MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Zurich Insurance to Place $5b in Impact Investments to Assist 5m People, Prevent 5m Tons of Carbon Emissions Annually

Zurich Insurance, a financial group headquartered in Switzerland, recently announced that it intends to increase the amount of money it places in impact investments to USD 5 billion with the intent of improving the lives of 5 million people per year. Part of the effort will be through increased investment in “green” bonds intended to address environmental problems, with the goal of saving 5 million tons of carbon emissions per year. Zurich will also invest more in “social” and “sustainability” bonds that seek to alleviate poverty as well as private equity funds satisfying its impact criteria relating to sustainability and reducing poverty and inequality. The company has not specified a deadline for reaching its goal.

Founded in 1872, Zurich provides casualty, life and property insurance in 200 countries. As of 2016, it reported USD 190 billion in group investments and USD 4.5 billion in business operating profits.

By Ryan Gauthier, Research Associate