MSCI just awarded Helvetia an “A” in the sustainability category

Press release
St. Gallen, August 19, 2022

The independent rating agency MSCI has raised Helvetia’s ESG rating to “A”, acknowledging the insurance group’s measures in favor of sustainable development. As Helvetia’s first Chief Sustainability Officer, Kaspar Hartmann will implement and further refine the sustainability strategy across the entire group in the future.

Helvetia wants to contribute to the sustainable development of the economy and society as a European financial services provider. As part of the 20.25 sustainable development strategy, the insurance group also aims to commit to sustainable development in accordance with its vision. Helvetia focuses on four areas relevant to its stakeholders and to the insurance industry: its own business, customers and products, capital investments, and culture and governance. The carbon neutrality of the activity since 2017, adherence to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment in 2020 and the adoption of a responsible investment strategy in 2021 are among the milestones that the company has already achieved.

Improved sustainability rating
The recent awarding of an “A” rating (“BBB” previously) by the independent rating agency MSC shows that the various measures that have been implemented in the field of sustainable development in recent years have been very well received. Helvetia has thus achieved the objective of an ESG rating “A” from MSCI set as part of its sustainability strategy 20.25. She will continue to work hard on different aspects of sustainable development and to pursue improvements.

Kaspar Hartmann appointed Chief Corporate Sustainability Officer
Philipp Gmür, CEO of the Helvetia Group emphasizes: “Sustainability is an important success factor for our company. With our business model, we promote an economic, social and ecological approach and generate sustainable financial performance.” This is why Helvetia is also strengthening its sustainability activities at organizational level by appointing Kaspar Hartmann as Chief Sustainability Officer. In this newly created position, he will implement and further develop the group-wide sustainability strategy even more intensively. Kaspar Hartmann, 46, has held various management positions with Helvetia in Switzerland and abroad for 17 years. Most recently, he successfully led the non-life business of Helvetia Austria.

About Helvetia Group
With its headquarters in St. Gallen, Switzerland, the Helvetia Group has grown since 1858 into a successful insurance group with more than 12,000 employees and more than 7 million customers. It has always enabled its customers to seize opportunities and take risks – Helvetia is there for them, when it matters. As the best partner, Helvetia is present wherever insurance needs exist. It offers insurance, pension and investment solutions from a single provider, as well as simple products and processes. The Helvetia Group knows its business, which ranges from mobile phone insurance to cover for the construction of the Gotthard base tunnel and the long-term investment of its customers’ money. Helvetia enthusiastically develops and operates new business models and conducts its own business dynamically and with an eye to the future. It acts with foresight and responsibility in the interest of its shareholders, customers and employees, but also of its partners, society and the environment.
In Switzerland, Helvetia is the leading Swiss all-lines insurer. In the Europe segment, with Germany, Italy, Austria and Spain, it has a solid position to achieve above-average growth. In the Specialty Markets segment, Helvetia offers tailor-made special and reinsurance coverage on an international scale. With a business volume of CHF 1.22 billion, Helvetia achieved an IFRS result after tax of CHF 519.8 million in the 2021 financial year. Helvetia Holding AG shares are traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange.

Disclaimer
This document was produced by the Helvetia Group and may not be copied, modified, offered, sold or otherwise given to third parties without its consent. The German language version of the document is authoritative. Versions of the document in other languages ​​are provided for informational purposes only. All reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the information presented is accurate and that the opinions expressed are fair and reasonable. Information or statistics taken from an external source should not be interpreted as having been adopted or endorsed by the Helvetia Group. Neither the Helvetia Group, nor any of its bodies, executive employees, collaborators and advisers, nor any other person, can be held liable for losses arising in any way whatsoever, directly or indirectly, from the use of this information. The facts and information in this document are as current as possible, and may be modified subsequently. Neither the Helvetia Group nor any of its bodies, executive employees, collaborators, advisers or any other person is expressly or tacitly responsible for the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this document.
This document may contain projections or other forward-looking statements relating to Helvetia Group, which by their nature involve risks and uncertainties, both general and specific; it is possible that any predictions, forecasts, projections or other contents implied or expressed in forward-looking statements will not be achieved. We caution you that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. These factors include: (1) changes in general economic conditions, particularly in the markets in which we operate; (2) developments in financial markets; (3) interest rate fluctuations; (4) fluctuations in currency exchange rates; (5) changes in laws and ordinances, including changes in accounting standards and practices; (6) risks associated with implementing our business strategies; (7) the frequency, magnitude and general pattern of insured losses; (8) trends in mortality and morbidity; (9) policy renewal and lapse rates as well as the (10) realization of economies of scale and synergy effects. In this context, we would like to point out that the above list of important factors is not exhaustive. When evaluating forward-looking statements, you should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties. All of our forward-looking statements are based on information available to Helvetia Group as of the date of their publication, and Helvetia Group undertakes no obligation to update them, except as required by applicable law.