On 15th December, UK NGO ShareAction released the results of its 2021 edition of ‘Voting Matters’, analysing how the world’s largest asset managers voted across 146 ESG resolutions this year.
BNP Paribas Asset Management (‘BNPP AM’) was the second most active manager using voting for action on environmental and social issues, voting in favour of 98% of ESG resolutions during 2021. BNPP AM was also one of four managers to file shareholder proposals, seeking climate lobbying reports for Exxon Mobil and Delta Airlines, both of which received a majority vote.
As long-term investors, stewardship – proxy voting, company engagement and policy advocacy – is at the heart of our strategy, encouraging companies and policymakers to improve their performance on a range of sustainability topics. We believe this helps us to manage risk in the near and long term, enhances our knowledge and understanding as investors, and creates positive externalities – all of which benefit our clients.
Michael Herskovich, Global Head of Stewardship at BNP Paribas Asset Management comments:
“We are proud to see BNP Paribas Asset Management amongst the leaders in this ShareAction report, endorsing our stewardship strategy. As a committed investor, our role is to encourage companies to face the challenges of the world of tomorrow. In line with our voting policy, one of the most stringent in the industry, our votes reflect our assessment of the progress made by each company. For those whose actions against global warming or social inequalities appear inadequate to us, we are intensifying our dialogue and expressing our position through voting on resolutions.”
Read the report: Voting Matters 2021: Are asset managers using their proxy votes for action on environmental and social issues?
