CNS-Responsible-Investing 2024 - Flipbook - Page 25
We track all engagement activity using an internal
platform, ensuring objectives, outcomes, and
escalation paths are clearly documented and
monitored for e昀昀ectiveness.
Evolution and Progress
We formalized our engagement strategy in 2018,
building a foundation for structured, repeatable
practices across investment strategies. Since then, our
e昀昀orts have grown in depth and scope, incorporating
a broader set of responsible investing themes and
evolving in line with rising stakeholder expectations
and regulatory developments.
Over time, we have enhanced our internal tracking
systems, improved transparency around engagement
outcomes, and developed strategic partnerships with
issuers to foster mutual accountability. Companies
increasingly seek out our input on capital allocation,
governance best practices, and risk oversight,
re昀氀ecting our position as a trusted long-term partner.
As we continue to evolve, we remain focused on
strengthening the impact of our engagements and
aligning them more closely with our investment
objectives and client goals.
We leverage third-party proxy advisory research from
Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) to support
our internal analysis. While we consider external
insights and issuer context, all voting decisions are
made independently by Cohen & Steers in accordance
with our 昀椀duciary obligations and policy guidelines.
We do not automatically follow management
recommendations or third-party voting instructions.
Our goal is to ensure that every vote cast aligns with
long-term value creation for our clients.
“We engage with companies to assess
how they are managing material risks
and positioning for long-term success.
Our goal is to ensure that our investment
decisions are informed, forward-looking,
and aligned with sustainable value creation
for our clients. I have found that e昀昀ective
engagement is often a two-way dialogue—
often revealing valuable insights that
strengthen both our perspective and our
investment process.”
Proxy Voting
Cohen & Steers views proxy voting as a fundamental
responsibility that aligns closely with our general
昀椀duciary duties to our clients. Active voting is a key
component of our Engagement Policy and serves
as a mechanism to express our views and support
accountability at the issuer level. Our approach is
designed to ensure that all voting decisions are made
with a clear focus on generating long-term economic
value for shareholders. Each proposal is carefully
evaluated to determine whether it aligns with sound
governance principles and contributes positively to
shareholder outcomes.
JULIANA ANNIS
VP, INVESTMENT STEWARDSHIP
COHEN & STEERS | RESPONSIBLE INVESTING 25
