Aegon Asset Management (AAM) has received the top rating for strategy and governance of its responsible investment activities in the annual assessment published by the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI).
Aegon Asset Management is a global, active investment manager entrusted with €352 billion worldwide. The business uses its investment management expertise to help people achieve a lifetime of financial security.
This is the fourth consecutive year that AAM has received the A+ rating, which was awarded to just 29% of the PRI's 1,677 asset management signatories.
Six principles
Supported at its launch in 2006 by the United Nations, PRI is a leading and independent proponent of responsible investment. The organization sets out six principles for taking ESG factors into account when making investment decisions and active ownership practices. In its annual assessment report the body provides an overview of the signatories' performance in comparison to peers on several topics including strategy and governance, active ownership, and direct management of equities and fixed income investments.
Aegon Asset Management is one of the leading players in responsible investment and has been a signatory of the PRI since 2011. The firm has continued to demonstrate above-median rankings in the PRI reports, despite operating in an increasingly mature market. Indeed, in this PRI latest report, Aegon Asset Management was cited as improving in several areas. These include an increase in the ratings achieved in its property and fixed income securitized investments. The firm also scored the maximum score (A+) in the report's three engagement categories.
ESG-focused strategies
Aegon Asset Management’s commitment to responsible investment was recently highlighted with the release of its Responsible Investment Report, in which it reported a significant boost in responsible investment activities.
During 2019, the firm launched new ESG-focused strategies, developed proprietary ESG research methodologies within corporate and securitized credit, and demonstrated a commitment to good stewardship through a material increase in engagement and shareholder voting activities.
In July 2020, the 14-strong Responsible Investment team led by Brunno Maradei was also bolstered with two new appointments: Retno Kusumaningtyas as Senior Responsible Investment Associate and Georgina Laird as a Sustainable Investment Analyst.