BlackRock is now introducing its global Voting Choice program for institutional clients in Switzerland, the company announced on Tuesday.

This will enable them to directly exercise the voting rights of their investments in ten selected Switzerland-domiciled funds with total assets of approximately 5,8 billion euro  (4,7 billion francs). Until now, this was only possible for clients with separately managed accounts.

Greater Say in the Management of Capital

With Voting Choice, investors can choose from 16 third-party voting policies or continue to entrust BlackRock’s Investment Stewardship (BIS) team with proxy voting. The goal is to give institutional clients – such as Swiss pension funds representing more than 4,7 million people – a stronger voice in the management of their capital.

Globally, assets totaling 2,7 trillion dollar are already eligible for Voting Choice, representing over 90 percent of BlackRock’s index equity assets under management. Around 662 billion dollar are currently actively managed by clients under the program.

«We are pleased that Voting Choice resonates with interested clients and are delighted to now extend the program to the Swiss market,» said Amra Balic, Co-Head of BlackRock Investment Stewardship (BIS).

Dirk Klee, Country Manager Switzerland at BlackRock, added: «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.»