London and Tokyo, April 28, 2022 - Nomura Asset Management Co., Ltd. (NAM), the core company within the Investment Management Division of Nomura Group, today announced that its subsidiary in the UK, Nomura Asset Management U.K. Limited (‘NAM UK’), has been approved by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) as a signatory to the UK Stewardship Code 2020 (the ‘Code’).

The Code sets high stewardship standards for asset managers and asset owners investing money on behalf of UK savers and pensioners, and service providers that support them. Stewardship is the responsible allocation, management and oversight of capital to create long-term value for clients and beneficiaries leading to sustainable benefits for the economy, the environment and society.

There are 12 ‘apply and explain’ principles in the Code for asset managers and asset owners, and a separate set of 6 principles for service providers. To become a signatory to the Code, organizations must submit to the FRC a stewardship report demonstrating how they have applied the Code’s principles in the previous 12 months. The FRC assesses the report and if it meets the expected standards, the organization will be listed as a signatory to the Code. Once listed, organizations must annually report to remain signatories¹.

The report NAM UK prepared in order to meet the Code also covers the actions and outcomes taken by our affiliate offices, thereby reaffirming NAM’s global commitment to stewardship, engagement and responsible investment.

Peter Ball, Head of EMEA Distribution, Nomura Asset Management, said: “This achievement highlights an objective confirmation of our company’s commitment to high stewardship standards. Our investment teams actively engage in stewardship activities to encourage companies to enhance their corporate value and promote sustainable growth, and to increase medium to long-term investment returns for our clients and beneficiaries.”

“Nomura Asset Management is committed to responsible investment, being a signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment since 2011. We believe that full transparency is the best way to allow our clients and the world to hold us to account from a stewardship perspective and we take our signatory status seriously.”

Environmental, particularly climate change, and social factors, in addition to governance, have become material issues for investors to consider when making investment decisions and undertaking stewardship. The Code recognizes that asset owners and asset managers play an important role as guardians of market integrity and in working to minimize systemic risks as well as being stewards of the investments in their portfolios.

Daniela Dorelova, Sustainable Investment Specialist, Nomura Asset Management, commented: “Having a positive impact on the world is important to us. Being a signatory to the Stewardship Code further demonstrates our commitment in that regard.”

NAM UK has issued a statement on its adherence to the Code since the FRC first established it in 2010, and its subsequent revision in 2012. When the FRC assessed Code signatories in 2016, based on the quality of their statements, NAM UK was awarded the highest ‘Tier 1’ status.

Visit NAM UK’s website to find out more and read a copy of NAM’s report to the FRC.