While some asset managers have been pulling back on their commitments to sustainability and net-zero initiatives, Allianz Global Investors (AllianzGI) has doubled down in 2025.
The asset manager said on Tuesday it has updated its voting policies for 2025 and will vote against company boards without a credible net-zero strategy.
AllianzGI said it “will increasingly hold directors accountable” by voting based on its “Net-Zero Alignment Share (NZAS)” methodology which judges companies’ progress on net-zero goals.
If a company is confirmed as a “high-impact entity and fails to demonstrate alignment with the NZAS methodology”, AllianzGI said it will vote against the relevant board directors.
Matt Christensen, global head of sustainable and impact investing at AllianzGI said: “AllianzGI is committed to driving positive change through proxy voting and responsible investment practices.”
“Our dedication to stewardship and forward-looking approach will ensure that we remain at the forefront of advocating for high governance standards and the protection of minority shareholder rights.”
“We remain committed to delivering pragmatic, real-world sustainability solutions and are excited to advance this in 2025 and beyond”.
However the company has been less ambitious with its goals in Asia when it comes to gender diversity and executive remuneration.
Although it has extended its gender diversity guidelines to have no more than 70% of any board to be one gender for small- and mid-cap stocks, this hasn’t been applied to Asia.
Similarly, the company is implementing a rule requiring ESG-related KPIs for small- and mid-cap companies in developed markets, with the exception of those listed in Asia.
