- OVERVIEW
- INTEGRATION & ENGAGEMENT
- SOLUTIONS
- REPORTING & STATEMENTS
- DATA DISCLOSURES
The Critical Role of Responsibility
At AB, we’re invested in being a responsible firm—both in how we act and how we invest on behalf of our clients. We believe that research, engagement and integration of material ESG issues can help us better assess risks and identify opportunities, ultimately leading to enhanced decision-making and better client outcomes.
The industry expertise of our investment team is important to developing an understanding of material ESG issues. Moreover, AB’s Responsibility team complements the investment teams’ research and engagement efforts. The Responsibility team members have domain expertise in E, S and G issues, which can be used to challenge the investment teams’ thinking and equip our fundamental analysts with tools and training to consider material ESG issues, where applicable.
Responsibility Is Embedded Throughout the Firm
AB’s Responsibility team, comprising experts in corporate responsibility and environmental, social and governance issues, partners with our investment teams at the heart of our responsible investing practices. Their work is supported by internal and external resources, and overseen by our Responsibility Steering Committee and AB’s Board of Directors.
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Proxy Voting
To be effective stewards of our clients' investments and maximize shareholder value, we need to vote proxies on behalf of our clients responsibly. As a research-driven firm, we approach our proxy-voting responsibilities with the same commitment to rigorous research and engagement that we apply to all our investment activities.
Our Industry Involvement
Why Investment Teams Need to Lead the Way
At AB, our Responsibility team helps portfolio managers and analysts consider and engage on material ESG risks and opportunities holistically and consistently, challenging investment teams’ thinking and encouraging analysts to incorporate this perspective into their financial models and outlooks. This robust approach helps teams consider material ESG risks and opportunities throughout their investment processes—ultimately driving better client outcomes.
Related Insights
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Powerful forces are creating attractive opportunities in climate-focused companies for equity investors.
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Investors are warming to opportunities stemming from climate change, and other takeaways from COP28.
Our Approach to ESG Integration
From idea generation to ongoing stewardship, integrating ESG involves considering material ESG risks and opportunities throughout the investment process.
Process in Action
Data points as of December 31, 2023
The Active Engagement Advantage
As active investors, engagement is important 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 through our proxy-voting activities.
These connections allow us to assess, discuss and encourage better business practices and approaches to address rapidly evolving material ESG issues. We believe that engagement can drive better research and better outcomes for our clients.
How ESG Integration Can Improve Outcomes
ESG risks are often financial risks. With strong research, engagement and integration of material ESG issues, we can better assess risks and identify opportunities—the path to improved investment decision-making.
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Climate Academy
AB and the Columbia Climate School are partnering to address the risks and opportunities related to climate change. Together, we hope to research the most pressing climate issues, embed those insights throughout our investment process where applicable and educate others.
How Does Engagement Make a Difference?
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 affect investment decisions. The goal, of course, is straightforward: better and faster information can empower better decisions.
ESIGHT
ESIGHT is a one-stop online shop where AB investment teams can access and share proprietary information about corporate ESG practices. We’ve launched several ESIGHT enhancements, including an ESG knowledge center, COVID-19 research and country ESG scores for fixed income.
As of December 31, 2023.
Finding Responsible Solutions
Responsible investing is a personal journey. Clients may have different environmental and social priorities, and preferences for different investment approaches. To try to meet this need, we’ve developed our suite of Portfolios with Purpose—our ESG-focused strategies.
As of December 31, 2023.
Portfolios with Purpose
We manage US$29 billion in Portfolios with Purpose today, one of the most rapidly growing segments of our business. We also manage US$528 billion in assets that use ESG integration and other enhancements.
UN SDGs: A Road Map for Investors
In recent years, severe weather damage; the global pandemic; and political, economic, and social unrest have made ESG issues more tangible, fueling a global movement around taking responsibility for addressing these challenges.
Sustainable development involves finding solutions to these critical challenges. Directing capital to businesses providing solutions to these issues can provide investors with exposure to fast-growing industries that may help to preserve and, ultimately, increase their wealth.
The United Nations (UN) established the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a powerful framework of 17 goals to help countries address the challenges of economic prosperity, environmental sustainability and social inclusion. They represent an aspirational view of what the world can look like by 2030. We believe the UN SDGs can help investors connect the world’s crises with actionable investment themes, serving as a road map for translating sustainability issues into investible opportunities.
Based on this mind-set, we’ve developed a practical framework focused on four themes: climate, health, empowerment and strong institutions for sovereigns.
Sustainable Themes
- CLIMATE
- HEALTH
- EMPOWERMENT
- STRONG INSTITUTIONS
Climate
Efforts to stem climate change are gaining momentum around the world. Many consumers, businesses and policymakers are recognizing the need for change.
- Cleaner energy
- Resource efficiency
- Sanitation and recycling
- Sustainable transportation
![Single windmill with sunset in background](/content/dam/corporate/corporate-images/Image-RI-Climate.jpg)
Health
Healthcare spending is rising, and people are living longer, which raises complex issues for access to high-quality and affordable medicine and long-term care.
- Access to quality care
- Food security and clean water
- Medical innovation
- Well-being
![Two people holding hands sitting across from each other](/content/dam/corporate/corporate-images/Image-RI-Health-GettyImages-1321111818.jpg)
Empowerment
Many sectors of society are marginalized by economic and social forces. Physical and technological infrastructure is needed to enable sustainable economic development, employment growth, poverty eradication and social inclusion.
- Education and employment services
- Financial security and inclusion
- Information and communication
- Sustainable infrastructure
![Women with dark hair and skin driving a truck](/content/dam/corporate/corporate-images/Image-RI-Empowerment-GettyImages-1341970867.jpg)
Strong Institutions
Responsible sovereigns provide the foundation for the private sector to innovate and for effective and accountable public policymaking.
- Freedom and fundamental rights
- Anti-corruption and government
- Law and order
![Upwards view of decorative columns on a white building](/content/dam/corporate/corporate-images/Image-RI-Strong_Institutions-GettyImages-140192679.jpg)
Featured Reports
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2022 Responsibility Report
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2023 Stewardship Report
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2022 TCFD Report
Reports
- Reports, Policies and Statements
- PROXY VOTING
2024
2023
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2023 US Proxy Season Review
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Significant & Escalation Votes and Rationales
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2023 US Proxy Season Preview
As a registered investment advisor, AllianceBernstein L.P. ("AB", "we" or "us") has a fiduciary duty to act solely in the best interests of our clients. We recognize that this duty requires us to vote client securities in a timely manner and make voting decisions that are in the best interests of our clients. Consistent with these obligations, we will disclose our clients' voting records only to them and as required by mutual fund vote disclosure regulations. In addition, the proxy committees may, after careful consideration, choose to respond to surveys regarding past votes.
This statement is intended to comply with Rule 206(4)-6 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. It sets forth our policies and procedures for voting proxies for our discretionary investment advisory clients, including investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940. This statement applies to AB's investment groups investing on behalf of clients in both US and non-US securities.
Performance Tables
Shareholder Rights Directive II (SRD II) Disclosures
The SRD II aims to encourage long-term shareholder engagement and transparency between traded companies and investors. Asset managers and institutional investors can play a vital role in the responsible stewardship of assets.