a.s.r. creates an exception: investment in the Dutch defense industry

a.s.r. has made a change to its Responsible Investment Policy that allows for investment, under strict conditions, in Dutch companies or activities linked to the defense industry. This decision was made following a call from the Dutch government to Dutch institutional investors to make investment capital available to strengthen the European defense industry.

With this change in a.s.r.’s responsible investment policy, a.s.r. is responding to the call to contribute to a safer world and democratic values through targeted investments. Under strict conditions, a.s.r. can deviate from its exclusion policy. The conditions are as follows:

• The companies must be based in the Netherlands.
• The companies must not be linked to the production or distribution of controversial weapons or civilian firearms.
• The company must not supply high-risk countries, as defined in the IMVO Framework on Controversial Weapons and Trade in Weapons with High-Risk Countries.
• The investment must be for a.s.r.'s own account and own risk.
• Each investment proposal must be explicitly approved by the Management Board, after consultation with a.s.r. Security Affairs and the a.s.r. Sustainability Committee.
• Monitoring of the conditions for controversial weapons or civilian firearms and high-risk countries will take place annually.

Jos Baeten, CEO of a.s.r.: "In the current situation, where geopolitical tensions are rising and global stability and security are under pressure, political pressure and societal demand for a strong and robust Dutch and European defense industry are increasing. a.s.r. feels a moral responsibility and sees opportunities to contribute with targeted investments in the Netherlands, under strict conditions. With this, we are responding to the political and governmental call to invest in the security of Europe, driven by changing geopolitical circumstances."

The press release can also be read on www.asrnederland.nl (in Dutch).