Navigating through transitions

As a socially engaged wealth manager, we have the ability and the desire to contribute to the transition to a more sustainable economy. How our clients’ assets are invested is critically important in this regard. Our primary mission is to help our clients navigate through the inevitable changes and to allocate their capital to organisations and companies that are part of the two transitions where we believe we can make the biggest difference. Areas where we have strong expertise and data available that is needed both to drive real progress and to measure it. For us, these are the energy transition and the food transition.

1. We are committed to become a net-zero wealth manager by 2050, with an intermediate target of at least 50% CO₂ reduction by 2030 ( base year 2019). 

2. We strive to reduce the carbon footprint for discretionary AuM by -7% annually. In addition, to demonstrate our commitment to the Net Zero goals, we have set a -8% annual emission reduction target for our own organisation.

3. We aim to (re)allocate our clients’ assets towards the opportunities presented by the transitions. This is done through our in-house funds as well as externally managed funds. 

4. We focus on two themes: Climate and biodiversity and Living better for longer.

5. We recognise that these themes need to contribute to the two most important transitions of our age: the energy transition and the food transition. Acting on these transitions also involves considering the other major transitions that are closely aligned, most notably the materials transition.

Our Stewardship and Sustainable Investment Report offers clients, shareholders and other stakeholders a detailed insight of what we have achieved in terms of sustainable themes and activities in 2023. We believe we help our clients in the best possible way by acting as stewards and helping them to allocate their capital to companies or solutions that support the transitions and can make the most of them.

To efficiently leverage on our inhouse knowledge and experience with sustainability matters, we have set-up a Sustainability and Impact Investing team focused on growing and expanding Van Lanschot Kempen's sustainable and impact investing offering. The members formulate and implement the responsible investment policies, prepare the exclusion lists and conduct collaborative engagements.
   
However, at Van Lanschot Kempen, more direct sustainability expertise resides within the investment teams as well. The role of portfolio manager and analyst is combined, allowing for a 360 view of the companies we invest in. Portfolio managers conduct the engagement with individual companies, building on the expertise of the Sustainability and Impact Investing team.