AEGON’s responsible investment policy sets out standards for the company’s investments.
The policy helps AEGON decide how and where to invest its money – and particularly how to include factors such as the environment, social issues, and corporate governance in these decisions, in order to help manage risk and promote the company’s values.
The policy is built around three separate concepts:
- Firstly, in its own general account portfolios AEGON excludes certain investments – in companies that manufacture controversial weapons like cluster bombs, and in the bonds of governments that are involved in widespread human rights abuses.
- Secondly, AEGON will engage with companies that appear to fail to live up to the standards included in the policy, to better understand their situation and, where possible, to work for improvement. The policy’s standards are based on existing international initiatives like the UN Global Compact, and cover everything from human rights and health & safety to corporate governance.
- Thirdly, when deciding where to invest, AEGON includes environmental, social and governance factors in its investment analysis.
AEGON has a Responsible Investment Committee which oversees the implementation of this policy. A copy of the policy can be downloaded using the link on the right hand side.