Nikko has established a Corporate Sustainability Department.

Nikko Asset Management Co., Ltd. (“Nikko AM”) has announces the establishment of its Corporate Sustainability Department, bolstering its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) commitments both in the way in which it manages itself and how it approaches investing.

Overseen by Representative Director and Executive Deputy President Junichi Sayato and led day to day from Tokyo by Global Head of Product & Marketing, and Head of Corporate Sustainability Stefanie Drews, the Department guides the Firm’s internal ESG commitments and implementation, and will work closely with investment teams globally to communicate developments in their approach to ESG in investment processes. Specific internal ESG commitments include nurturing diversity and inclusion for LGBT, women, and those living with disability; monitoring adherence to local Corporate Governance Codes; and minimizing impact on the environment.

Junichi Sayato said, “As a fiduciary, we hold ourselves to the highest standards of responsibility with regards to ESG, in both how we manage ourselves and in the way in which we approach investment and work with our invested companies. Our clients are at the core of everything that we do, and this launch is further evidence of our efforts to deliver performance to them.”

As an element of this launch, the Firm has established a microsite featuring details on its ESG commitments and activities, as well as insights particularly regarding ESG in the investment process.

This launch further builds from the Firm’s ongoing internal ESG obligations, including its status as a member of LGBT Finance and adherence to the Women’s Empowerment Principles and the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI).

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Nikko AM has signed a statement of support for the Women’s Empowerment Principles.

Nikko Asset Management (“Nikko AM”) has announced that it has signed a statement of support for the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs).

Produced and disseminated by the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and the United Nations Global Compact, the Principles present seven steps that business and other sectors can take to advance and empower women.

As one aspect of its efforts to foster a diverse and inclusive workforce, Nikko AM’s support for WEPs aims to deepen employee understanding of and respect for diversity and thereby nurture innovative approaches to meet its clients’ needs. Nikko AM aims to foster employee commitment to the following WEPs principles, and report progress:

• Principle 1: Establish high-level corporate leadership for gender equality
• Principle 2: Treat all women and men fairly at work – respect and support human rights and nondiscrimination
• Principle 3: Ensure the health, safety and well-being of all women and men workers
• Principle 4: Promote education, training and professional development for women
• Principle 5: Implement enterprise development, supply chain and marketing practices that empower women
• Principle 6: Promote equality through community initiatives and advocacy
• Principle 7: Measure and publicly report on progress to achieve gender equality

Junichi Sayato, Executive Deputy President of Nikko AM, said, “We signed because nurturing a diverse workforce is essential to our business, to effectively serve our clients. Diversity is indeed one of our Firm’s core values, as identified by employees through a bottom up assessment and fully supported by management. The empowerment of women is a core aspect of this commitment, and we look forward to working with WEPs to realize it. ”

At the same time, Nikko AM has appointed Global Head of Product & Marketing Stefanie Drews to the newly created role of Diversity Advocate, with oversight for ensuring inclusion and transparency in all aspects of diversity in its workforce. Stefanie represents twenty years of financial services 2 experience spanning London and Tokyo, and as a woman in an industry known for a lack of diversity particularly at senior levels, understands the challenges faced.

Stefanie said, “Operating across nine countries, Nikko AM employees represent thirty nationalities and it is this diversity that allows us to pursue our mission to provide sustainable progressive solutions to our clients. I look forward to facilitating and contributing to this important effort .”

Read more about the principles.

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