Boston Common Asset Management

Active, Engaged Ownership

We use shareholder leverage to influence corporate and industry practices globally, often in collaboration with coalitions of shareowners and activist organizations. We develop our Stewardship and Advocacy Policy as long-term, global investors and our engagement priorities build on our investment themes of doing more with fewer resources, treating people as assets, and supporting better governance. We believe investors with a deep and long-term understanding of prosperity can use ESG analysis and direct engagement to provide the critical checks and balances that financial markets require to function as efficient and socially beneficial distributors of capital.

We have access to high-level management, including, in some cases, board members and CEOs. Over the years, our team has built up a network of contacts at non-governmental organizations around the world. These organizations serve as invaluable sounding boards for us on shareowner engagement issues, and have partnered with us on numerous shareholder initiatives. Through company dialogue and the shareholder proposal process, we bring client concerns to management and actively promote change.

We use our voice as assertive, engaged stewards of our investments to challenge companies across all industries to re-direct capital financing capacity, R&D efforts, and ingenuity towards a more sustainable world.

Sustained Dialogue

Through regular and persistent outreach via correspondence and in-person meetings, we engage portfolio companies on a wide range of environmental, social, and governance risks and opportunities. Our team has worked with companies in the U.S. and globally for over 20 years.

Proxy Voting

On behalf of our clients, we vote proxies in order to encourage long-term thinking by corporate managements. Our guidelines ensure we vote proxies in support of respect for human rights, gender equality, and environmental stewardship; and advocate for ethical, transparent, and accountable corporate cultures:

Advocate for increased Board diversity and independence;
Advocate for improved disclosure and transparency;
Advocate for enhanced Board and management accountability to shareholders;
Oppose actions that would result in excessive dilution of common shares.

Read our Proxy Voting Summary

Setting Standards and Metrics

We demonstrate the business case for responsible corporate practices by funding and supporting public rankings and scorecards in areas such as hydraulic fracturing, toxic chemicals, and access to nutrition.

Shareholder Proposals & Annual Meetings

We file and support ESG shareholder proposals filed by other investors, which encourage greater transparency and accountability by companies in our portfolios.

International Collaboration

We lead or co-lead many investor collaborations via our membership in the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), CDP, and the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), among others. Geeta Aiyer, founder and president of Boston Common, was elected for a three year term to the PRI's Association Board in 2014.

Public Policy Participation

We submit comments and testimony to state and federal legislators, regulators, industry associations to help address systemic risks and support the creation of financial markets that are longer-term in their orientation.