HanseMerkur aligns capital investments with sustainability

50 percent CO2 reduction by 2029

Hamburg, September 07, 2022. HanseMerkur is strengthening its sustainability course and aligning all investments held in the assets of the group companies to be sustainable. The classification is based on Article 8 of the “Disclosure Regulation” SFDR (Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation) of the EU. As part of this, the company will reduce the CO2 emissions of the portfolio by at least 50 percent by 2029. The year 2021 serves as the basis. In addition to reducing portfolio emissions, the target dimension of HanseMerkur includes responsible investing and commitment as well as financing in the transition to a climate-neutral world. The measures derived from this are in accordance with the goals of the Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance (AOA), which HanseMerkur joined last year. The United Nations-convened network of the world’s largest investors plans to achieve net-zero carbon emissions from their investment portfolios by 2050.

With its investment activities, HanseMerkur promotes the sustainable orientation of companies and portfolios. On the other hand, necessary transition processes in the economy and society should be initiated. Against this background, HanseMerkur has aligned its entire guarantee assets in accordance with Art. 8 of the “Disclosure Ordinance”. The Hamburg insurance company thus systematically includes ESG criteria in all investments.

“In order to advance the transformation of the economy and society towards climate neutrality, concrete and measurable goals are needed. With our ambitious interim goal of at least halving greenhouse gas emissions in our investments by 2029, we are making a contribution to more sustainable management. Because as a mutual insurance company, acting in the interests of the community and intergenerational justice is a significant part of our self-image,” says Eberhard Sautter, CEO of HanseMerkur, summarizing the efforts.

The project is an important milestone on the way to climate neutrality in accordance with the Paris Climate Agreement by 2050. Last year’s entry into the AOA sustainability network and the associated power of the global community forms a valuable framework for increasingly operationalizing sustainability efforts .

With regard to the three target dimensions, the company is proceeding as follows: For the “reduction of portfolio emissions” by 50 percent by 2029, HanseMerkur is primarily starting with its own investment and business processes. The reduction relates in particular to the portfolio of listed equities and corporate bonds. Investments in real estate are already on the reduction path in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. In its role as an institutional investor, HanseMerkur is also committed to the goal of “Responsible Investing and Commitment” for the transition to a low-emission economy. It does this by, for example, seeking direct engagement dialogue with at least the 20 issuers that make the largest contribution to the portfolio’s greenhouse gas emissions. Another vehicle is the targeted exercise of voting rights. With the third climate goal “Financing the transition to a climate-neutral world”, HanseMerkur aims to invest in climate-positive forms of investment. In accordance with the EU taxonomy, these investments are to be steadily increased.

About HanseMerkur

With an annual turnover of 3.3 billion euros (2021), HanseMerkur is the only independent insurance group in the financial center of Hamburg. The roots of the 147-year-old personal insurer lie in health insurance, which is still the main division of the company today. HanseMerkur is also a specialist for private supplementary protection for those with statutory health insurance and, with around 1.26 million people with supplementary insurance (2021), one of the largest German providers in this segment. In addition, with premium income of EUR 183 million (2021) in the travel and leisure segment, it is one of the market leaders in tourism insurance. Further information at www.hansemerkur.de