De eerste stewardshipcode werd in 2010 geïntroduceerd in het Verenigd Koninkrijk, met als doel de engagement tussen vermogensbeheerders en ondernemingen te verbeteren om zo het risicogecorrigeerde rendement voor aandeelhouders op de lange termijn te verbeteren. Begin 2014 was Japan het eerste land in Azië dat een stewardshipcode introduceerde. Het International Corporate Governance Network heeft een Global Stewardship Code opgesteld.
Hoewel deze stewardshipcodes niet verplicht zijn, worden ze wel steeds vaker gezien als een voorwaarde voor ondernemingen om hun activiteiten voort te zetten. Zo verlangt het grootste Japanse pensioenfonds GPIF bijvoorbeeld van vermogensbeheerders dat ze de Japanse stewardshipcode ondertekenen.
Rendement waar de wereld beter van wordt
Our stewardship policy
Sustainable investing is a key pillar of our corporate strategy. We are convinced that companies with sustainable business practices have a competitive advantage and are more successful in the long-term. An active approach to the stewardship of the assets in which we invest is an important part of our sustainable investing approach. Robeco fully supports the approach of stewardship and has put in place several robust policies to adhere to its responsibilities in this respect.
Carrying out stewardship responsibilities is an integral part of our sustainable investing approach. A central aspect of Robeco’ s corporate mission statement is to fulfill its fiduciary duty to clients and beneficiaries. We manage assets for a variety of clients with a variety of investment needs. In our activities we always strive to serve our clients’ interests to the best of our capabilities. Our stewardship policy is closely aligned with our investment mission, which is to use research-based, quality driven processes to produce the best possible long term results for our clients. Therefor our stewardship activities are aimed at long term value creation in our investee portfolio companies. Even though assets are managed with different strategies and investment objectives to fit clients’ needs, there is a companywide philosophy that companies (and countries) that act in a sustainable way towards the environment, society and all its stakeholders are likely to be more able to deal with a variety of issues in the future of their business or endeavors.