To ensure we manage our assets responsibly, we work together closely with a number of external information providers. We are also a member of a number of carefully-selected initiatives in the social responsibility arena.

External information providers
When we select equity, SNS Asset Management has access to appropriate ESG information. This information stems from various information providers whereby we use the principle of redundancy. In simple terms, this means that we look for multiple assessments of companies' behaviour and activities. This is important because information providers often provide divergent analyses and opinions and have expertise in different areas. For the European market, we use information from the Belgian/French company Vigeo. For Asia and the Pacific, we use the Japanese firm Good Bankers. For the American market we listen to KLD Research & Analytics in Boston. And for the MSCI World, we use the Risk Metrics Group.

Partnerships
SNS Asset Management participates in the following initiatives:

1. Principles for Responsible Investment (www.unpri.org)
   Principles drafted by the United Nations that offer a framework for investors looking to invest responsibly.
   
   
2. Eurosif (www.eurosif.org)
   Pan-European network organisation with the objective of stimulating responsible investment.
   
   
3. Enhanced Analytics Initiative ((www.enhancedanalytics.com)
   Joint venture between asset managers looking to promote research into responsible investment.
   
   
4. Carbon Disclosure Project (www.cdproject.net)
   Non-profit organisation whose objective is to create a sustainable dialogue between shareholders and companies on the consequences of climate change.
   
   
5. Eumedion (www.eumedion.nl)
   Dutch stakeholder organisation of institutional investors addressing corporate governance.
   
   
6. NPM (www.microfinance.com)
   Joint venture of Dutch organisations that support microfinance through investments or subsidies.
   
   
7. Copenhagen Communiqué (www.copenhagencommunique.com)
   The business leaders of over 500 companies from around the world have published The Copenhagen Communiqué calling on world leaders to agree “an ambitious, robust and equitable global deal on climate change that responds credibly to the scale and urgency of the crisis facing the world today”. They will warn that business will suffer if a credible deal is not reached at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this December.
   
   
8. Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) (www.globalimpactinvestingnetwork.org)
   GIIN is a new not-for-profit organization dedicated to accelerating the development of an effective impact investing industry. Impact investing is the use of for-profit investment to address social and environmental challenges.