Egan-Jones Expands Proxy Customization Beyond Standard Benchmarks

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Egan-Jones released an overview describing how its proxy voting services move beyond benchmark policies to deliver fully customized proxy voting guidelines for sophisticated investors.

The article explains that while Egan-Jones Proxy Services offers five off the shelf policies, many institutional investors maintain proprietary proxy voting guidelines that differ from standard frameworks. To address this need, Egan-Jones provides fully customizable proxy voting policies designed to reflect each client’s specific stewardship priorities.

According to the publication, fully custom policies are not limited to selecting from a predefined list of metrics. Instead, clients may determine which data points are used for a proposal type, even if those data points are not part of any off the shelf policy. Clients can also define how data points are evaluated and weighted, including thresholds and decision logic, as well as specify which markets the policy applies to by country or region.

The article notes that this approach means a custom policy is not simply a remix of a benchmark policy. As an example, it explains that none of Egan-Jones’ current off the shelf policies require a minimum vesting period for time based incentive awards. If a client’s guidelines require vesting to exceed three years, that requirement can be implemented as a defined data point alongside other elements used to evaluate say on pay proposals.

The publication outlines how the process works, stating that the proposal category and issuer region determine the analysis used to produce a recommendation. Building a fully custom policy involves tailoring that analysis to the client’s specific requirements, resulting in research reports and vote recommendations that are consistent, auditable, and aligned with stated stewardship goals.

Clients may either start with an off the shelf policy and revise it as needed or build a policy from scratch. In both cases, Egan-Jones supports the design process end to end to ensure voting outcomes accurately reflect client priorities.

The article concludes that Egan-Jones designs research and vote recommendations to align with client principles rather than the firm’s own views.

About Egan-Jones Proxy Services

Egan-Jones Proxy Services provides independent proxy voting analysis, recommendations, and reporting for institutional investors.