In June 2021, Erste Group committed to ensure the availability of sustainable investment products for its customers and to provide more information for sustainable financial decisions. The commitments are being implemented by Erste Asset Management.

The following progress has been made so far (as of 21.08.2023):

1. Expansion of the sustainable product portfolio

Erste Asset Management has committed to increase the number of its funds with the Austrian Eco-label by 50% to 17 by the end of 2023. At the same time, Erste Group aims to offer its clients in seven markets the opportunity to invest in ESG products.

At the time of signing the Green Consumption Pledge, 11 investment funds had been awarded the Austrian Ecolabel (UZ 49). As of 21.08.023, three five funds have been added:

-) ERSTE RESPONSIBLE BOND EM CORPORATE

-) ERSTE RESPONSIBLE BOND GLOBAL HIGH YIELD

-) ERSTE FAIR INVEST

-) ERSTE GREEN INVEST MIX

-) ERSTE RESPONSIBLE STOCK JAPAN

2. Ongoing communication on ESG issues

We regularly inform our sales partners and institutional clients about ESG issues and report on the analysis results and investments of our sustainable product range.

For example, there were several webinars for retail sales advisors of the savings banks and Erste Bank Austria. These webinars were also made available to advisors via Intranet. In total, more than 1.000 different consultants were trained in the area of ESG. In addition to the advisors, webinars were also held for our customers on a quarterly basis.

In addition, there was a company-wide ESG training for all employees of Erste AM in 2023. This covered the basics of sustainable investing as well as more advanced ESG topics.

On the institutional side, the annual sustainability conference was held on 4 May 2023 with industry specialists and customers.

An overview of all ESG publications can be found on our website

In 2021, 37 blog posts were published on Erste Asset Management's investment blog in the ESG category. In the previous year 2022 there were a total of 30 posts on ESG topics. In this year 2023, 28 posts on sustainability had already been published by mid-August alone.

Erste AM's ESGenius letters highlighted a number of sustainable investing topics, including Biodiversity (2023), Social - The "S" in ESG (2022) and Energy of the Future (2022).

ESG Publication Overview

In July 2023, Erste AM also became the first investment company in Austria to publish its own biodiversity policy. The policy defines concrete measures and goals for the promotion of biodiversity within the scope of Erste AM's investments.

About the Biodiversity Policy

3. ESG Reporting (SDG Reporting and Impact-Reporting)

A key component is the reporting on ESG and SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) of the United Nations. A major goal has been achieved in that SDG goals are now regularly reported on by 125 investment funds and this information has been made publicly available on our website.

SDG reporting successfully implemented

One goal was to achieve SDG reportings (Sustainable Development Goals) for all "ERSTE" labeled funds by the end of 2021.

We are proud that we were able to successfully implement the contributions at company level regarding the impact on SDGs based on the SDG methodology. SDG reportings are now published on an ongoing basis for 125 funds:

ESG Publication Overview

Example of SDG Reporting:

Impact Reporting

For all “ERSTE” labeled impact funds (Article 9 EU Disclosure Regulation) there is a separate impact reporting:

-) ERSTE (WWF) STOCK ENVIRONMENT
-) ERSTE GREEN INVEST
-) ERSTE RESPONSIBLE BOND GLOBAL IMPACT
-) ERSTE FAIR INVEST
-) ERSTE MICROFINANCE

4. Active voting based on sustainable criteria

The United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) form the basis of the sustainable investment approach. As a signatory, EAM has undertaken to integrate the following principles in its investment policy:

1. We will incorporate ESG issues into investment analysis and decision-making processes.
2. We will be active owners and incorporate ESG issues into our ownership policies and practices.
3. We will seek appropriate disclosure on ESG issues by the entities in which we invest.
4. We will promote acceptance and implementation of the Principles within the investment industry.
5. We will work together to enhance our effectiveness in implementing the Principles.
6. We will report on our activities and progress towards implementing the Principles.

Our report on voting behavior during the past year 2021 can be found here:

EAM Engagement Report

Risk notes:

ERSTE RESPONSIBLE BOND EM CORPORATE

ERSTE RESPONSIBLE BOND GLOBAL HIGH YIELD

ERSTE FAIR INVEST

ERSTE RESPONSIBLE STOCK JAPAN

ERSTE GREEN INVEST MIX

ERSTE (WWF) STOCK ENVIRONMENT

ERSTE GREEN INVEST

ERSTE RESPONSIBLE BOND GLOBAL IMPACT

ERSTE RESPONSIBLE MICROFINANCE