MetLife General Account Investment Portfolio

MetLife maintains a well-diversified investment portfolio and applies prudent risk management to secure long-term returns in accordance with MetLife’s ESG Investment Policy. MetLife is building a foundation for a less carbon-intensive and more socially responsible general account portfolio through our investment strategy. 

MetLife has a commitment to energy transition initiatives that drive environmental sustainability and decarbonization. To harness the power of our influence as a leading insurance and financial services firm, we have set goals to help transition to a zero-carbon economy and more sustainable future. In 2022, MetLife, Inc. made the commitment to take the company’s carbon neutrality commitment a step further by targeting net zero emissions for global operations and its general account investment portfolio by 2050 or sooner.²

Exclusionary Investment Screens

MetLife has applied exclusionary investment screens for our general account, which have been implemented to avoid investment in companies doing business in certain industries or business lines that are not in alignment with our core values, including: 

• Manufacturers of automatic and semiautomatic assault weapons intended for sale to civilian customers; 
• Direct producers of controversial weapons, including cluster munitions, landmines, and biological and chemical weapons; 
• Tobacco, vaping and e-cigarette manufacturers; 
• Mining and/or utility companies deriving 25% or more of their revenue from thermal coal; and 
• Companies that hold at least 20% of their oil reserves in oil sands. 

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company issued its first green funding agreement in 2020 with the aim of ultimately allocating the net proceeds to renewable energy projects, green buildings or other eligible green assets under the MetLife Sustainable Financing Framework.

 In 2021, funds were allocated as follows:³ 

Funded assets included wind and solar projects in the U.S. and Mexico, LEED-certified buildings in the U.S. and sustainably managed forestry and climate smart farm assets in Peru and the U.S.⁴

Sustainable Financing Framework and Related Issuances

MetLife’s Sustainable Financing Framework facilitates alignment of MetLife’s business and investment activities to support and drive a more sustainable future by offering a framework for issuances of green, social and sustainable bonds, term loans, preferred stock, subordinated notes and funding agreements.

See Managing Responsibly for more information >

See 2021 MetLife Sustainable Financing Report >

Emerging Risks, Opportunities And Regulation

Around the world, regulations are emerging that require companies to report their climate risks. Compliance with the European Union Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation is a priority for MIM, and we are preparing for these efforts. MetLife stays up to date on policy trends and evolving regulatory requirements, globally, through internal and external resources, engagement and our global Climate Advisory Council. 

See Managing Climate Risks for more information >

In 2021, MetLife became the first U.S. insurer to include multiple veteran, women, and ethnically and racially diverse-owned boutique investment banking firms in successfully issuing a $500 million Funding Agreement-Backed Note. The transaction was led by MIM’s Capital Markets Group. This represents the first time diverse-owned firms were engaged in more senior, higher-profile roles on a transaction of this type.