BlackRock Active Investment Stewardship (BAIS) is a specialist team within the Portfolio Management Group that manages BlackRock’s stewardship engagement and voting on behalf of clients invested in liquid active strategies globally. BAIS works in partnership with BlackRock’s active investment teams to support long-term financial value creation.
BAIS’ Guidelines outline the factors we consider when we engage and vote on matters that are commonly included on shareholder meeting agendas. They are not prescriptive and are applied in the context of a company’s operating environment and an active equity portfolio manager’s investment strategy, anchored in BlackRock’s fiduciary duty to clients.
BAIS develops its engagement strategy in close partnership with members of the active investment platform, ensuring both alignment and effectiveness. Over time, we have observed a number of consistent themes on which we engage with companies.
A company’s board plays a central role in its success and financial performance over time. Directors individually bring their expertise and experience to advising management and, as a collective, the board provides strategic direction, oversight and governance that guides the company in achieving its purpose and strategic objectives.
A clearly articulated strategy and milestones consistent with a company’s business cycle help investors and other stakeholders understand how it is fulfilling its purpose, meeting its objectives and delivering financial returns that are resilient over time.
Effective executive compensation policies are crucial for aligning management incentives with company strategy and financial performance. Well-designed compensation plans have rigorous but realizable targets that incentivize appropriate risk taking, and balance near- and long-term awards.
Climate change and natural capital management are closely linked and could present both material risks and opportunities for companies and shareholders.
As employers, companies’ human capital management practices shape their ability to attract, develop and retain the key talent they need to have a competitive advantage in the market. A company’s performance may be improved through fair employment practices, safe work environments and a culture that supports employee engagement and productivity.
BAIS conducted 476 engagements with companies in 2025, in addition to the thousands of meetings held by investors across the active platform.
BAIS engaged with 347 public companies in 2025, in addition to the thousands of meetings held by investors across the active platform.
BAIS engaged across 25 markets in 2025.
BAIS voted in 10,954 meetings in 2025.
BAIS voted on 110,130 proposals in 2025.
BlackRock, ISS. Sourced on April 22, 2026, reflecting data from January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025.
This report outlines our approach to stewardship in practice, including key statistics and case studies of our activity from 2025.
©2026 BlackRock, Inc. All Rights Reserved. BLACKROCK and iSHARES are a trademark of BlackRock, Inc., or its subsidiaries in the United States and elsewhere. All other trademarks are those of their respective owners.
BAISH1025U/M-4878954
BAIS Global Engagement and Voting Guidelines
BAIS Engagement Priorities