EOS history

Founded in 2004 on a legacy dating back to 1983.

Armed with a long-standing history of active ownership, we founded EOS in 2004. Its history is synonymous with the adoption and growth of responsible investment.

Evolution of EOS

1983
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2021
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1 St Michael was a brand owned and used by Marks & Spencer from 1927-2000.

The late Ralph Quartano, our first CEO, argues publicly: “It is important that St Michael is on the side of the angels1" and stop extending special loans to its directors.

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We campaign for FTSE 100 companies to:

  • End long-term rolling contracts for directors
  • Split CEO and chair roles
The initiative, later adopted by the UK Corporate Governance Code, was led by the late Alistair Ross Goobey, our CEO from 1993-2001
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Our first team dedicated to engaging companies on corporate governance is established. It grows to focus on companies in the UK, Europe and Japan
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We coin the term ‘engagement’ to define our long-term, collaborative work with companies to improve their ESG and strategic performance
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EOS at Federated Hermes, our stewardship services team, is established
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  • We lead the drafting of the PRI and become a founding signatory
  • We hold our first AGM intervention outside the UK at Volkswagen
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We hold our first Client Advisory Council
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First Dutch and Australian clients
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  • We lead the first proxy fight at a DAX-30 company in Germany
  • We sign the UK Stewardship Code
  • We relaunch our Responsible Ownership Principles
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  • We co-convene asset owners and companies in development of the first Remuneration Principles
  • Our AUA reaches $163bn
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  • We hold our first AGM intervention in Asia at Hon Hai Precision Industry
  • We provide input into the Japanese and Malaysian Stewardship Codes
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  • We join the Aiming for A coalition on climate change
  • Our AGM intervention and successful engagement leads to management changes at Deutsche Bank
  • First US client
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  • We work as a member of the drafting committee for the Brazilian Stewardship Code
  • We publish “Remuneration Principles: Clarifying Expectations”
  • We are involved in successful shareholder resolutions at mining companies as part of the Aiming for A coalition
  • First Japanese and Swedish clients
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  • First Belgian client
  • Our AUA reaches $496bn
  • Federated Investors acquires a 60% stake in Hermes Investment Management
  • Leading or co-leading engagements on the most companies in the Climate Action 100+ initiative
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  • Partnership with ACSI, a highly regarded stewardship provider for Australian asset owners
  • EU Shareholder Rights Directive II comes into effect
  • Co-author of “Stewardship: the 2020 vision”, with Saker Nusseibeh, CBE, CEO – International, at Federated Hermes and the Responsibility Office
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  • Our stewardship team expands to include 14 nationalities, 16 languages, and diverse industry and academic experience
  • Our AUA reaches US$1bn as of 30 September 2020
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Launched new high-spec client portal, EOSi, in response to client feedback

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