Participation in Advance, a human rights-related initiative of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI)
December 16, 2022
Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Co., Ltd. (CEO and President: Takashi Saruta, "our company") joined Advance, a human rights-related initiative launched by PRI as a collaborative investor.
Through participation in collaborative engagements organized by Advance, we will contribute to the realization of a sustainable society by encouraging investee companies to take initiatives to resolve human rights issues in their workplaces and the communities in which they operate.
About Advance
Advance was launched on December 1, 2022 as a collaborative institutional investor initiative to address human rights and other social issues. At launch, there are 220 participating institutional investors with assets under management totaling approximately 30 trillion US dollars.
Specifically, the initiative will conduct engagements with 40 major companies in two priority sectors: metals & mining and renewables, where human rights risks are relatively high. We will participate in the collaborative engagement as a collaborative investor.
PRI Page on Advance
https://www.unpri.org/advance
Background to joining Advance
In light of the growing interest in business and human rights, particularly in Europe and the United States, with the enactment of human rights due diligence legislation, we established a human rights policy in October 2021, and announced our materiality in April 2022 where we selected human rights in the supply chain as one of our Materiality in Asset Management Operations. In putting these policies into practice, we believe that our participation in Advance, an initiative focused on human rights issues, is very meaningful.
Our Approach on Human Rights Issues
https://www.smd-am.co.jp/english/corporate/vision/fiduciary/02/
Our Materiality
https://www.smd-am.co.jp/english/corporate/vision/fiduciary/01/
Contact
Katsuki Maruyama General Manager / Corporate Sustainability Section
Direct: +81-3-6205-1908, E-mail:katsuki_maruyama@smd-am.co.jp
Takayuki Maekawa Principal / Corporate Sustainability Section
Direct: +81-3-6205-0449, E-mail:takayuki_maekawa@smd-am.co.jp
Registration Number: The Director of Kanto Local Finance Bureau (KINSHO) No.399
Member of Japan Investment Advisers Association, The Investment Trusts Association, Japan and Type Ⅱ Financial Instruments Firms Association
