In a significant move for institutional investors in Switzerland, BlackRock has rolled out its global Voting Choice program, allowing clients to directly influence voting rights in funds valued at approximately $5.8 billion. This initiative, announced on Tuesday, marks a pivotal moment, as it extends voting rights beyond clients with separately managed accounts for the first time.
The Voting Choice program enables investors to select from 16 third-party voting policies or to continue relying on BlackRock’s Investment Stewardship (BIS) team for proxy voting. This empowers institutional clients—such as Swiss pension funds that collectively serve more than 4.7 million people—to gain greater leverage in the oversight of their capital.
Globally, the program encompasses over $2.7 trillion in assets, making up more than 90 percent of BlackRock’s index equity assets under management, with $662 billion actively managed by clients under this initiative.
Amra Balic, Co-Head of BlackRock Investment Stewardship, expressed enthusiasm about the program’s reception among clients. “We are pleased that Voting Choice resonates with interested clients and are delighted to now extend the program to the Swiss market,” she stated. Dirk Klee, BlackRock’s Country Manager for Switzerland, emphasized the program’s efficiency: “With the introduction of Voting Choice for the institutional share classes of ten Switzerland-domiciled funds, we offer our clients simple and efficient options to actively participate in the voting process according to their preferences.”
In an age where every vote counts, this initiative reminds us that even the largest players in finance believe in empowering their clients—one vote at a time.
What does the Voting Choice program allow institutional clients in Switzerland to do?
The Voting Choice program enables institutional clients to directly exercise their voting rights in selected funds, allowing for greater influence over investment decisions valued at approximately $5.8 billion.
How does this program enhance client participation in corporate governance?
Clients can either choose from 16 third-party voting policies or have BlackRock’s Investment Stewardship team manage proxy voting, thus tailoring their involvement in governance according to their preferences.
What is the global scale of the Voting Choice program?
Globally, the program encompasses over $2.7 trillion in assets, making up more than 90 percent of BlackRock’s index equity assets under management, with $662 billion actively managed by clients under this initiative.
