2020

AB Responsible Investing Report

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Pursuing Responsibility

Our perspective as a responsible firm is a critical lens that informs how we integrate ESG in the investment process, engage with issuers and design our Portfolios with Purpose.

 
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13,900

issuer meetings

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1,566

ESG engagements

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916

engagements on one or more environmental issues

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845

engagements on one or more social issues

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771

engagements on one of more governance issues

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The Active Engagement Advantage

As active investors, engagement is vital to our process. Each year, AB analysts engage with leaders of companies and noncorporate entities, including municipalities, supranational and sovereign issuers. We also engage selectively though our proxy voting activities.

These connections allow us to assess, discuss and encourage better business practices and approaches to address rapidly evolving ESG issues. We believe firmly that engagement drives better research and better outcomes for clients, communities and the world.

More on Integration & Engagement
2021 Engagement Campaign Report
 

Portfolios with Purpose

We manage US$27 billion in Portfolios with Purpose today, one of the most rapidly growing segments of our business. We also manage US$501 billion in assets that use ESG integration and other enhancements.

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Impact

Seeking to make a measurable social or environmental impact

Muni Impact

A fixed-income strategy that invests in historically marginalized and low-socioeconomic-status communities throughout the US. Each investment has a specific intention of reducing a societal disparity (e.g., education, health, clean water) between groups.

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Sustainable

Seek issuers that meet present needs without compromising future well-being

Sustainable Thematic Platform

Includes equity, fixed-income and multi-asset portfolios that invest in companies whose products and services contribute to achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. These portfolios focus on three themes: climate, health and empowerment.

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Responsible+

Responsible+ solutions have a responsibility objective as well as a traditional risk/return objective

Responsible+

Include Global ESG Improvers focused on equities that are driving ESG improvement and positive change in the world, low-carbon versions of our flagship equity offerings, and ReUSE—a diversified large-cap core equity portfolio of investments improving on dimensions of corporate responsibility.

 

Climate Academy: Bridging Climate Science and Investing

AB and Columbia University’s Earth Institute are partnering to tackle the pressing issue of climate change. Through a first-of-its-kind climate change curriculum, the Corporate Affiliate Program of the Columbia Climate School and in-depth investment initiatives, we’re working to harness climate and investing science—improving outcomes for investors and the planet.

More on Climate Collaboration
 

Collaborate, Explore, Advance

Proprietary Research Collaboration Platforms

We’ve innovated platforms that power collaboration between our analysts within and across asset classes as we research and engage with issuers.

 

PRISM

Our fixed-income ESG research platform, Prism, provides independent ESG assessments and scores that impact investment decisions. The goal, of course, is straightforward: better and faster information should empower better decisions and result in stronger portfolios.

 

ESIGHT

ESIGHT is a one-stop online shop where all AB investment teams can access and share proprietary information about corporate ESG practices. In 2020, we launched several ESIGHT enhancements, including an ESG knowledge center, COVID-19 research and country ESG scores for fixed income.

 

Striving for Industry Leadership in Responsible Investing

We’re dedicated to helping the asset-management industry move responsible investing forward. Our commitment is evidenced by our active history and membership in regulatory and industry organizations and initiatives.

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Sustainable Trading
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History of Our Commitment

  • Became Member of Sustainable Trading
  • Joined The Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change
  • Joined the Forum of Investors—Japan
  • Joined the TCFD Consortium in Japan
  • Joined the Japanese Stewardship Initiative
  • Joined the Investors Against Slavery and Trafficking—APAC
  • Joined Ceres
  • Became Founding Member of the Corporate Affiliate Program at the Columbia Climate School
  • Became Member of Emerging Markets Investors Alliance
     
  • Joined the AIGCC and ACGA
  • Became Boston College Center for Corporate Responsibility Supporting Member
  • Became Eurosif Transparency Code Signatory
  • Became FAIRR Member
  • Became Investor Stewardship Group Principles Signatory
     
  • Joined Investor Group on Climate Change
  • Started climate change and investing initiative with the Earth Institute at Columbia University in New York
  • Became Associate Member of LuxFlag
     
  • Joined ICI Global ESG Task Force
  • Joined ICI Proxy Committee
  • Joined ICGN Board Governance Committee
  • Became TCFD Supporter
  • Became engagement colead for Climate Action 100+
     
  • Became committee member of Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong’s Public Shareholders Group
  • Published Engagement Policy
     
  • Became CII Corporate Governance Advisory Council Member
     
  • Joined Climate Bonds Initiative
  • Joined Catalytic Finance Initiative
  • Joined Climate Disclosure Project
     
  • Published formal response to Japan Stewardship Code
  • Chaired AN/Securities/IB Working Group PFA21
  • Joined International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN)
     
  • Released Statement on Controversial Weapons
  • Became Japan PFA213 signatory
  • Became PRI signatory
  • Published formal response to UK Stewardship Code1
  • Joined Council of Institutional Investors (CII)
     
 
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Principles for Responsible Investment

At AB, we’ve invested responsibly for many years. In 2011, we honed and formalized our approach by becoming one of the earliest asset management firms to sign the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), the largest global reporting project on responsible investment. The six principles were developed by investors, for investors. They’re voluntary and aspirational, offering possible actions for incorporating ESG issues into investment analysis, decisions and practices.

In implementing the PRI, signatories contribute to developing a more sustainable global financial system. We’re committed to implementing the six PRI as we continue advancing our responsible investing efforts. This commitment has been recognized: in 2020, for the fifth straight year, AB received an A+ PRI rating for our responsible investing strategy in 2020.

READ MORE ABOUT THE PRI
PRI TRANSPARENCY REPORT 2020
PRI ASSESSMENT REPORT 2020
 

Global Related Proxy and Governance Information

  • Proxy Voting and Governance Policy
    PDF
  • US Mutual Fund Voting Records
    SEARCH
  • Charter of the Proxy Voting and Governance Committee
    PDF
  • Full Voting Records
    SEARCH
  • AB Pre-Disclosed Vote Intention
    Learn More
 

Proxy Season Reports

 

AB Policies and Statements

Learn more about AB’s strategy and philosophy on investing with integrity.

  • Combined Global Stewardship Statement and Report 2021
    PDF
  • Global Stewardship Statement 2020
    PDF
  • Stewardship Report 2020
    PDF
  • Statement on Controversial Weapons
    PDF
  • Climate Change/TCFD Statement
    PDF
  • AB Corporate Governance Advancement Expectations in Japan
    PDF
  • Global Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement
    PDF
  • Fixed Income ESG Investing Governance Considerations
    PDF
  • SASB Disclosures
    PDF
  • Letters to Policy Makers
    VIEW ALL
 

Reports

  • Engagement Campaign Report 2021
    PDF
  • Engagement Campaign Report 2020
    PDF
  • Engagement Report 2019
    PDF
  • PRI Assessment Report 2018
    PDF
  • PRI Assessment Report 2019
    PDF
  • PRI Assessment Report 2020
    PDF
  • PRI Transparency Report 2018
    PDF
  • PRI Transparency Report 2019
    PDF
  • PRI Transparency Report 2020
    PDF
  • Responsible Investing Report 2019
    PDF
  • Responsible Investing Report 2020
    PDF
  • Shareholder Rights Directive II Disclosures
    VIEW ALL

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