Creating impact

Our Approach to Stewardship

We are committed to promoting and exercising effective stewardship among the companies represented in the portfolios we manage on behalf of our clients. We evaluate companies’ corporate strategies, investment and financing activities, management incentives, resource use, regulatory policies, and environmental impact, as well as overall effect on and engagement with consumers, workers, and the communities in which they operate to assess and promote long-term value creation.
At a Glance
12.1+
ThousandMeetings Voted in 2023
118+
ThousandProposals Voted in 2023
70
MarketsProxy Voted in 2023
2000+
EngagementsConducted by All Public Markets Investing Business
380+
EngagementsFocused on Thematic Topics
60
MarketsRepresented Through Engagement

Source: Goldman Sachs Asset Management as of December 31, 2023

Our Stewardship Framework

The Goldman Sachs Asset Management Global Stewardship Team helps drive the continued enhancement of our approach to stewardship in collaboration with our equity and fixed income investment teams.

Engagement

Engagement is a key component of our approach to stewardship. It provides us with a forum to share our views and provide feedback to company management and/or directors on the material issues that we believe can drive long-term value creation. Engagement can also inform our proxy voting activities as well as provide insights to support the investment research process.

Proxy Voting

Exercising our client’s shareholder rights via proxy voting is an important element of the portfolio management service we provide to our advisory clients who have authorized us to address these matters on their behalf. As a fiduciary, our guiding principle in performing proxy voting is to seek to make decisions in the best interest of our clients by favoring proposals that in our view maximize a company’s shareholder value.

Industry Leadership

Leveraging resources and knowledge across Goldman Sachs and through external memberships help make the Global Stewardship Team a thought leader for our clients. The team represents Goldman Sachs Asset Management at various conferences and industry forums and supports strategic industry initiatives.

Our Approach to Stewardship
We regularly engage with company management teams, often with a focus on proactive, outcomes-based engagement, in an attempt to promote best practices
Our Approach to Proxy Voting
Our global proxy voting policy is updated annually to incorporate current beliefs on key governance and ESG topics. We disclose our votes publicly to comply with various regulations and global steward
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Climate Transition and Inclusive Growth
Our approach to sustainability is focused on two secular trends that we believe are transforming the global economy: the climate transition and fostering inclusive growth.
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Policies and Governance
We have policies, procedures, industry standards, and governance structures in place to ensure we act in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations.
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Reports
Reporting on our activity is key to our approach to sustainability and helps explain how we drive progress through our investments on behalf of our clients.