26 November 2021

We, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group, under the “Basic Policy on the Social Responsibility of Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group (Sustainability Policy)”, upholds respect for individuals’ human rights and diverse values, and rejects unjustifiable acts of discrimination in all the activities in the Group. Besides, in December 2013, the Group formulated its human rights policy which serves as a standard for acts and judgments concerning human rights, to ensure the execution of the aforementioned basic policy. https://www.smth.jp/english/sustainability/management/philosophy/human_rights_policy

In addition, we have set up a Human Rights Due Diligence Liaison Committee to investigate the human rights response status of the entire Group, including overseas, identify necessary issues and risks, and discuss and respond to improvement measures. The Human Rights Due Diligence Liaison Committee conducts a survey on the status of human rights response once a year using the Human Rights Due Diligence Self-Checklist. The items on the self-checklist include human rights issues in loans & investments and supply chain (racial discrimination, child labor, human health, environmental destruction that affects people's livelihoods, weapons and armament manufacture contrary to humanitarian concerns, fairness in hiring activities, consideration for employee human rights, etc.). https://www.smth.jp/english/sustainability/strategy_approach/human-resources/human-rights-2

As for investment and loans, we basically conduct engagement to the borrowers / investees in many fields. When we are certain that we can’t expect enough progress or response of them, we will consider voting at the shareholders meeting or divestment.

This time, you kindly sent an inquiry to us regarding individual investments of the Group, but it would be deeply regretful that we will not be able to answer / disclose about the decisions and actions we have made for individual borrowers / investees from the point of the duty of confidentiality.

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group will continue to collect information on cases where the corporate activities of our domestic and overseas suppliers and contractors (supply chain), and companies that we invest in or lend to, negatively impact human rights. In cases where relevant laws, standards, and policies are violated, necessary measures are taken as appropriate.