Active Stewardship

Swiss Life Asset Managers promotes sustainability and addresses ESG challenges directly with issuers by responsibly exercising voting rights at annual general meetings and through active engagement and any resulting escalation measures.

Engagement and active stewardship are integral parts of the Responsible Investment approach. By actively engaging with companies and relevant stakeholders, sustainability can be promoted while protecting clients’ financial interests.

Voting rights in the securities portfolios are systematically exercised. A key element of this is the analysis of all voting items related to environmental or social issues such as climate change, human rights or biodiversity. Swiss Life Asset Managers generally supports proposals that significantly improve corporate governance in accordance with recognised principles.

When exercising voting rights, Swiss Life Asset Managers uses analyses and services provided by the external voting rights consultant Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) and other sources. In 2024, Swiss Life Asset Managers voted on 9041 agenda items at 487 annual general meetings. Swiss Life Asset Managers voted against the respective Board of Directors in 12% of cases.

In the case of securities, engagement can, along with the exercise of voting rights, also influence the business model, business practices and transparency of investee companies on relevant sustainability topics. In 2024, engagement with the selected companies took place either through direct dialogue with the companies or through collaborative initiatives in tandem with other investors aimed at raising awareness of the sustainability challenges faced by these companies, taking preventive measures or promoting sustainable business practices. The engagement activities follow predefined goals and milestones. Should Swiss Life Asset Managers determine that a substantial number of its defined milestones are not being met, escalation measures will be considered. The results of these engagement activities can influence investment and voting decisions at investee companies’ general meetings. Swiss Life reports on its engagement and voting activities in its annual Active Stewardship Report for Securities.

For infrastructure investments, engagement may include full management, the exercise of direct governance rights through board representation or direct dialogue with key decision makers.

Real estate investments engage with stakeholders such as tenants, suppliers, service providers and municipalities involved in specific projects. Particular emphasis is placed on ongoing dialogue with tenants, as they use the buildings and thus directly control their operational footprint.