Allianz rated as leading sustainable financial company
"Allianz's sustainability strategy has been successfully integrated into corporate thinking, and the board's strong commitment to manage challenges throughout the group - including subsidiaries such as Dresdner Bank and AGF - remains unchanged," write analysts from Dow Jones.
Benchmark for sustainability performance
The Dow Jones Sustainability Index Rating was set up in 1998 and since then has served as an internationally acknowledged benchmark for companies' sustainability performance. The Dow Jones Sustainability Index World is viewed as ground-breaking by many other investors focusing on sustainable and future orientated companies.
"Allianz's Sustainability performance is leading the industry," write the analysts. The analysts highlight the company's transparent corporate governance and its handling of climate change challenges, as well as its "3+One" program, which aims to increase sustainable competitiveness and value.
Launch of sustainability report
The Allianz Sustainability Report presents Allianz Group's strategy for sustainable development and gives several "best practice" examples. "Sustainability is a central factor in the optimization of risk portfolios," explains Lutz Cleemann who heads the Group's Sustainable Development strategy team. "The focus is on risks that result from long-term technological developments as well as changes in society's attitudes," Cleemann adds.
Allianz publishes as one of the first financial companies an entire balance sheet according to the internationally acknowledged Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). Rating agencies welcomed the switch to GRI reporting. "Concisely structured sustainability reporting on the Internet has taken Allianz a significant step towards transparency as regards social and ecological issues," says Dietrich Wild, an analyst with Oekom-Research.
