DWS is a fully integrated global investment group, supported by their Chief Investment Office which supplies the overarching framework that guides investment decisions. Their offerings span all major asset classes including equity, fixed income, cash and multi-asset as well as alternative investments. Their alternative investments include real estate, infrastructure, private equity, liquid real assets and sustainable investments.

Their product offerings are distributed across Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), the Americas and Asia-Pacific countries (APAC) through their single global distribution network comprising of approximately 880 investment professionals and 690 sales professionals across 15 countries. They also leverage third-party distribution channels, including their largest shareholder Deutsche Bank Group.

They serve a diverse client base of retail and institutional investors worldwide, with a strong presence in their home market in Germany. These clients include large institutions to governments, corporations and foundations as well as millions of individual investors. As a regulated asset manager, they act as a fiduciary for their clients and they are conscious of their societal impact. Responsible investing has therefore long been a key part of their heritage because it serves the best interests of those who entrust them to manage their assets.

They currently have an environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) action plan in line with the 2015 Paris Agreement. Their three main goals are:

1. Corporates must invest more in sustainable projects. Implementing sustainability along the entire value chain.
2. Institutional investors, asset managers, and insurance companies must consider ESG in their investment decision-making process.
3. Starting in 2020 investment advisors must ask their clients if they want to consider ESG for their investments.

They also produce extensive inhouse research reports surrounding particular topics like climate change, responsible investing, ESG, corporates and sustainability.

DWS Group values:

Integrity First

Openness, transparency and accountability must define every relationship, whether with investors, colleagues or society as a whole. In tandem, clients’ best interests should always take precedence. This is how lasting value is created and how wealth is protected and grown.

Demanding Excellence

Expectations should be exceeded rather than merely met. And to achieve this, we strive for excellence in everything we do. Our fully integrated investment platform based on outstanding proprietary research, a unique decision-making process and a level of precision in keeping with the best traditions of German engineering are the core components for us to apply this principle.

Entrepreneurial Minds

Many investors have an entrepreneurial outlook. The people they trust to look after their investments should share that perspective. Innovation, adaptation, agility, efficiency and collective intelligence are hallmarks of success, especially amid the risks and opportunities of an ever-changing world.

Inspiring Sustainability

Forward thinking demands a long-term view. And a sense of consciousness and responsibility for the society we are part of. The long heritage of integrating our Responsible Investing philosophy across all asset classes demonstrates our conviction to contribute to a sustainable future by incorporating environmental, social and governance considerations into investment decisions.

DWS principally fund their business through equity and cash generated by their operations. Cash inflows are largely generated by income from profit pooling agreements and from participating interests as well as DWS Group internal intermediate financing.

Detailed funding can be found in the annual report here.