ShareAction: Asset managers 'largely failing' on ESG voting

ShareAction report shows “scant” improvement

The asset management industry is still “largely failing” on using its voting power to drive positive social and environmental performance in listed investee companies, research by ShareAction has suggested.

Just 30 out of 146 ESG resolutions assessed by the campaign group received majority support this proxy season. Meanwhile, 18 additional resolutions would have passed the 50% mark had BlackRock, Vanguard and State Street voted in favour, ShareAction said in its latest Voting Matters report. There was some improvement across the board, however, but the NGO stated this was "scant". On average, 51 asset managers assessed in both 2020 and 2021 increased their proportion of votes in favour by just four percentage points, the study highlighted. ShareAction research manager Felix Nagraw...