Responsible financing and investment

Mizuho positions "Environmental and human rights considerations for investment and lending" as one of our materiality. Additionally, regarding our stance on responsible financing and investment from a risk management perspective, we are addressing issues based on the changes in the external environment and the status of responses by internal management.

An overview of responsible financing and investment

Mizuho has established the Environmental and Social Management Policy for Financing and Investment Activity (“ES Policy”), which covers responses to climate change, conservation of biodiversity, and respect for human rights, to prevent and mitigate adverse impacts of financing and investment on the environment and society.

In March 2024, we revised the ES Policy to strengthen our responses to climate change, loss of nature, and human rights issues.

Overview of our Environmental and Social Management Policy for Financing and Investment Activity (PDF/489KB)

Implementation of Environmental and Social Management Policy for Financing and Investment Activity

Verification process when screening a potential transaction	To prevent or mitigate adverse impacts on the environment and society, Mizuho makes decisions on financing and investment transactions after performing due diligence on each core group company based on their business characteristics, which includes confirmation of the client’s risk management status based on the risks that Mizuho should recognize.
Verification process during the transaction term	We engage (hold constructive dialogue) with clients in transition risk sectors and specific industrial sectors at least once yearly. (Engaged with approx. 900 clients in FY2023)   – Verify the degree to which clients have taken steps to avoid or mitigate environmental and social risks. – With clients in transition risk sectors, discuss medium- to long-term issues and confirm the status of the client’s response in regard to climate change risks and opportunities. In the event that we identify any acts in violation of the policy during the term of a transaction, we determine whether or not to continue the transaction after responding to the discovery, such as by urging the client to take immediate remedial measures, based on the characteristics of the services we are providing.
Governance	Our business execution and supervisory lines regularly review whether or not our measures related to risks, sectors, and other factors are appropriate and sufficient, with consideration to changes in the external business environment and the results of implementation. Following these reviews, we may revise or otherwise make changes to our policies to enhance their implementation.
Education and training	To ensure effective risk management, employees and executive officers participate in education and training.
Stakeholder communication	We place a strong emphasis on engagement with stakeholders to ensure that our initiatives are aligned with society's standards and expectations.

Clarification regarding claims published by certain NGOs concerning Mizuho’s amount of financing to the coal industry (PDF/320KB)

 

Providing financing or support for raising capital

As a global financial institution, Mizuho is committed to meeting the banking needs of the communities in Japan and around the world where we operate. To deliver on our responsibilities as a bank, and to contribute to the sound development of economies and societies, we draws on our sophisticated risk–taking capabilities structured within a firm risk management framework.

Additionally, Mizuho’s Credit Code, which stipulates our basic approach, guidelines, and lending criteria, emphasizes the importance of utilizing the provision of credit as a means of contributing to the sustainable development of the economy and society as well as solving social issues. In fact, one of the lending criteria in this Code is whether the extension of credit will contribute to the sound development of the economy and the communities we serve.

We make credit decisions after examining the recognized risks based on our Environmental and Social Management Policy for Financing and Investment Activity, and we also engage in dialogue with customers regarding medium– to long–term environmental and social issues.

Similarly to our credit operations, in our trust operations as well we make decisions on securitization of real estate and other affairs after examining the recognized risks based on our Environmental and Social Management Policy for Financing and Investment Activity. In this way, we are ensuring thorough responses to environmental and social issues.

We also seek to take environmental and social impact into consideration and manage risk through the following initiatives.

The Equator Principles

We recognize that large–scale development projects may have adverse impacts on the environment and local communities. To minimize and/or mitigate the environmental and social risks associated with such large–scale developments, Mizuho Bank works together with the project proponents (clients) to conduct appropriate environmental and social risk assessment/due diligence as required under the Equator Principles^*. The Equator Principles was most recently revised to the fourth version (EP4) following consultation with various stakeholders and financial institutions led by the Equator Principles Association of which Mizuho Bank was the Asia Oceania Regional Representative. Mizuho Bank started to apply the EP4 from July 2020.

^*   The Equator Principles are a set of voluntary guidelines adopted by financial institutions to ensure that large–scale development or construction projects appropriately consider the associated potential impacts on the natural environment and the affected communities.

Assessments of environmental risk related to real estate collateral

To deal with environmental risk in real estate, including pollution of the soil, usage of asbestos, and other issues related to real estate collateral, we implement assessments of environmental risk when certain established conditions apply. When risks are judged to be above a specified level, the amount corresponding to the assessed risk is deducted.

Investment (asset management)

Mizuho believes that giving appropriate consideration to environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) issues and other aspects through responsible investment initiatives to improve and foster investee companies' sustainability and enterprise value will enhance the medium– to long–term investment return for our customers, and furthermore contribute to the flow of funds supporting the development of a sustainable society.

Mizuho's trust banking arm, Mizuho Trust & Banking, and Asset Management One have established the following policy and are working to promote responsible investment initiatives.

Mizuho Trust & Banking's Policies on Responsible Investment in Our Asset Management Business (Japanese text only)

Asset Management One’s Sustainable Investment Policy (PDF/88KB)

Mizuho Trust & Banking and Asset Management One are taking initiatives to implement stewardship responsibilities and promote ESG investing by adopting and setting policies to put into practice Japan's "Principles for Responsible Institutional Investors (Japan's Stewardship Code)." Mizuho believes these activities are important for fulfilling our proper role as a responsible institutional investor.

Mizuho Trust & Banking's Policies with Respect to the Principles for Responsible Institutional Investors – Japan's Stewardship Code (Japanese text only)

Asset Management One's Policies with Respect to Japan's Stewardship Code

In addition, these two entities have signed on to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), which ensure that institutional investors and pension funds, etc., incorporate environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) considerations into their decision–making processes.

Mizuho Trust & Banking and Asset Management One are also strengthening their ESG investment initiatives by incorporating ESG–related issues and engagement into their investment strategies and giving consideration to ESG issues in exercising their proxy voting rights.

Initiatives for responsible investment

Details of Mizuho Trust & Banking's activities towards responsible investment. (Japanese text only)

Stewardship Responsibilities and ESG Investment

Details of Asset Management One's stewardship activity framework and its ESG investments.