rezonanz Unveils Pioneering Global 'Voting for Sustainability' Ranking
On Tuesday, December 3rd, we hosted a webinar to delve into the methodology behind Voting for Sustainability and share more about our rezonanz offering. It was a pleasure to welcome a diverse audience of asset managers, pension funds, and responsible investment organizations.
To kick off the session, we posed two key questions to the audience:
-Should we disclose all asset managers' ranks in future iterations of Voting for Sustainability?
-Should we disclose all pension funds' ranks in future iterations?
The response was a resounding yes for both questions. While the consensus was clear, the reasoning behind it was varied—offering valuable insights into the priorities and expectations of our participants. A detailed breakdown of the results is provided below.
Zurich, November 27, 2024—rezonanz, a Zurich-based stewardship software startup, today announces the launch of its global "Voting for Sustainability" ranking. This groundbreaking ranking analyzes the proxy voting behavior of 140 major asset managers and pension funds worldwide, providing clear insights into their support for sustainability.
"Our ranking showcases the commitment to sustainability stewardship reflected in investors’ voting records," said Eleanor Willi, CEO and Co-Founder of rezonanz. "By focusing on tangible investor actions over policies, we’re setting a new standard to highlight investors driving corporate sustainability forward."
Revealing Investors' Commitment to Responsible Investing
The "Voting for Sustainability" ranking employs rigorous analysis adapted from political science. rezonanz evaluated votes on 428 key proposals from the 2024 proxy season, identified by nine leading responsible investment organizations, including Ethos and the Climate Action 100+ initiative.
“There is still too often a significant difference between the aspirations of asset owners and the way asset managers vote at general meetings, particularly when it comes to sustainability issues”, stresses Vincent Kaufmann, CEO of the Ethos Foundation. “A ranking of this kind is therefore all the more important because it enables asset owners to form an idea of how asset managers vote on their behalf.”
"By leveraging quantitative methods adapted from political science, we reveal investors’ true commitment to sustainability expressed through their voting choices," explained Dr. Siyana Gurova, Head of Research at rezonanz. "This approach goes beyond basic vote counts, offering deeper insights into how investors are using their voice to actively shape corporate practices."
Recognizing Leaders in Sustainable Stewardship
The ranking highlights the top five asset managers demonstrating exceptional commitment to sustainability through their proxy voting:
1. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise Asset Management
2. BNP Paribas Asset Management
3. Trillium Asset Management
4. Irish Life Investment Managers
5. Christian Brothers Investment Services
These leaders consistently voted for sustainability: from voting against board members at companies with lagging climate strategies to supporting key sustainability-relevant shareholder proposals, setting a benchmark for responsible investment practices.
Empowering Investors to Drive Change
rezonanz's ranking serves as a valuable tool for pension funds and asset managers aiming to enhance their sustainability alignment. By providing transparent, data-driven insights and benchmarking against peers, it encourages investors to identify opportunities for improvement. "We aim to equip the investment community with insights that can drive greater alignment and contribute to meaningful progress," said Willi.
Invitation to Discover More
Discover the full ranking and explore fresh insights into investors’ sustainability stewardship via app.rezonanz.io.
Join us on a webinar on December 3rd at 3pm CET where we'll delve deeper into our methodology & results, and share our unique software offering for investors.
About rezonanz
Founded in Zurich in early 2024, rezonanz develops innovative stewardship software and analytics that amplify responsible investors’ voices to enable better decisions. By introducing clearer benchmarking metrics to the often opaque world of investment stewardship, rezonanz breaks down informational barriers and delivers new insights for investors.
amplifying investors' voices to enable better decisions