Off-Grid Solar Renewable Energy Project, Peru. Photo provided by Ergon
MetLife is committed to delivering long-term value for all our stakeholders as we navigate a time of unprecedented change together. This includes where and how we invest through our institutional asset management business, MetLife Investment Management (MIM), which manages MetLife’s general account portfolio. MIM aims to deliver risk-adjusted returns for our investors by building tailored portfolio solutions that encompass environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria into our decision-making processes.
MIM has a long history of responsible investing. We define responsible investments7 as investments that achieve both a market financial return and promote social and/or environmental benefits. MIM's responsible investments focus on the following core areas:
1 As of December 31, 2020. At estimated fair value. Dollars in billions. See Explanatory Note.
2 Includes commercial, agricultural, and residential mortgage loans contained in MetLife’s general account (adjusted as described in the Explanatory Note), separate accounts, and nonproprietary assets of unaffiliated/third-party clients.
3 Includes cash equivalents.
4 Includes real estate and real estate joint ventures contained in MetLife’s general account (adjusted as described in the Explanatory Note), separate accounts, and nonproprietary assets of unaffiliated/third-party clients.
5 Includes limited partnerships, collective trusts, mutual funds registered under the Investment Company Act, and other vehicles offered or available to qualifying investors, including third parties and affiliates.
6 Includes nonprofit clients, Taft-Hartley pension fund clients, and asset manager clients.
7 MIM may periodically refine or otherwise modify its definition of responsible investments and the components thereof based on data availability or other factors. In the current year MIM updated the definition of responsible investments to reflect the addition of certain assets in the green investments and infrastructure investments categories. As a result, the responsible investments data for the current year includes certain responsible investments originated or purchased in prior years. MIM has not updated the responsible investments data for prior years to reflect the updated definition.
8 MIM currently defines green investments to include 1) LEED, ENERGY STAR, BREEAM and/or Fitwel certified real estate equity investments; 2) commercial mortgage loans secured by LEED and/or ENERGY STAR certified real estate; 3) renewable energy projects, including wind and solar; 4) ESPCs (Energy Savings Performance Contracts); 5) public and private corporate green bonds; and 6) PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) residential and commercial loans.
9 Municipal Bonds include taxable and tax-exempt revenue bonds and, to a much lesser extent, general obligations of states, municipalities, and political subdivisions.