Program expansion will cover more than 80% of eligible* index equity assets, including all US institutional equity index funds
State Street Global Advisors, the asset management business of State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT), today announced it will offer more investors, including those owning its US ETFs and US mutual funds, the power to choose a voting policy that directs the proxy votes of shares owned in the index equity funds in which they are invested.
The current program will expand to provide investors in all US institutional index equity funds offered by the firm in the US a range of voting policies so they can choose to direct how shares owned by the funds are voted.
Additionally, by partnering with a leading financial technology provider, State Street Global Advisors will give investors in certain US equity index SPDR ETFs and US mutual funds managed by the firm, which primarily hold US securities, the ability to direct the voting of the shares owned by those funds by giving investors in those funds the power to choose a proxy voting policy that applies to the voting of shares held by the funds.
The firm’s goal is to include all eligible index equity US SPDR ETFs and US mutual funds managed by the firm in the proxy voting program by the end of 2024.
“As the pioneering force behind many of the world’s first ETFs, we are proud to present yet another innovation that amplifies our ongoing mission to democratize investing,” said Yie-Hsin Hung, CEO of State Street Global Advisors. “By empowering individuals with the choice to direct the vote of the shares they own through an ETF or mutual fund, we are placing a powerful tool directly in their hands.”
In December 2022, State Street Global Advisors announced its initial expansion of proxy voting choice to 49% of eligible index equity assets in separately managed accounts and certain institutional funds in the US and UK. With this new expansion, investors in 82% of eligible index equity assets managed by the firm will have the ability by the end of the year to make choices in how shares held in the funds and separately managed accounts they own are voted.
The voting policies investors may choose from to direct the voting of shares held by the funds in which they are invested will be made available through Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), a recognized independent proxy voting provider.
Additional details and information on the proxy voting policies that will be offered to investors as part of this program can be found on the State Street Global Advisors website.
Similar to separately managed accounts, shareholders of institutional funds that are eligible for the program can continue to delegate their votes to the State Street Global Advisors Asset Stewardship team by choosing not to opt in to the firm’s proxy voting program and have State Street Global Advisors continue to vote the shares held by the funds in which they are invested.
Please visit the firm’s website to learn more about our approach to asset stewardship.
About State Street Global Advisors
For four decades, State Street Global Advisors has served the world’s governments, institutions and financial advisors. With a rigorous, risk-aware approach built on research, analysis and market-tested experience, we build from a breadth of index and active strategies to create cost-effective solutions. And, as pioneers in index, ETF, and ESG investing, we are always inventing new ways to invest. As a result, we have become the world’s fourth-largest asset manager** with US $3.62 trillion† under our care.
- ”Eligible equity index assets” include all fund and client accounts managed by State Street Global Advisors that employ an equity index strategy and which have granted, or are able to grant, proxy voting authority to State Street Global Advisors.
** Pensions & Investments Research Center, as of 12/31/21.
†This figure is presented as of March 31, 2023 and includes approximately $65.03 billion USD of assets with respect to SPDR products for which State Street Global Advisors Funds Distributors, LLC (SSGA FD) acts solely as the marketing agent. SSGA FD and State Street Global Advisors are affiliated. Please note all AUM is unaudited
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