Our Commitment to Fiduciary Duties and Sustainability
Message
Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management announced “Principles of Fiduciary Duties and Sustainability” in 2020, upgrading our “Commitment to Fiduciary Duties” which had been announced in 2015 by adding sustainability elements including ESG. Our commitments are in line with “the Principles for Customer-Oriented Business Conduct” which was officially published in 2017 by the Financial Services Agency of Japan and revised in 2021. Also, they are consistent with the philosophy of “Shisan-unyo-gyo-sengen 2020” (the Declaration 2020~Invest for a Brighter Future～) which was jointly announced by Japan Investment Advisers Association and The Investment Trusts Association. By conducting corporate management and investment activities based on our "Corporate Philosophy" and “Principles of Fiduciary Duties and Sustainability”, we will fulfill our responsibility set forth in “the Principles for Customer-Oriented Business Conduct” as well as “Shisan-unyo-gyo-sengen 2020”. The related initiatives and achievements are reported in detail on our website and in our Sustainability Report.
We are committed to improve the QOL (Quality of Life) of our clients with our investment management products and services. Simultaneously, as an asset management company which constitutes a part of the investment chain, we will focus even further on investments that contributes to the resolution of environmental and social issues. In addition, not only as an asset manager but also as a corporate citizen, we will strive to realize an affluent and sustainable society through our activities such a charities, donations, promotion of diversity, and environment-friendly business operations.
- “Shisan-unyo-sengen 2020” (Website in Japanese only)
Principles of Fiduciary Duties and Sustainability
To materialize our vision of becoming “the best asset management firm for your better Quality of Life (QOL)”, we, Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management, are committed to fulfilling our fiduciary duties. As a responsible institutional investor, we are also committed to fulfilling management responsibilities based upon high ethical standards and professionalism, and to operating our business with customer-oriented practices. To contribute to the realization of a sustainable society, we engage in stewardship activities and sustainable investing. Simultaneously, as a corporate citizen, we actively promote social contribution initiatives and environmentally conscious business operations. To this end, we foster a workplace that respects diversity and supports our employees in autonomously developing their careers. We are committed to cultivating talent that can contribute to the QOL of all stakeholders. Through these initiatives, we aim for our own sustainable growth together with our clients and society.
Principle 1.We fulfill our management responsibilities as a responsible institutional investor by acting in the best interests of our clients.
- We exert ourselves to cultivate investment professionals to take investment responsibility and enhance investment management, middle-office and back-office capabilities through utilizing state of the art digital transformation (DX) technologies and our domestic and global networks.
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We structure, offer, and manage the most suitable products and services by identifying the true needs of our clients, while striving to offer and disclose clear and transparent information. We also rigorously implement initiatives to continuously ensure the effectiveness of these efforts.
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We enhance our corporate governance structure by ensuring appropriate management of conflict-of-interest transactions and securing the independence of management.
- We strive to maintain our soundness as a company and reinforce our crisis management system to be prepared for various contingencies..
Principle 2. We strive to materialize a sustainable society through our asset management business.
- We take a progressive approach to stewardship activities, including engagement and exercising voting rights, to encourage investee companies to enhance their sustainability and eventually contribute to augmentation of the company’s enterprise value over the medium to long term.
- We incorporate sustainability factors into our investment process and strive to develop, offer, and manage appropriate products, as well as disclose relevant information, in accordance with standards set for each category based on the significance of these factors.
- We work to resolve environmental issues, such as climate change, and social issues, such as human rights, by participating in domestic and international initiatives.
- We recognize the significance and essentials of asset accumulation for individual investors in an aging society with fewer children. Therefore, we engage in investor education for a wide range of generations to raise awareness for related issues and to improve financial literacy.
Principle 3. We, as a corporate citizen, engage in activities to pass on an affluent society and the global environment to the next generation.
- We address social issues and contribute to revitalizing communities through various social contribution activities.
- We carry out our business with consideration for the natural environment, including efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Principle 4. We train and educate human resources to contribute to the QOL of our clients, society and our employees.
- We put in place an environment where employees with variety of values can fully demonstrate their abilities and promote diversity, including the active participation of women.
- We provide a variety of career support programs so that all employees regardless of ages or assignments can take pride in their work and obtain professional expertise and insight required.
