important element of our approach as responsible investors and our fiduciary duty.
Our level of engagement through voting has increased significantly in recent years. The contribution of external research has been very valuable, with the process providing new insights into the governance strength of organisations and helping each fund manager be thoughtful about how we apply our voting policy to our votes.
The application of a new climate policy adopted in early 2022 will lead us to vote more often against ballots if the board is not sufficiently accountable for climate policies, or when the company’s climate strategy and disclosure are not ambitious enough.
We consider well-structured and high-quality corporate governance as a driver of sustainable performance for investors and stakeholders alike, and we believe active stock ownership through voting is a vital part of a well functioning governance structure.