Voting Services

Proxy voting management allows investors to exercise their right to vote, which comes with the stock in their portfolios, in an informed and effective manner, while saving time and money. These are the possible options:

Voting verification option

When voting rights are delegated to a firm other than GIR, or when investments are made in pooled investment funds, verification allows the client to ensure that the work done by the portfolio manager was consistent with their voting rights policy or to evaluate the differences between the policy and its application.

Caucus policy voting option

Voting rights are exercised in accordance with GIR’s caucus policy. This policy is based on the most progressive voting rights policies in the industry; it is reviewed annually in order to incorporate the latest trends in corporate social responsibility. Several of our clients choose this option so as to have a common policy with other institutional investors, and thus benefit from a rate discount. The GIR holds an annual meeting with its caucus option clients to update the common policy and to provide a forum for active and constructive discussion on upcoming shareholder issues.

Custom voting option

Voting rights are exercised in accordance with the client’s policy, which may be developed with assistance from GIR. GIR has a great deal of experience in developing voting rights policies. Given its expertise in corporate governance and social and environmental performance in public companies, GIR is able to guide investors in identifying the most important issues for them and their organization, and provides an essential support so that the policy takes all relevant shareholder proposals into account. The process usually involves a small number of meetings with GIR staff and the investors.

Voting activity conciliation option

Conciliation may be added to either of the last two services mentioned above. It allows the client to verify whether the exercised voting rights correspond to those attached to the securities held in the portfolio at the record date.

GIR voting services may also include the following elements:

an analysis of the proposals on social and environmental issues submitted to shareholders, and a vote recommendation five days before the assembly
a five-day review period where the client may refuse the recommendation
annual and trimester reports on the proxy voting results and the reasoning behind each decision.

Note that all voting reports are in accordance with the requirements found in the National Instrument 81-106 and include the following information: company name, symbol, assembly date, assembly type, record date, proposal summary, company recommendation, vote, vote status (recorded) and vote justification.

Furthermore, the reports contain additional information when it is available, such as the vote result at the assembly.

All of these products are available in French or English, by email or, the preferred method, on our website through a personalized interface, accessible to GIR clients only.

To Contact Us:

Come visit our office situated on the third floor of the 255 St-Jacques street in Montreal.
Give us a call at 514-448-5400.
Drop us an email at: info@investissementresponsable.com.