Proxy Voting Policy
PIMCO Global Proxy Voting Policy Summary
Policy Statement: PIMCO adopted a written proxy voting policy (“Proxy Policy”) as required by Rule 206(4)-6 under the Advisers Act. The Proxy Policy is intended to foster PIMCO’s compliance with its fiduciary obligations and applicable law. The Proxy Policy applies to any voting or consent rights with respect to securities held in accounts over which PIMCO has discretionary voting authority. The Proxy Policy is designed in a manner reasonably expected to ensure that voting and consent rights are exercised in the best interests of PIMCO’s clients.
Overview: As a general matter, PIMCO will adhere to its fiduciary obligations for any proxies it has the authority to vote on behalf of its clients. Each proxy is voted on a case-by-case basis, taking into account relevant facts and circumstances. When considering client proxiesFootnote1, PIMCO may determine not to vote a proxy in limited circumstances.
Equity Securities.Footnote2 PIMCO has retained an Industry Service Provider (“ISP”)Footnote3 to provide research and voting recommendations for proxies relating to Equity Securities in accordance with the ISP’s guidelines. By following the guidelines of an independent third party, PIMCO seeks to mitigate potential conflicts of interest PIMCO may have with respect to proxies covered by the ISP.
PIMCO will follow the recommendations of the ISP unless: (i) the ISP does not provide a voting recommendation; or (ii) a PM/Analyst decides to override the ISP’s voting recommendation. In each case as described above, the Legal and Compliance department will review the proxy to determine whether an actual or potential conflict of interest exists. When the ISP does not provide a voting recommendation, the relevant PM/Analyst will make a determination regarding how, or if, the proxy will be voted by completing required documentation.
Fixed Income Securities. Fixed income securities can be processed as proxy ballots or corporate action-consentsFootnote4 at the discretion of the issuer/ custodian.
When processed as proxy ballots, the ISP generally does not provide a voting recommendation and their role is limited to election processing and recordkeeping. In such instances, any elections would follow the standard process discussed above for Equity Securities.
When processed as corporate action-consents, the Legal and Compliance department will review all election forms to determine whether an actual or potential conflict of interest exists with respect to the PM’s consent election. PIMCO’s Credit Research and Portfolio Management Groups are responsible for issuing recommendations on how to vote proxy ballots and corporation action-consents with respect to fixed income securities.
Resolution of potential/identified conflicts of interest. The Proxy Policy permits PIMCO to seek to resolve material conflicts of interest by pursuing any one of several courses of action. With respect to material conflicts of interest between PIMCO and a client account, the Proxy Policy permits PIMCO to either: (i) convene a working group to assess and resolve the conflict (the “Proxy Working Group”); or (ii) vote in accordance with protocols previously established by the Proxy Policy, the Proxy Working Group and/or other relevant procedures approved by PIMCO’s Legal and Compliance department or PIMCO’s Conflict Committee with respect to specific types of conflicts.
PIMCO will supervise and periodically review its proxy voting activities and the implementation of the Proxy Policy. PIMCO’s Proxy Policy, and information about how PIMCO voted a client’s proxies, is available upon request.
ISP Oversight: Consistent with its fiduciary obligations, PIMCO will perform periodic due diligence and oversight of ISP’s engaged to provide PIMCO with proxy voting research and recommendations. PIMCO’s due diligence and oversight process includes, but is not limited to, the evaluation of: the ISP’s capacity and competency to provide proxy voting research and recommendationsFootnote5 and the ISP’s compliance program.
Sub-Adviser Engagement: As an investment manager, PIMCO may exercise its discretion to engage a Sub-Adviser to provide portfolio management services to certain PIMCO-affiliated Funds. Consistent with its management responsibilities, the Sub-Adviser will assume the authority for voting proxies on behalf of PIMCO for these Funds. Sub-Advisers may utilize third parties to perform certain services related to their portfolio management responsibilities. As a fiduciary, PIMCO will maintain oversight of the investment management responsibilities (which may include proxy voting) performed by the Sub-Adviser and contracted third parties.