Sustainability as an Asset Manager
In its role as an asset manager, Swiss Life Asset Managers integrates different approaches to responsible investment into its investment activities. In addition, Swiss Life Asset Managers offers a customer-oriented range of sustainable products based on a clear and consistent set of rules.
As a responsible investor, Swiss Life Asset Managers can make a relevant contribution to the positive development of society and the environment. It does this by reducing risks to society and the environment, taking corresponding measures to manage risk, but also by exploiting opportunities and offering its customers appropriate investment products and solutions.
The integration of ESG criteria into investment and risk management processes and the application of the PRI to proprietary assets and third-party assets are formalised in the overall responsible investment approach. Altogether, at least one responsible investment approach according to the PRI is applied to around 90% of total assets under management.
Implementation of the PRI approaches in the different asset classes
| Exclusions / negative screening | Positive screening | Best-in-class-screening | Norms-based screening | ESG integration | Thematic investment | Active stewardship | Impact investing | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed income | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||
| Equity | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||
| Private equity | ||||||||||||||||
| Hedge funds | ||||||||||||||||
| Property | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||||
| Cash | ||||||||||||||||
| Infrastructure | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||||
| Mortgages | X | |||||||||||||||
| Loans | ||||||||||||||||
| Multi-asset | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||
| Money market | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||
As a major investor, Swiss Life Asset Managers aims to ensure that the direct investments in its portfolio are in line with the company’s fundamental standards and values. As a signatory to the UNGC, Swiss Life is committed amongst other things to the principles for upholding human rights and protecting the environment. In addition, Swiss Life Asset Managers has been a member of NZAM since 2022 and submitted its net zero targets in 2023. The targets, which cover 15% of total assets under management, are on track to be achieved. During the reporting year, NZAM carried out a review of the initiative with the involvement of its members, including Swiss Life Asset Managers. The resulting updated commitment statement meets Swiss Life Asset Managers’ expectations, and the company will therefore remain involved in the initiative for the time being.
Further information on Swiss Life Asset Managers’ NZAM commitment can be found at www.swisslife-am.com/net-zero-asset-managers
The responsible investment approach goes beyond just complying with regulatory requirements and standards. Swiss Life Asset Managers aims to make a tangible contribution through its own data-driven insights, measurable climate change mitigation measures and active engagement, where appropriate and effective.
By managing CO₂ emissions, enhancing climate resilience and fostering good governance, Swiss Life Asset Managers aims to translate responsibility into opportunity – embedded in tailored investment solutions that reflect client preferences.
Swiss Life Asset Managers is confident that these principles create long-term value for clients and support the transition to a low-carbon economy. Accordingly, they are embedded across all asset classes. On the one hand, this is done through the PRI approaches (see table above), which set different priorities in the areas of climate and nature, good governance, and people and wellbeing, depending on the asset class. On the other hand, these principles form the basis for product development and marketing.