Engagement
As an internationally active shareholder, Union Investment attended a total of 2,462 annual general meetings in 28 countries last year. With our voting dashboard, you can see in an instant how we voted.
Our guiding ideas
We pursue an engagement strategy that builds on active shareholder action and shareholder dialogue to influence corporate policy. Our goal is to achieve a sustainable increase in the value of the assets entrusted to us.
UnionEngagement in figures

Responsible investing has always been at the core of the Union Investment Group's business model. We are convinced that our stance on social, environmental and corporate governance issues can make our investors more aware of overarching social objectives.
With this in mind, we follow a number of guidelines in our activities:
Principles for Responsible Investments

In August 2010, we signed the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). These principles were developed by a group of international institutional investors under the leadership of the UNEP Finance Initiative and the UN Global Compact.
- We will integrate ESG issues into the analysis and decision-making processes in the investment area.
- We will incorporate ESG issues into our shareholder policies and practices.
- We will require appropriate disclosure on ESG issues from the companies and entities in which we invest.
- We will drive the acceptance and implementation of these principles in the investment industry.
- We will work together to increase our effectiveness in implementing these principles.
- We will report on our activities and our progress in applying the Principles.
Guideline for responsible investing

For us, sustainability is part of the cooperative's self-image. We have adopted a clear sustainability strategy that sets the framework for our responsible actions. These guidelines are an expression of our approach to responsible investing.
UnionVote
Union Investment sees itself as a responsible, active shareholder. The focus is always on the interests of investors. Our voting behaviour is based on Union Investment's current proxy voting policy.
In order to fully meet our standards as a responsible investor, we use our own research as well as the research and recommendations of voting advisor IVOX Glass Lewis for our votes.
UnionVote - Voting rights exercised by Union Investment in figures

UnionVote - Voting rights exercised by Union Investment by region

Voting Dashboard
Das Portfoliomanagement von Union Investment nimmt auf Hauptversammlungen im Interesse der Anleger und ausschließlich zum Nutzen des betreffenden Investmentvermögens regelmäßig Einfluss auf die Unternehmensführung und Geschäftspolitik von Aktiengesellschaften. Union Investment unterstützt dabei alle Maßnahmen, die den Wert des Unternehmens langfristig und nachhaltig steigern und stimmt gegen solche, die diesem Ziel entgegenstehen.
Union Investment portfolio managers regularly influence the management and business policy of public limited companies at annual general meetings. They act in the interests of investors and exclusively for the benefit of the invested assets. Union Investment supports all actions that will sustainably increase the value of the company in the long term and votes against any actions that go against this objective.
UnionVoice
Constructive corporate dialogue is at the heart of our role as an active shareholder. We accompany companies over the long term and provide important impetus through company visits, speaking engagements and voting behaviour at general meetings.
While the Proxy Voting Policy provides a framework for voting behaviour, the Engagement Policy provides a guideline for direct company dialogue within the framework of engagement activities, from which we only deviate in justified individual cases.
UnionVoice - Union Investment's corporate dialogues in figures

The most important component of the constructive dialogue with companies is the company visit, during which top management answers Union Investment's questions. In addition, there is an ongoing exchange between our fund managers and the companies. Over 4,000 investor meetings (including company visits) form the basis for assessing business models and the future viability of companies, including 300 meetings exclusively on sustainability issues. In addition, around 10 to 15 annual general meetings are attended each year in order to make targeted speeches.
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Do you have any questions? Feel free to contact our sustainability team. Your direct contact to us.
Expert views

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