Responsible ownership push picks up steam

The Tokyo-based Pension Fund Association has appointed UK firm Hermes EOS to help it implement its stewardship activities, in a sign of a growing focus on the role of investors in corporate governance in Japan and elsewhere in Asia. The move by the ¥12.7 trillion ($112 billion) fund reflects accelerating momentum in the region towards establishing principles of responsible ownership for institutional investors, said Hans-Christoph Hirt, co-head of Hermes EOS.  Last week Hong Kon…