There is mounting pressure on trustees of pension and mutual funds to take a more active interest in the companies in which they invest. In some jurisdictions this requirement to behave more like an owner of companies is driven by regulation, in others by the demands of the beneficiaries of the scheme or society as a whole. What is certain, however, is that having an explicit and active stance on corporate governance is increasingly considered to be an integral part of a trustee's fiduciary duty. In addition, trustees' promotion of engagement on the quality of corporate management and governance can enhance the long-term performance of their equity investments.
Yet few fund managers, pension funds and mutual funds are in a position to develop the resource necessary to undertake the activities of responsible share-ownership. Pooling resource through EOS allows like-minded long-term investors to undertake active share-ownership activities in an efficient and cost-effective way. EOS can deliver full voting coverage and high-quality engagements both with companies and with governments and regulators on policy matters, adding value and helping clients meet their obligations to beneficiaries.
EOS is an unrivalled offering which achieves far more than the handful of voting execution and recommendation services currently available to pension funds. Our processes and people take company engagement well beyond the normal parameters of investor relations and the socially responsible investment that often define the boundaries of 'engagement'.
