FNG Label: 25 Erste Asset Management funds awarded top marks
- All 25 sustainability and ethical funds submitted by Erste Asset Management receive FNG Labels with top marks
- The ERSTE BOND EM LOCAL fund received its first award
- Please note: securities involve risks as well as opportunities
Erste Asset Management (EAM) has once again received comprehensive recognition in the latest assessment by Forum für Nachhaltige Geldanlagen (FNG, Forum for Sustainable Investment): all 25 sustainability and ethical funds submitted received the FNG Label with the highest rating of three stars. ERSTE BOND EM LOCAL received the award for the first time. This fund focuses on bonds in local currency from emerging markets as part of a holistic ESG approach and has now had its sustainable orientation confirmed by FNG following an independent audit. Please note: investing in securities involves risks as well as opportunities.
Review: why audited sustainability is more important today than ever before
The past year was marked by significant structural changes in sustainable investing. Stricter EU regulations – such as the ESMA guidelines on ESG terms in fund names – and several publicly discussed cases of greenwashing have further increased the requirements for credible sustainable investments. Investors are now paying closer attention to whether funds can demonstrate their sustainability goals in a transparent manner and whether external standards are being met. The FNG Label is a recognised quality standard for sustainable investment funds in the DACH (N.B. Germany, Austria, Switzerland (incl. Liechtenstein)) region and an important indicator for consumers to ensure the credibility of their green investments.
While some market participants have scaled back their sustainability activities under the pressure of more complex requirements, Erste Asset Management has deliberately continued on its course and further expanded its product portfolio. The merger with Impact Asset Management has only strengthened this path, adding additional funds to EAM's sustainable product universe, which have also received awards. The renewed award of the highest FNG marks thus confirms both the quality of our individual products and EAM's long-term commitment to a consistent sustainability approach.
"Today’s market demands greater clarity than ever before, and many providers are responding with caution. At Erste Asset Management, however, we are taking the opposite approach: we have further expanded our sustainable range, and the fact that 25 of our funds have been awarded the highest rating by the renowned FNG Label shows that we are on the right track. For us, sustainable investment is not a trend, but part of our long-term responsibility."
Walter Hatak, Head of Responsible Investments at Erste Asset Management
Walter Hatak, Head of Responsible Investments, Erste Asset Management (c) Stephan Huger
Outlook 2026: rising energy demand creates new opportunities
Looking ahead to the coming year, the global rise in energy demand is becoming an increasingly important focus. Digitalisation, electrification, and the growing use of artificial intelligence are increasing the demand for powerful and cost-effective energy systems. Environmental technology companies are driving this development with solutions for efficient electricity use, energy storage, and low-emission industrial processes. According to research by Erste Asset Management this is creating an increasingly attractive environment for sustainable investments – especially for funds that focus on innovative companies with a clear climate impact.
How the FNG Label is awarded
The FNG Label is awarded following a multi-stage assessment process. It is based on a clearly defined minimum standard: each fund must meet comprehensive transparency criteria and demonstrate that the selected companies take into account aspects such as labour and human rights, environmental issues, and corruption prevention. In addition, FNG examines the structure of the underlying sustainability strategy and what exclusion and positive criteria are applied.
Beyond this minimum standard, other quality characteristics are also included in the assessment. These include the institutional credibility of the fund provider, the integration of scientific criteria and active dialogue with companies, for example in the form of engagement and voting. If these additional requirements are met, up to three stars can be added to the Label.
All funds that receive the Label must undergo the assessment process again each year. Continuous reassessment ensures that sustainability strategies are not only formulated but also implemented on a permanent basis and continuously developed.
Please note that investing in securities also involves risks besides the opportunities described.
For enquiries, please contact:
Communications & Digital Marketing
Paul Severin
Tel. +43 (0)50 100 19982
E-Mail: paul.severin@erste-am.com
Dieter Kerschbaum
Tel. +43 (0)50 100 19858
E-Mail: dieter.kerschbaum@erste-am.com
Philipp Marchhart
Tel. +43 (0)50 100 19854
E-Mail: philipp.marchhart@erste-am.com
Erste Asset Management GmbH
Am Belvedere 1, A-1100 Wien
www.erste-am.com
Sitz Wien, FN 102018b,
Handelsgericht Wien, DVR 0468703
About FNG
Forum Nachhaltige Geldanlagen e.V. (FNG, Forum for Sustainable Investment), the professional association for sustainable investments in Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland, represents more than 200 members who are committed to greater sustainability in the financial sector and will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2026. FNG promotes dialogue and the exchange of information between business, science, and politics and is committed to improving the legal and political framework for sustainable investments.
About us
Erste Asset Management GmbH (Erste AM) is an international asset management company with a strong position in Central and Eastern Europe. Erste Asset Management is backed by the financial strength of Erste Group Bank AG (Erste Group). At its locations in Austria, Germany, Croatia, Romania, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Hungary, Erste AM manages assets of EUR 102.3bn (as of 31 October 2025). Erste Asset Management has been operating successfully in the market since 1965.
Disclaimer
This document is an advertisement. Please refer to the prospectus of the UCITS or to the Information for Investors pursuant to Art 21 AIFMG of the alternative investment fund and the Key Information Document before making any final investment decisions. All data is sourced from Erste Asset Management GmbH, unless indicated otherwise. Our languages of communication are German and English.
The prospectus for UCITS (including any amendments) is published in accordance with the provisions of the InvFG 2011 in the currently amended version. Information for Investors pursuant to Art 21 AIFMG is prepared for the alternative investment funds (AIF) administered by Erste Asset Management GmbH pursuant to the provisions of the AIFMG in connection with the InvFG 2011.
The fund prospectus, Information for Investors pursuant to Art 21 AIFMG, and the Key Information Document can be viewed in their latest versions at the website www.erste-am.com within the section mandatory publications or obtained in their latest versions free of charge from the domicile of the management company and the domicile of the custodian bank. The exact date of the most recent publication of the fund prospectus, the languages in which the fund prospectus or the Information for Investors pursuant to Art 21 AIFMG and the Key Information Document are available, and any additional locations where the documents can be obtained can be viewed on the website www.erste-am.com. A summary of investor rights is available in German and English on the website www.erste-am.com/investor-rights as well as at the domicile of the management company.
The management company can decide to revoke the arrangements it has made for the distribution of unit certificates abroad, taking into account the regulatory requirements.
Detailed information on the risks potentially associated with the investment can be found in the fund prospectus or Information for investors pursuant to Art 21 AIFMG of the respective fund. If the fund currency is a currency other than the investor's home currency, changes in the corresponding exchange rate may have a positive or negative impact on the value of his investment and the amount of the costs incurred in the fund - converted into his home currency.
Our analyses and conclusions are general in nature and do not take into account the individual needs of our investors in terms of earnings, taxation, and risk appetite. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of the future performance of a fund.
The issue and redemption of unit certificates and the execution of payments to unit holders has been transferred to the Fund's custodian bank/depositary, Erste Group Bank AG, Am Belvedere 1, 1100 Vienna, Austria. Redemption requests can be submitted by investors to their custodian bank, which will forward them to the Custodian Bank/Depositary of the Fund for execution via the usual banking channels. All payments to investors are also processed via the usual banking clearing channel with the investor's custodian bank. In Germany, the issue and return prices of shares are published in electronic form on the web site www.erste-am.com (and also at www.fundinfo.com). Any other information for Shareholders is published in the Bundesanzeiger, Cologne.