MetLife Social Impact Investments Rise to $50 Billion
MetLife Foundation financial inclusion commitments reach more than six million low-income individuals
NEW YORK, June 19, 2018 /3BL Media/ – MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) today announced its impact investment portfolio grew to $50 billion in 2017, an increase of 12 percent year-over-year from 2016 to 2017, and MetLife Foundation reached more than six million low-income individuals through the fourth year of its five year, $200 million dollar commitment to financial inclusion.
Those are just two of the ways MetLife and MetLife Foundation are making an impact on society, as outlined in the company’s latest corporate responsibility report. Released today, Global Impact, the company’s annual corporate responsibility report, highlights how MetLife manages Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues and makes a positive impact on society and the economy.
The report includes information on MetLife’s leadership on climate issues and social impact investing as well as our efforts to make our products more accessible and easier to use, enhance customer service and improve employee wellness. It details our accomplishments in workplace diversity and MetLife Foundation’s work to improve financial inclusion. The report also provides a progress update on the ESG goals and commitments established in 2015.
“For 150 years, MetLife has managed its business with a commitment to being a responsible corporate citizen, and communicating about our ESG activities is one of the many ways we continue to set a high bar for ourselves,” said Mike Zarcone, MetLife executive vice president and head of Corporate Affairs.
Some of MetLife’s corporate responsibility activities and accomplishments in 2017 included:
- Named to the Dow Jones® Sustainability Index, North America (DJSI) for the second year in a row. The DJSI is a widely recognized standard for corporate responsibility that tracks leading sustainability-driven companies.
- Received a grade of “A minus” from CDP® (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project) for reporting and management of climate issues. This rating places MetLife in CDP’s top quartile “Leadership” category among financial services providers.
- Named to the first all-sector Bloomberg® Gender-Equality Index in January 2018. This followed MetLife’s inclusion on the Bloomberg Financial Services Gender-Equality Index in 2016 and 2017.
- Recognized by Deloitte® and the Alliance for Board Diversity for having one of the most diverse boards of any company in the Fortune 500®. 1
- Made $45 million in grants by MetLife and MetLife Foundation, including $30 million for financial inclusion efforts that help low-income individuals and families get access to safe and affordable financial products and services.
- Included by FORTUNE® Magazine on the World’s Most Admired Companies® list for life and health insurers in 2018. 2
Global Impact is prepared in accordance with the latest guidelines published by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the nonprofit organization that sets the standard for sustainability reporting. The GRI Guidelines provide a globally recognized framework for companies to measure and communicate their environmental, economic, social and governance performance. By using this framework, MetLife joins thousands of companies around the world in quantifying the benefits and impacts of its business activities.
This year, we are again providing an Overview summarizing our efforts along with a more detailed full report. To view either the Overview or the full report, and to learn more about MetLife’s corporate responsibility activities, please visit www.MetLifeGlobalImpact.com.
About MetLife
MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), through its subsidiaries and affiliates (“MetLife”), is one of the world’s leading financial services companies, providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to help its individual and institutional customers navigate their changing world. Founded in 1868, MetLife has operations in more than 40 countries and holds leading market positions in the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. For more information, visit www.metlife.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain or incorporate by reference information that includes or is based upon forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements give expectations or forecasts of future events. These statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They use words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “will,” “continuing,” and other words and terms of similar meaning, or are tied to future periods, in connection with a discussion of future operating or financial performance. In particular, these include statements relating to future actions, prospective services or products, future performance or results of current and anticipated services or products, sales efforts, expenses, the outcome of contingencies such as legal proceedings, trends in operations and financial results.
Any or all forward-looking statements may turn out to be wrong. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Many such factors will be important in determining the actual future results of MetLife, Inc., its subsidiaries and affiliates. These statements are based on current expectations and the current economic environment. They involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. These statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Risks, uncertainties, and other factors that might cause such differences include the risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in MetLife, Inc.’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K (the "Annual Report") filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), any Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed by MetLife, Inc. with the SEC after the date of the Annual Report under the captions "Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors," and other filings MetLife, Inc. makes with the SEC. MetLife, Inc. does not undertake any obligation to publicly correct or update any forward-looking statement if MetLife, Inc. later become aware that such statement is not likely to be achieved. Please consult any further disclosures MetLife, Inc. makes on related subjects in reports to the SEC.
Contact
Jon Richter
Phone: 212-578-5370
Email: jrichter@metlife.com
1 Reprinted with permission from Catalyst, Diversified Search, The Executive Leadership Council, the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility, and Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Inc. Published on February 6, 2017.
2 From FORTUNE Magazine, February 1, 2018. ©2018 Time Inc. FORTUNE and The World’s Most Admired Companies are registered trademarks of Time Inc. and are used under license. FORTUNE and Time Inc. are not affiliated with, and do not endorse products or services of, MetLife.
