QBE Group included in first sector Neutral Bloomberg Gender Equality Index

Sydney – QBE Insurance Group (QBE) today announced that it is one of over 100 companies from ten sectors to join the inaugural 2018 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index (GEI). Launched today, the reference index measures gender equality across internal company statistics, employee policies, external community support and engagement, and gender-conscious product offerings.

The sector-neutral Bloomberg GEI follows the release of the Bloomberg Financial Services Gender-Equality Index (BFGEI), launched in 2016. The 2017 BFGEI included 52 financial firms, headquartered in 17 countries and regions. QBE was also included in the 2017 BFGEI.

QBE's Group CEO, Mr Pat Regan, said: "Empowering women and supporting gender equality is an important element of how QBE supports our employees, our customers and broader community stakeholders in an increasingly global marketplace. Underscoring our commitment, QBE recently signed up to the UN Women's Empowerment Principles.

"We are delighted that Bloomberg is supporting investor interest in this area through the release of the GEI and are pleased that QBE's commitment to gender equality has been recognised through inclusion in the index."

The 2018 GEI expands globally to represent 24 countries and regions, including firms headquartered in Belgium, Chile, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Singapore and Taiwan for the first time. Companies range from a variety of sectors, including communications, consumer staples, energy, financials, materials and technology.

"We commend QBE and the other 103 companies included in the 2018 GEI for their efforts to create work environments that support gender equality across a diverse range of industries," said Peter T. Grauer, Chairman of Bloomberg and Founding Chairman of the U.S. 30% Club. "Their leadership sets an important example that will help all organizations innovate and navigate the growing demand for diverse and inclusive workplaces."

"As investors continue to seek more information on companies' approaches to environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors, the 2018 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index allows investors to compare companies' commitments to gender equality across industries," said Kiersten Barnet, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Chairman at Bloomberg. "More data and greater transparency in this space will allow investors to make better-informed decisions and help companies better understand their own progress towards gender equality."

QBE submitted a social survey created by Bloomberg in partnership with third-party experts Catalyst, Women's World Banking, Working Mother Media, National Women's Law Center, and National Partnership for Women & Families. Those included on this year's index scored at or above a global threshold established by Bloomberg to reflect disclosure and the achievement or adoption of best-in-class statistics and policies.

Both the survey and the GEI are voluntary and have no associated costs. Bloomberg collected this data for reference purposes only. The index is not ranked. For more information on the GEI and how to submit information for next year's index visit https://www.bloomberg.com/professional/sustainable-finance/.

Bloomberg clients can access the GEI at {BGEI Index DES <GO>}.

2018 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index Members: Accenture
AIA Group
Allianz
American Express
AMN Healthcare Services
Annaly Capital Management
ANZ
AT&T
AU Optronics
AXA
Banco Santander
Banco Santander Chile
Bank of America
Bank of Montreal
Bank of Queensland
Barclays
BB Seguridade Participações
BBVA
BNP Paribas
BNY Mellon
CA Technologies
CIBC
Citigroup
City Developments Limited
Clorox
Core Laboratories
CVS Health
Daiwa Securities
DaVita
DBS
Deutsche Post
Deutsche Telekom
Diageo
Dominion Energy
Dr. Reddy's Laboratories
DuPont
Estée Lauder
Euronav
Fifth Third Bank
First Data
First Horizon
Fortescue Metals Group
Franklin Resources
Gap Inc.
GoDaddy
Grupo Financiero Banorte
The Hartford
Iberdrola
ING
Ingredion
Intesa Sanpaolo
Itaú Unibanco
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Kering
Leidos
Lions Gate Entertainment
L'Oréal
Mastercard
Maybank
MetLife
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial
Mizuho Financial
Morgan Stanley
MS&AD Insurance
National Australia Bank
National Bank of Greece
Nidec
NiSource
Nordea Bank
Northern Trust
NTT DOCOMO
NVIDIA
Old National Bank
PNC Financial Services Group
Praxair
Prudential
QBE Insurance
Recruit Holdings
Rogers Communications
RBC
RBS
Schneider Electric
Scholastic
Scotiabank
Sodexo
SSE
Standard Chartered
STMicroelectronics
Sun Life Financial
Swedbank
Teck Resources
Telefónica
TD Bank
TransCanada
Türkiye Garanti Bankası
UBS
Visa
Voya Financial
Walmart de México
Westpac
Weyerhaeuser
Yum! Brands
Zillow
Zurich Insurance

Media Contacts:
David Symons QBE Insurance Group +61-410-559-184 David.symons@qbe.com

Veronika Henze Bloomberg LP +1-646-324-1596 vhenze@bloomberg.net

Jill Watanabe Bloomberg LP +1-212-617-1610 jwatanabe11@bloomberg.net

About QBE:
QBE Insurance Group is one of the world's top 20 general insurance and reinsurance companies, with operations in all the key insurance markets. QBE was founded more than 130 years ago and is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. With headquarters in Sydney, we employ more than 14,000 people in 37 countries.

About Bloomberg:
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