Integrating ESG into investment decision: Generali Group experience
Francesco Sola
Trieste, October 16th 2018
Internal
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Three important numbers…….
45 1.4.2014 ………………..(at the end of my presentation)
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ESG/ SRI Market – Global overview
Covering globally $23trl in AUM - over 26% global AUM - ESG/ SRI investments are a growing reality, with Europe at the forefront for dimension and innovation Largest market (52% of global AUM) Most developed on defining what constitutes “ESG/ SRI” France as largest market in Europe ($3,4trl, c.29% of EU13 total)
2016 AuM SRI ($bln)
%
ESG AuM/ total country AuM
Growth
Canada Growth
USA
Growth
Growth
Europe
Growth
Asia exc. Japan
Japan
Growth
Australia/ NZ Sources: Global Sustainable Investment Alliance 2016 for aggregated data, Eurosif 2016 for European data. Data as of January 2016. Data n.a. in 2014 for Japan. Eurosif adopted a more restrictive definition of AuM SRI starting from 2015, which results in underestimation of CAGR and growth rate %.
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Why are companies and investors embracing ESG/ SRI? Companies embracing ESG perform better and mitigate risk – which means better results for investors Better operational and financial performance
More effective management of human capital and innovation Companies with high ESG rating generate above-average returns and distribute higher dividends compared to their peers with lower rating High ESG rating imply lower volatility of returns over the long term Companies with high ESG rating have better risk management and compliance frameworks:
Lower risk and volatility
Reducing risk of negative events / business practice (e.g. bribery, corruption) Reduced tail risk and stock volatility for their investors
Driver for improvement of financials
Lower risk exposure and improvement of ESG rating translate into decreased beta, lower cost of capital and, as a consequence, higher multiples Over the long period, companies with high ESG rating overperform their peers
Sources: MSCI – Foundations of ESG Investing Part I, 2017; BofA Merrill Lynch – ESG: good companies can make good stocks, December 2016.
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The layers of ESG integration
Weight of ESG in Investment decisions
Active Ownership Impact Investments
Active Selection
Negative Exclusion
Transversal voting and engagement activities – aimed at encouraging ESG practices in issuers
Achieving a specific societal impact, which is actively measured
Selecting the best investments opportunities using as inputs both financials and ESG
Banning sectors or issuers based on ESG criteria
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Our beliefs With approximately 500 billion Euro of asset under management, we believe Responsible Investment: provides added value for our stakeholders and the society by: Excluding companies with poor/negative ESG practices Selecting companies which deliver more sustainable performances over the long term reinforces our risk management approach (non-financial risks) is the best way to improve companies’ ESG behaviors and practice by Engaging and discussing with them
Initiatives on Sustainability supported by Generali 2007
UN Global Compact
2011
UN PRI – Principles for Responsible Investing
2014
UN PSI – Principles for Sustainable Insurance
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Climate Risk Statement - Geneva Association
2015
The Paris Pledge For Action European Financial Services (EFR) Statement
2018
Just Transition Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures
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ESG / SRI Framework at Generali
We encourage investee companies to adopt/improve ESG practices through: • Voting activities • Dialogue (Engagement)
• We promote positive social impact by sponsoring/ financing initiatives tackling global key social and demographic issues © Generali
Active Ownership
Exclusions
We exclude from our “investable Universe” companies presenting poor ESG practices not meeting Generali Ethical Principles
FRAMEWORK
Impact Investing
Selection
We select and invest in Companies which show best effort in implementing good ESG practices
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Exclusion EXCLUSION CRITERIA
Sectors
ESG Controversies
Controversial Weapons Coal
DECISION
✔
Group Chief Investment Officer
…advised by…
RESTRICTED LIST OUTCOME
ACTIONS
Internal
Environmental damage Human Rights violations Corruption
Responsible Investment Committee
Investments Finance Risk Management Sustainability
WATCH LIST
Restricted
Watch List
Companies not meeting Group Ethical principles
Potentially exposing the Group to higher risk
NO NEW INVESTMENTS Existing exposure (if any): (Fixed Income) hold to maturity Sell
ESG risks as an additional risk
factor for investment decisions Existing exposure (if any): Strict
monitoring for possible downgrading to Restricted (based on materiality) Engagement
Selection
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“Best effort” approach: ESG rating to companies based on their effort to comply with ESG criteria
Companies are assigned an ESG rating based on 34 ESG criteria Companies with rating above the specific sector’s average are included in the SRI approved list – below the average rating companies are excluded
Active Ownership
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Group Voting Guidelines to address voting in Annual General Meeting (AGM) of investee companies
Guidelines embed Generali principles for good ESG practices
Voting
Through voting, Generali encourages ESG behavior in invested companies 2017 voting season: 1,129 AGM attended in 32 countries (mostly in Europe, but also in the Americas and in Asia), and across different industries More than 15,000 resolutions, with more than 46,000 votes casted
Engagement with invested companies allows Generali to gather information and push for integration of ESG in their business model
Engagement
Some examples of Engagement:
Exclusion: to discuss ESG allegations and remediation Selection: dialogue for better understanding ESG risk/opportunities For Voting purpose: engage before AGM to address resolution
Generali Climate Change Strategy - Investments
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On February 21st 2018, the Board of Directors of Generali approved the Group Climate Change Strategy, setting Generali’s commitment for a transition to a more sustainable economy
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Green and Sustainable Investments
Commitment by 2020: €3.5 bln of new investments (Green Bond, Green and Sustainable Infrastructures) 3
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Positioning on coal-related businesses/companies
No new investment Divest € 2 bln: Sell equity (6/12 months) Run-off Bond Portfolio
Engage (Countries strongly dependent on coal)
Instead of simply excluding coal-related companies, Generali can support the sustainable transition to a low-carbon economy by: Engaging with issuers and stakeholders to guide and monitor the transition process Investing in green sectors to drive the economic transformation Internal
ESG/SRI – relevant figures by type of invest. portfolios Ref. date: 31/12/2017
Exclusion
General Account Investments
Third Party risk Investments
(own/shared risk investments)
(Mutual funds, unit linked)
€ 345 bln Euro
€ 325 mln Euro
(worldwide companies – about n. 5.000 monitored)
Selection
€ 36,8 bln Euro (MSCI Europe companies – about n. 500)
Active Ownership
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2 SRI-labelled equity funds: - SRI European Equity - SRI Ageing Population (thematic fund)
(+ € 8 bln Euro fully ESGintegrated funds form the potential acquisition of the majority of Sycomore AM - final agreement to be finalized – of which € 2.5 bln SRI-labelled)
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Our challenges General Account Investment: implement more “ESG Selection” in decision making Full scale ESG-integration in real assets (i.e. Private Equity, Private Debt, Real Estate) ESG Integration as operational and cultural effort Further developments in impact investing Regulatory developments: EU Action Plan on financing sustainable Growth Shareholders Rights Directive IVASS Reg. 38
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Three important numbers…….
45 1.4.2014
21.02.2018
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Thank You.
Francesco Sola Head of Investment Governance & Stewardship Group Investment, Asset & Wealth Management Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A.
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