| Position | Company | Matter voted on | Vote direction recommended by Company | Vote direction taken | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GSK Plc | Approve Remuneration Report and Policy | For | Against | Our long standing concerns about high levels of vesting for achieving only threshold or median performance in the long term incentive scheme were not addressed by the new remuneration policy. In addition, we were concerned by the significant increase in bonus maximum from 200 percent to 300 percent of salary. |
| 2 | Glencore Plc | Approve Climate Progress Report | For | Against | We have had positive ongoing engagement with Glencore on its climate approach and note improved transparency on its targets and strategy. However, improvement is still needed to increase the robustness of climate linked renumeration and the clarity of targets for the depletion of the company’s thermal coal assets. We recognise that the company has undergone a transition period in relation to its Board, executive team and senior management and believe that it is now well positioned to oversee more robust measures. |
| 3 | Rio Tinto plc | Accept Financial Statements and Statutory Reports | For | Abstain | We are supportive of the work that the company has undertaken in both issuing the Broderick Report, facilitating engagement with its executive team & Chair, and the action plan put in place to address these areas in the report. However, in light of the severity and nature of the report’s findings, we believe that it would not be reflective of our clients’ interests to support the financial statements and statutory reports. On this basis we abstained on this resolution. |
| 4 | RELX Plc | Approve Remuneration Report | For | Against | The long term incentive scheme the company uses allows a high level of vesting for achieving only median performance. |
| 5 | Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc | Approve Remuneration Report and Policy | For | Against | We have had long standing concerns about the high quantum of the Long Term Incentive Policy (LTIP) and its overall structure. |
| 6 | Compass Group Plc | Approve Remuneration Policy | For | Against | We felt that a vote against the remuneration policy is warranted. The maximum opportunity under the LTIP will be increased from 300 percent to 400 percent of salary for the CEO, and from 250 percent to 350 percent of salary for the other Executive Directors. The company's rationale is not considered sufficiently compelling to justify the significant increases. |
| 7 | Ashtead Group plc | Approve Remuneration Report | For | Against | We voted against relevant remuneration related resolutions last year due to the introduction of a one-off additional LTIP award of 350 percent of salary. On this basis it was logical to vote against this resolution this year. We were also aware that despite receiving high levels of dissent on the resolutions last year the company made no material changes to its approach. |
| 8 | SSE Plc | Approve Remuneration Policy | For | Against | The company consulted with us earlier in the year on increasing the annual grant size of its long term incentive scheme from 200 percent of salary to 250 percent of salary. Our view was that this was not an appropriate time to make such an increase in the context of the cost of living crisis which was already developing. |
| 9 | NatWest Group Plc | Re-election of a Director | For | Against | We voted against as we have concerns regarding the number of board mandates held by this director. |
| 10 | InterContinental Hotels Group Plc | Approve Remuneration Report | For | Against | We voted against a number of remuneration related resolutions last year and the year before. It seemed logical that we should vote against this resolution this year as one incumbent executive still receives a pension contribution rate that is not aligned with the broader workforce. |
| Position | Company | Matter voted on | Vote direction recommended by Company | Vote direction taken | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apple Inc | Shareholder Proposal Regarding App Removals | Against | For | We voted in favour of this shareholder proposal as we supported greater transparency from the company regarding the removal of apps from the Apple Store |
| Shareholder Proposal Regarding Report on Effectiveness of Supply Chain Policies on Forced Labour | Against | For | We voted in favour of this shareholder proposal as we support improved human/political rights policies/disclosure. | ||
| Shareholder Proposal Regarding Median Gender and Racial Pay Equity Report | Against | For | Enhanced disclosure would allow shareholders a better understanding of how the issue of pay equity was being managed and overseen. | ||
| Shareholder Proposal Regarding Civil Rights Audit | Against | For | We voted in favour of this shareholder proposal as we support a third-party civil-rights audit of the company’s commitments to equality and fairness. | ||
| Shareholder Proposal Regarding Concealment Clauses | Against | For | We voted in favour of this shareholder proposal as better disclosure will help shareholders assess the risks involved in the company's use of concealment clauses. | ||
| 2 | TotalEnergies | Re-election of Director | For | Against | We voted against as we feel that there has been a failure to adopt a science-based Greenhouse Gas emissions reduction target. |
| 3 | Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc | Remuneration Report | For | Against | We voted against this item as the company has failed to incentivise mitigation of material Environmental & Social risks. |
| 4 | Essilorluxottica | 2021 Remuneration of CEO and Deputy CEO & 2022 Remuneration Policy (CEO & Deputy CEO) | For | Against | We voted against as we feel that compensation packages are excessive and there has been insufficient response to shareholder dissent. |
| 5 | UBS Group | Appointment of Auditor | Against | For | We have concerns regarding the length of auditor tenure, which could impede independence. |
| 6 | Grifols | Appointment of Auditor | For | Against | We have concerns regarding the length of auditor tenure, which could impede independence. |
| Remuneration Report | For | Against | We voted against this item as the company has failed to incentivise mitigation of material Environmental & Social risks. | ||
| Authority to Set Extraordinary General Meeting Notice Period at 15 days | For | Against | We voted against this item as we believe that a shortened notice period could disenfranchise shareholders | ||
| 7 | Microsoft Corporation | Advisory Vote to Ratify Named Executive Officers' Compensation | For | Against | We have concerns regarding the link between pay and performance. Time-based awards to any one individual are worth $5m or more in the preceding year. Performance-based awards have a performance period of less than three years. |
| Appointment of Auditor | For | Against | We have concerns regarding the length of auditor tenure, which could impede independence. | ||
| Report on Tax Transparency | Against | For | We voted in favour of this shareholder proposal as we support greater transparency on tax from the companies in which we invest. Tax transparency can illuminate material risks to profitability and reputation. Microsoft’s business lines and global operations leave it exposed to tax reform and the requested report would support the Company to adopt disclosures that keep it ahead of the regulatory curve. | ||
| 8 | International Flavours and Fragrances | Election of named Director | For | Against | We voted against as we felt that this director already serves on too many boards. |
| Appointment of Auditor | For | Against | We have concerns regarding the length of auditor tenure, which could impede independence. | ||
| Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation | For | Against | We voted against this item as the company has failed to incentivise mitigation of material Environmental & Social risks. | ||
| 9 | Goodman Group | Re-elect named Director of Goodman Limited | For | Against | We voted against this re-election as the director is already an executive director (CEO America) and thus not independent. We have engaged with the company about this since last year’s vote and whilst we recognise that this was legacy driven rather than intentional, we are of the view that at some point this needs to change. We think increasing the level of independence on the board is ultimately more beneficial to shareholders now than having additional executives on the board. |
| Approve Remuneration Report | For | Against | We abstained on the Remuneration Report last year on balance given the solid alignment of the remuneration framework but with reservations given the quantum of performance rights. We did raise this in subsequent engagement and whilst we have indeed seen improvement this year, the company appears to continue to adopt an economic value calculation to determine the quantum of rights. We are of the view that the total remuneration package remains excessive for a property business that is arguably less complex to operate and to risk manage when compared to other global businesses. | ||
| Approve Issuance of Performance Rights to named Directors | For | Against | We voted against as the quantum of rights granted is considered excessive given it is calculated based on an economic value being substantially below fair value. | ||
| Approve the Increase in Non-Executive Directors' Fee Pool | For | Against | The rationale for increase is sound and we do agree that an increase is needed however the 60% increase appears too much without a further breakdown of fees. | ||
| 10 | Vivendi | 2021 Remuneration Report | For | Against | We voted against this as we believe there had been a poor response to shareholder dissent. |
| 2021 Remuneration of Board members | For | Against | We felt that there was a poor overall design, increase was excessive and there had been poor response to shareholder dissent | ||
| 2021 Remuneration of Management Board Chair | For | Against | We did not agree that Non-executive participation should be linked to performance; in addition, there was a poor response to shareholder dissent. | ||
| 2022 Remuneration Policy (Supervisory Board) | For | Against | We did not agree that Non-executive participation should be linked to performance; in addition, there was a poor response to shareholder dissent. | ||
| Authorise Public Share Buyback Offer | For | Against | We voted against as we did not believe that this proposal was in shareholders’ best interests. |
A few more important things
There are a few other areas of active ownership that are considered and these help us to manage your investments.
Conflicts of interest based on ownership influence
That means keeping an eye out for things that we and other Fund Managers do that might stop us from making the most of this on your behalf.
Sweating the big stuff
Our Investment Adviser abrdn and other Fund Managers work with other investors on the big things that companies need to do to build towards positive change and a brighter future.
Lending out
A couple of our funds can lend out their investments, which also includes ownership rights. We make sure this is only in small amounts, for a short time.