Green sustainability in investment helps create value on behalf of clients, according to AXA Real Estate’s 2011-2012 Sustainability Report.
All the buildings bought by AXA last year were subject to a green rating evaluation during the due diligence process. The audit rated the assets’ environmental performance. Where AXA’s minimum requirements were not met, solutions would be proposed to improve it. Should this not be possible, AXA would not complete the investment.
In 2011, AXA RE also received several requests for proposals from institutional investors, including an environmental, social and governance questionnaire which represented up to 15% of the total investor’s assessment grid. The company said it foresaw a time in the near future where this would be included as standard.
Based on the report, tenants are also considering sustainability issues. Last year, AXA introduced green leases for all of its new commercial lettings in Germany, which included regular meetings with occupiers to discuss sustainability actions and performance.
“2011 has been an excellent year of progress in our commitment to sustainability and our efforts to shape progress on this important issue with all participants in the sector,” said Jean-Francois Le Teno, AXA RE’s global head of sustainable development. “Over the year, sustainability has come to increasingly influence not only our investment decisions but also our day-to-day asset management activities.”
