Stewardship and Engagement

As an advanced responsible asset manager, AXA IM believe that a robust and measurable stewardship and engagement strategy will build a beneficial environment for our clients. Our responsible investment teams lobby for change with industry bodies and regulators, vote with conviction at company meetings, and maintain dialogue with companies to effect change - where future risk is foreseen, to drive progress to a sustainable future.

Stewardship in figures

681

total engagements, +14% increase vs 2022¹.

200

engagements at senior executive or board director level¹.

+69 %

of engagements linked to the UN SDGs, with high proportion on climate action goal. ¹

54,782

proposals voted. ¹

4,856

meetings. ¹

63 %

of escalations see vote escalation used as the main technique. ¹

Marco Morelli, AXA IM Executive Chairman

Supporting the development of robust and usable policies

2023 engagement themes

In 2023, we conducted 681 engagements with 503 entities, representing a 14% increase in engagements compared to 2022. The increase was observed both for engagement with objectives (298) and for sustainability dialogue (383, +60%).

Engagement and dialogue are often conducted in collaboration with various teams providing strategic and technical views of the company’s practices. Our integrated stewardship approach allows the information gained during engagement to be fed into investment-decision making.

Climate change

Engaging with companies on climate and their decarbonisation strategies remained a top priority of our 2023 engagement strategy, representing 37% of our total efforts in 2023.

Biodiversity collapse

Our 2023 engagement approach to biodiversity has been to focus our greatest efforts on companies implicated in the agrifood value chain as well as the chemical industry.

Responsible technology

In 2023, we engaged with companies exposed to responsible technology issues to examine how their ways of working compare to the good practices we have identified.

Social

We continue to engage with companies to ensure they act responsibly as employers, suppliers of goods and services, and as stakeholders in society.

Corporate governance

During 2023, we focused our discussion with companies around themes that shaped the season, including executive pay and the notion of social acceptability, sustainability governance, shareholder rights protection.

Hold steady: Sustainability in the face of polycrisis

In this podcast, experts discuss about shifting corporate priorities and why it is important that CEOs hold steady on their sustainability commitments.

AXA IM FOR PROGRESS MONITOR

The AXA IM for Progress Monitor is a selection of eight metrics with interim targets, chosen for their strategic importance and material contribution towards the firm’s goal of becoming net zero as a business and investor by 2050.

Learn more

Disclaimer

This document is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment research or financial analysis relating to transactions in financial instruments as per MIF Directive (2014/65/EU), nor does it constitute on the part of AXA Investment Managers or its affiliated companies an offer to buy or sell any investments, products or services, and should not be considered as solicitation or investment, legal or tax advice, a recommendation for an investment strategy or a personalized recommendation to buy or sell securities.

Due to its simplification, this document is partial and opinions, estimates and forecasts herein are subjective and subject to change without notice. There is no guarantee forecasts made will come to pass. Data, figures, declarations, analysis, predictions and other information in this document is provided based on our state of knowledge at the time of creation of this document. Whilst every care is taken, no representation or warranty (including liability towards third parties), express or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of the information contained herein. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the recipient. This material does not contain sufficient information to support an investment decision.

All investment involves risk , including the loss of capital. The value of investments and the income from them can fluctuate and investors may not get back the amount originally invested.