talanx group annual report 2011 en

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The Talanx Group Strategy Enterprise
management
Corporate social responsibility
Talanx Group. Annual Report 2011
Research and
development
Within the terms of our responsible enterprise management geared
towards sustainable value creation, we attach particular importance
to the prudent use of all resources and to our commitment to societal
and social projects.
Sustainability
In pursuing our aim of keeping our environmental footprint as
small as possible, we at the Talanx Group concentrate essentially
on three courses of action: sustainable enterprise management;
developing products that preserve the environment, save energy
and encourage social responsibility; and an investment policy that
takes sustainability into account in making investment decisions.
A current example of energy-saving policy in the Group are our new
corporate premises in Hannover, which were inaugurated in December
of the year under review. The technical blueprint was geared
to minimising consumption of energy and resources. Regenerative
energy and resources are used wherever possible, e.g. by tapping the
earth’s natural potential (geothermal energy) to meet basic heating
and cooling needs. A highly insulated building envelope, triple
glazing and the greening of roof surfaces similarly contribute to the
building’s sustainability.
In all its current fonds policies, HDI-Gerling offers am actively
managed portfolio dedicated to the theme of sustainability. Its
“future Plus” investment strategy contains sustainable and ecological
investments. The classification is specified by the independent
research agency Feri EuroRating Service AG. The selection criteria
are conservation of the natural environment, economical use of
resources, fair treatment of people and an attractive return.
AmpegaGerling, our investment company for third-party clients,
offers public funds for which sustainability is an important investment
criterion. It offers several sustainable investments, including
not only the Gerling Responsibility Fund but also the special bond
and equity funds terrAssisi Renten I AMI and terrAssisi Aktien I AMI.
These funds invest in entities and issuers that incorporate not only
economic but also environmental and social criteria into their longterm
company strategy and which are considered trailblazers in
assuming responsibility for a sustainable future.
Our Group’s own investment policy pays attention to the aforesaid
criteria and also to compliance with certain ethical, social and
ecological standards on the part of the issuers of our investment
products.
Markets and
general conditions
Business
development
Assets and
financial position
Social responsibility
Our commitment to society, also known as “good corporate citizenship,”
is many-faceted. For instance some divisions sponsor their
own projects, and our staff demonstrate social involvement through
numerous honorary activities. At Group level we have devoted our
efforts especially to the area of “education and training.” As a central
step, the Talanx Foundation, set up in 2009, has since the summer
term in 2010 been awarding up to ten scholarships per term to talented
students in insurance-related disciplines at the universities of
Hannover, Leipzig, Cologne, Karlsruhe and Ulm. In 2012, this scheme
is to be enlarged to provide up to 15 scholarships and extended to
further universities. The scholarships are granted to particularly
strong students who themselves lack the resources to complete
their degrees within the standard course duration.
In addition to having founded the Talanx Foundation, Talanx has
since the spring of 2011 been sponsoring the international student
organisation SIFE Germany e. V. SIFE stands for “Students In Free
Enterprises” and is a non-profit organisation, founded in the USA in
1975, that today has activities at over 1,800 universities in 47 countries
worldwide. In Germany, SIFE branches have by now been set
up at 32 universities and, besides Talanx, has won the support of
40 other leading companies as sponsors. In practical projects of
their own choosing, the students help disadvantaged persons and
organisations to improve their situation and to stabilise themselves
sustainably by their own efforts. The students prepare their social,
ecological, charitable and cultural projects themselves and carry
them out entirely on their own. Target orientation, budget planning
and measuring success are integral components of all SIFE projects.
Cooperation between Talanx and SIFE takes many forms. In addition
to financial assistance from Talanx as SIFE’s sponsor, staff
from Talanx’s human resources organisation serve as jurors in local
competitions. Talanx managers and staff also provide SIFE groups at
the universities with direct moral and practical support as business
advisors. It suits us ideally that SIFE is highly successful not only
in Germany but also in other countries in which Talanx has major
operations, such as Brazil, Poland and Italy. This makes it easier to
expand the initiative on an international scale.