An independent, French-speaking partner for your voting rights
GIR helps investors in France, in Paris and Lyon, exercise their voting rights in a way that is independent, documented and compliant with European regulation.
Since Proxinvest was acquired by a US firm in December 2022, France no longer has an independent proxy advisory firm. Proxy advice now relies largely on two large international agencies.
GIR offers another path: an independent, French-speaking partner with an ESG-focused view, supporting you from your voting policy all the way to the proof.
Your fiduciary duty remains the common thread of every vote. But at GIR, ESG is not just a paragraph in a voting policy: it is a lens applied to every resolution, because these issues affect your investments, both directly and through their impact on society. By adopting Mosaic, you join your voice with other investors. You can also adapt it to your values and investment philosophy, or simply opt for a custom policy that reflects who you are.
Voting policy, analysis, execution, reporting: we take care of it all. In the age of AI, every decision is still approved by an analyst.
A well-reasoned vote sends a clear signal to boards. We support you at every step to make real progress on the practices of every company in your portfolio, whatever its country, in line with your engagement policy.
GIR belongs to no financial group and sells no services to the companies it analyses.
Analyses, voting policies, reports and discussions are in French, and in English when you prefer.
In Canada, funds have published an annual proxy voting record since 2005 (NI 81-106), and proxy advisory firms have been subject to guidance since 2015 (NP 25-201). GIR produces these records for its clients.
Analysis of every resolution, recommendations and vote execution according to your policy.
A voting policy and a responsible investment policy written with you, based on Mosaic or on your own principles.
ESG review and scoring of your portfolio, holding by holding, with priority engagement points.
Support on traceability, disclosure and compliance with standards, with an evidence file ready to present.
Regulations are converging on one requirement: publishing a policy is no longer enough, you must show it has been applied. Transparency has been at the heart of how we work since our beginnings in Québec.
| Obligation | The issue today | What GIR brings you |
|---|---|---|
| SRD II and PACTE ActArt. L. 533-22, French Monetary and Financial Code | The annual report must explain significant votes and votes against, not just count them. | A written rationale for every vote, exported into your report. |
| Article 29Energy-Climate Act | The report must link the engagement strategy to climate and biodiversity objectives. | Tracking of votes on climate resolutions and ESG-linked pay. |
| SFDRArticle 8 and 9 funds | Votes are expected to be consistent with the declared sustainability characteristics. | A dashboard that flags any vote out of line with the fund policy. |
| ISR label | The standard requires a voting and engagement policy that the auditor can verify. | The public Mosaic policy and an audit-ready voting record. |
| Audit and AI | Auditors and regulators ask how each vote was decided, even when an automated tool is involved. | A written, traceable rationale for every vote: every step, data point and decision is approved by an analyst. |
Etienne Lamy and Thomas Estinès, GIR's co-directors, meet asset managers, insurers and pension funds in the Paris financial community.
Book a meeting in ParisWe support investors across Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes: asset managers, mutual insurers, foundations and family offices. Salomé Testot-Ferry regularly comes to meet you in person and is available by video call the rest of the time.
Book a meeting in LyonOur fees depend on the number of meetings we cover for you, not on the number of shares held or your assets under management. Pricing stays predictable, even as your assets grow, and it is the same whatever the company's country.
Very simply. The 6-hour time difference (5 hours a few weeks a year) works in your favour: our analysts prepare your files overnight, and they are waiting for you when your offices open. We meet by video call, in French (or English if you prefer), and we also come to meet you in Paris or Lyon.
Yes. You can adopt the Mosaic policy, adapt it, or give us your own. We vote according to the policy you choose. Adopting Mosaic also means joining your voice with other investors, which increases the impact of every vote.
We provide your complete voting record, with the rationale for each vote, and an annual report ready to include in your engagement report and your Article 29 report.
Voting and engagement go hand in hand: both serve your beneficiaries' interests. We align your voting guidelines with your engagement policy, to maximise your impact and keep your votes in line with your values. We already work with SHARE and Aequo, Canadian and Québec shareholder engagement firms, and are happy to work with your own engagement advisors.
Yes. We do not work from a fixed coverage list: we analyse every company in your portfolio, including the entire CAC 40. Our analyses take French specifics into account: double voting rights, ex ante and ex post say on pay, climate resolutions.
French and English. Analyses, reports and discussions with the team are available in both languages.
Book a 30-minute call. We review your portfolio and current voting policy, then propose an offer tailored to your next proxy season.
Thomas Estinès, Co-director: thomas.estines@gir-canada.com. You can also book a 30-minute call directly.
Spend 30 minutes with our team. We will show you your past votes compared with the Mosaic policy.
