Our reports and policies
Aegon is committed to doing business responsibly. We have internal policies and, procedures explaining how decisions should be made in areas such as procurement, investment, tax, product development, remuneration, and information security.
The following table demonstrates the incorporation of sustainability themes into Aegon’s decision-making processes through specific policies, statements, and procedures with a focus on our material topics.
| Material topic | Related report or policy | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Climate change | Responsible Investment policy | Externally published policy acting as the basis for how our assets should be managed consistently with our responsible business objectives and relevant laws and governance standards. It is applicable to all of our proprietary assets globally, regardless of country of operation or whether they are managed by Aegon business units or externally. Local business units within Aegon may implement additional mechanisms to further identify, manage, and mitigate ESG risks, within the context of local norms and stakeholder expectations. The policy covers all major asset classes and sets out minimum social and environmental standards for Aegon’s investments that incorporates exclusions in areas including controversial weapons, tobacco, Arctic or oil sands production, and transportation and thermal coal. The policy also incorporates a commitment to net-zero emissions, to help to ensure the reduction in the weighted average carbon intensity of the company’s investment portfolio is aligned with its net-zero ambitions. | ||
| Inclusion & Diversity | Statement on Inclusion and Diversity | Externally published statement setting out Aegon’s approach to inclusion and diversity to create an environment where our employees can bring their authentic selves to work. The statement incorporates our commitment to enabling this through our actions and inclusive policies. The statement applies to all Aegon businesses worldwide. | ||
| Responsible Investing | Responsible Investment policy | See above | ||
| Business conduct and risk management | Code of Conduct | Externally published document prescribing a mandatory set of conditions for how Aegon employees should conduct business, comply with all applicable laws and regulations, and exercise sound judgment in reaching ethical business decisions in the long-term interests of our stakeholders. Training on the Code of Conduct is mandatory for all employees. | ||
| Business conduct and risk management | Speak Up | Externally published policy supplementing the Aegon Code of Conduct. Aegon Speak Up provides a safe environment for anyone who wishes to raise a concern about suspected or observed misconduct that involves Aegon. The policy applies to all Aegon businesses worldwide (including all business units, subsidiaries and joint ventures that are majority owned, and controlled by Aegon). It also extends to customers, business partners, shareholders and the public in general. | ||
| Business conduct and risk management | Anti-Bribery and Corruption Policy | The Aegon Code of Conduct contains guidance on the prevention of bribery and corruption (including gifts and entertainment). The internally published Aegon Anti-Bribery and Corruption (ABC) Policy provides further principles and guidelines to help Aegon employees to make the right decision. The policy is applicable to all Aegon business unit | ||
| Business conduct and risk management | Conflict of Interest Policy | The Aegon Code of Conduct contains guidance on conflicts of interest. The internally published Aegon Conflict of Interest Policy defines the principles regarding potential conflicts of interest applicable to all Aegon business units, which should be implemented in their local unit. The aim of the policy is to provide further guidelines to help Aegon employees recognize a potential conflict of interest and to help them handle the situation. | ||
| Good health and wellbeing (longevity) | Global Health and Safety Statement | Externally published statement committing Aegon to provide and maintain high health and safety standards across all its business units worldwide, outlining our objectives and expectations. | ||
| Community investment | Global Community Investment Framework | Externally published framework outlining how Aegon supports local community investment initiatives that focus on social empowerment and financial empowerment, and our purpose of helping people live their best lives. | ||
| Human Rights | Statement on Human Rights | Externally published statement designed to frame Aegon’s ongoing stewardship of human rights, including both the direct impacts of our daily operations as well as the indirect impacts of our business activities. Based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, core standards of the International Labor Organization (ILO), and the principles of the UN Global Compact. The statement commits Aegon to upholding international human rights standards at all businesses where the company has sufficient management control and, where possible, to help ensure partners uphold the same standards. The statement is supported by a regular human rights risk assessment, covering Aegon’s businesses in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. | ||
| Responsible tax | Aegon Global Tax Policy and Principles of Conduct | Externally published policy outlining Aegon’s approach to responsible taxpaying, which seeks to align the long-term interests of all our stakeholders, including customers, employees, business partners, investors, and wider society. Aegon seeks to pay “fair taxes”, which means paying the right amount of tax in the right places. | ||
| Responsible procurement | Vendor Code of Conduct | The Vendor Code of Conduct contains the standards for the business relationship between Aegon and its vendors in order to enable Aegon manage the most material business conduct, social and environmental risks (also referred to as sustainability risks) associated with its procurement of goods and services. | ||
| Financial Economic Crime | FEC Statement and Wolfsberg Questionnaire | Aegon is at risk of being used to launder proceeds of crime, to finance terrorism and/or to be involved in transactions related to sanctioned persons, entities and/or countries as well as trade controlled exports and proliferation financing. Aegon defines these as Financial Economic Crime (FEC) risks. Aegon implemented several policies on FEC to prevent its businesses from involvement in money-laundering and terrorist financing, fraud and/or bribery. Aegon is committed to the Wolfsberg Group principles on Financial Crime Compliance. The Wolfsberg Group is an association of thirteen global banks which aims to develop frameworks and guidance for the management of financial crime risks, particularly with respect to Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorist Financing policies. | ||