UK-based impact investor CIRCA5000 and fintech Tumelo have jointly launched a range of ETFs which feature pass-through voting to allow investors to decide how their shares are voted. Using Tumelo’s shareholder voting technology, institutional investors in the CIRCA5000 fund range can choose how they vote at annual general meetings, by selecting a voting policy, voting ad hoc, or delegating to their fund manager. Tumelo offers pass-through voting and expression of wish to all fund managers’ beneficial owners, including both institutional and retail investors. However, CIRCA5000 will decide on offering the service to retail investors, following the initial roll-out to institutional investors. The five CIRCA5000 ETFs offer exposure to investments in green energy and technology; sustainable food and biodiversity; clean water and waste; social and economic empowerment; and health and wellbeing. Pass-through voting allows investors in a pooled fund to vote their shares in proportion to the assets they have invested. “For many investors, the ability to have their say on key votes at the companies they invest in is a game changer. For fund managers, we believe it eradicates at least one reason why some shareholders divest from funds and look elsewhere,” said Georgia Stewart, CEO of Tumelo.
