QBE seeks to responsibly invest our proprietary assets, including our premium income, across the globe. Our assets are managed by a mix of in-house portfolio managers and analysts, and external fund managers.
As an international, multi-asset, multi-currency investor and signatory to the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), we factor ESG considerations into our investment decision-making processes to seek to manage risk, improve long-term, risk-adjusted financial returns, and align our approach with stakeholder expectations.
Our Group Investments team is responsible for integrating ESG considerations into our investment decision-making process.
The Head of Business Operations & Investments Sustainability reports to the Group Chief Investment Officer (GCIO) and participates in several sustainability-related committees.
Building trust with our stakeholders and transparency in all our dealings is important to us. We do this through public reporting, including the Principles for Responsible Investments Public Transparency Report, Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement, our climate-related financial disclosures prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Australian Sustainability Reporting Standard AASB S2 Climate-related Disclosures and our annual sustainability reporting.
QBE’s responsible investment approach is guided by the four pillars below and supported by our Environmental and Social (E&S) Risk Framework, and other relevant policies.
Exclusionary Screening
Our E&S Risk Framework promotes informed decision-making consistent with QBE’s commitment to responsible investment. All direct investments are subject to the Framework, which outlines our approach to exclusions that address key E&S risks across our investment activities.
ESG Integration
QBE integrates material ESG risks and opportunities into investment decision-making where relevant, recognising that these factors can affect future cashflows, valuations, price, risk, credit ratings and reputation. This supports more informed investment decisions and contributes to portfolio resilience over time.
Portfolio managers, credit analysts and the Investments Sustainability team incorporate material ESG factors into credit analysis using specialist ESG data sources and an internal ESG assessment, which forms part of QBE’s proprietary credit assessment framework.
QBE also appoints external investment managers and monitors their alignment with our investment philosophy, responsible investment approach and strategic objectives. As part of due diligence, we assess each manager’s responsible investment approach and processes, including how they consider climate transition and physical risk scenario analysis, human rights, modern slavery and labour standards.
Engagement
QBE takes a flexible, practical approach to engagement to support long-term investment performance and sustainability outcomes. We engage external managers and significant issuers on targeted sustainability objectives, informed by materiality, current priorities and key ESG risks and opportunities.
Impact Investments
At QBE, we believe we can deliver financial returns and business value, while also helping to create positive social and environmental impact.
We seek opportunities, through impact investments, to help deliver positive, measurable social and/or environmental benefits, alongside a financial return.
Our commitment to impact investment is reflected in the Premiums4Good program, where we direct a portion of customer premiums to impact investments.
For more information on Premiums4Good, visit our website: Premiums4Good | QBE Group