HYPO NOE GRUPPE BANK AG SUSTAINABILITY UPDATE 2015 SUSTAINABILITY AT HYPO NOE: MANAGEMENT SUMMARY

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1 HYPO NOE GRUPPE BANK AG SUSTAINABILITY UPDATE 2015 SUSTAINABILITY AT HYPO NOE: MANAGEMENT SUMMARY

2 Sustainability at HYPO NOE in 2015: management summary 2 1. Group profile Sustainability has been a key consideration for HYPO NOE since it was established in 1888, especially in terms of the Group s sense of regional responsibility. And this factor will continue to play an important part, because investments in Lower Austria and its people, environment and infrastructure are set to become even more significant for HYPO NOE in future. HYPO NOE is first and foremost a regional mortgage bank focused on Lower Austria and Vienna, and the Danube region. This is also reflected in the Group s various areas of responsibility we act as a financing partner for infrastructure projects in the region and as a retail bank for the people of Lower Austria. Our key activities involve supporting housing and families, as well as promoting healthcare and education. These guiding principles are reflected in our vision and values. HYPO NOE s areas of responsibility Regional responsibility in our core business Responsibility as a business and part of the region Responsible financing and investment Financing partner for infrastructure, housing, health and education Financing partner to businesses in the region Principal bank for the local population Experts on real estate and properties in the region Sustainability management Stakeholders and communications A responsible employer Environmental and climate protection Social engagement We also face up to major challenges such as climate change, and with this in mind we are committed to supporting the State of Lower Austria s Climate and Energy Programme Our sense of responsibility towards the state of Lower Austria, coupled with our conservative business model which is reflected in the products we offer, our own investments and the exclusion criteria for extending loans, set us apart from many large international financial institutions. Housing-related finance and consulting are among HYPO NOE Landesbank s core competencies, as reflected in the Bank s name, which is derived from the German word for mortgage, Hypothek. This means that the future of housing, and adapting to new demands on housing resulting from demographic changes, are central to our activities.

3 Sustainability at HYPO NOE in 2015: management summary 3 2. Sustainability at HYPO NOE Sustainable business practices underpin all of HYPO NOE s activities. As a publicly-owned regional bank, we are committed to handling the money of our customers and investors responsibly. At the same time, the development of the Danube region where HYPO NOE has strong roots in line with the challenges of the future is a vital concern. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION REGIONAL AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY BUSINESS ETHICS EMPLOYEES AS A KEY INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE SUSTAINABLE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCING HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE Our sustainability report is a means of presenting the HYPO NOE Group and its sustainability-related activities and performance indicators. This enhances transparency and strengthens the trust of our stakeholders and partners. HYPO NOE aims to play a pioneering role in sustainability-related issues. Responsible investment, a regional focus in financing, environmental awareness and the wellbeing of our employees are particularly important to us. The sustainability report is intended to provide an overview of the progress made and experience gained in these areas, and to communicate this information to all of our stakeholders. Outstanding sustainability and CSR ratings Our efforts to make our activities ever more sustainable are already bearing fruit. In 2015, leading sustainability ratings agency oekom research confirmed the Group s C rating with Prime status (2014: C- ). This means that HYPO NOE, the bank for Lower Austria, is one of the best performers in its industry, and one of only a handful of Austrian banks that have posted such outstanding sustainability performance. rfu s ba sustainability rating also shows that the Group is ranked in the top third on this particular assessment scale.

4 Sustainability at HYPO NOE in 2015: management summary 4 Further improvements were recorded in connection with the Group s bonds, for which the sustainability rating has improved significantly. Sustainability ratings agency imug Investment Research gave the Bank s bonds higher rankings in two categories. Sustainability and CSR ratings Rating Comments oekom Prime Status C Prime Status reflects above-average performance in terms of social engagement and the environment imug Mortgage Covered Bonds Positive (BB) imug assesses the social and environmental performance of bank Uncovered Bonds Positive (B) bonds Public Sector Covered Bonds Very Positive (A) rfu Qualified Rating based on exclusion, stakeholder-related and product-related criteria These successes show that we are heading in the right direction, and they will drive us on to redouble our efforts to position HYPO NOE as a leading company in the financial sector and in terms of sustainability. Sustainability management at HYPO NOE HYPO NOE began comprehensively addressing the topic of CSR and sustainability over three years ago. The entire Group has been systematically analysed in accordance with internationally recognised sustainability reporting guidelines since We have already achieved many of the targets of our sustainability-related measures. The Group s objectives for the next few years, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI G4) indicators as well as all the latest facts and figures can be found in the HYPO NOE sustainability report at

5 Sustainability at HYPO NOE in 2015: management summary 5 3. A responsible employer As a responsible employer, we strive to provide our employees with an ideal working environment that promotes respectful, team-based collaboration across the Group. In this respect it is important that we build a constructive climate that combines a high degree of personal responsibility with creativity, flexibility and prudence. Training and development play an important role at HYPO NOE. In 2015 HYPO NOE employees completed a total of 2,354 days of training with a view to enhancing their skills and assuming managerial responsibilities within the Group. Our health-related initiatives, which are increasingly important for our people, were rewarded in 2015 with the Auf dem Weg zu einem gesunden Betrieb certificate, which recognises workplace health programmes. This confirmed our compliance with specific quality criteria when implementing these initiatives. 4. Social engagement HYPO NOE gives priority to long-term partnerships, with a view to strengthening the Group s roots in its home region. Cooperation with the emergency services, such as the Lower Austrian Red Cross and the Lower Austrian Fire Services Association, has a long tradition at HYPO NOE. In 2014 a project aimed at raising awareness of fire safety in primary schools was initiated in association with the Lower Austrian Fire Services Association. Under the motto Gemeinsam.Sicher.Feuerwehr (Together.Safe.Fire Service), all thirdyear and fourth-year school pupils began attending lessons on fire and disaster protection in the 2015/2016 school year. Other flagship projects include: Construction of Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences: university building with Gold certification from the Austrian Sustainable Building Council (ÖGNI). Construction by HYPO NOE Leasing of the on-site kindergarten for children of employees at Hietzing Hospital in Vienna, which will look after around 180 children from autumn HYPO NOE First Facility GmbH is responsible for managing the building.

6 Sustainability at HYPO NOE in 2015: management summary 6 5. Environmental and climate protection management As one of Lower Austria s leading businesses, one of our biggest responsibilities is ensuring that we leave behind a liveable environment for generations to come. This responsibility is expressed in our environmental protection policies, which include a range of measures aimed at constantly reducing our ecological footprint. We have set ourselves ambitious targets in respect of mobility, waste, procurement, and energy and materials consumption, which we achieve by means of ongoing improvements. systematic improvements in internal energy efficiency as well as in procurement. Breakdown of CO2 emissions by source, 2015 Material consumption (paper) 2% Rail 0,09% The Group is also taking steps with regard to IT infrastructure to enhance energy efficiency in day-to-day operations. In 2015, the Group s head office buildings and branches began using electricity generated entirely from renewable sources. Flights 8% Heating13% Cars 25% Electricity 52% Sustainability principles have also been applied at HYPO NOE s St. Pölten headquarters, which features state-of-the-art energy-efficiency measures and even generates its own renewable electricity thanks to a photovoltaic array, which produced over 35,000 kwh of zero-emission power in HYPO NOE has also received further confirmation of the quality of its eco-friendly head office in the form of a Quality Austria certificate for implementation of ISO The decisive factor in this regard was the newly introduced Groupwide energy policy strategy, which is geared towards achieving Under the Green Points campaign launched in partnership with Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB), HYPO NOE saved a total of 28.4 tonnes of CO2 emissions in In parallel, 181,800 Green Points were collected which benefited a tree-planting project in Lower Austria. These savings were generated by employees using the rail network for business trips an environmentally friendly alternative to using company cars. In addition, the HYPO NOE Group has also taken steps to minimise emissions at the St. Pölten offices by using electric vehicles for short trips. HYPO NOE Management Board Chairman Peter Harold and former Chairman of the Board of Management of ÖBB Christian Kern

7 Sustainability at HYPO NOE in 2015: management summary 7 6. Key performance indicators Key performance indicators as at 31 December EUR Net interest income 115, , ,840 Profit/loss for the year before tax 75,021-39,810 11,659 Income tax expense -21,326 8,822-5,255 Profit/loss attributable to owners of the parent 53,677-31,338 6,152 Total assets 14,209,746 15,926,960 15,895,645 Loans and advances to customers 10,590,574 11,194,066 11,557,287 Debts evidenced by certificates 8,163,364 8,553,311 8,165,837 Equity (incl. non-controlling interests) 554, , ,479 HYPO NOE human resource indicators 1 Unit Employees Total employees Head Count Female Head Count Male Head Count Full-time employees Head Count Female, part-time Head Count Male, part-time Head Count New employees, total Head Count Employees leaving, total (net) Head Count Average years of service Years 8,2 8,72 8,8 Total proportion of women in managerial positions % Days of sick leave per employee Days Workplace accidents Count The indicators relate to 99% of all HYPO NOE Group employees. Selected environmental and energy indicators Unit (incl. First Facility) Paper consumption kg 33,883 24,869 41,825 Electricity consumption kwh 2,605,141 2,469,268 2,341,022 Heating energy consumption kwh 857, , ,732 CO 2 emissions Head Count Material consumption (paper) kg CO2e 26,395 19,373 32,582 Electricity kg CO2e 815, , ,066 Heating kg CO2e 198, , ,448 Petrol cars kg CO2e 4,305 12,351 14,545 Diesel cars kg CO2e 327, , ,714 Flights kg CO2e 77,361 72, ,746 Rail kg CO2e 1,432 1,368 1,446 Total CO 2 e kg CO2e 1,451,203 1,444,082 1,560,548 CO 2 e per employee kg CO2e 1,887 1,868 1,687

8 Sustainability at HYPO NOE in 2015: management summary 8 Impressum Published by: HYPO NOE Gruppe Bank AG Hypogasse 1, 3100 St. Pölten, Tel: +43 (0) Enquiries: nachhaltig@hyponoe.at Graphic design: : WA Schürz&Lavicka GmbH, photos: istockphoto Editorial consulting: brainbows informationsmanagement gmbh Legal notice: The information and data in this document were compiled and checked with the utmost care. However, certain data may have changed in the meantime. Therefore, no liability is accepted for the timeliness, completeness and accuracy of the data and information provided. HYPO NOE reserves the right to amend data and information at any time. The entire content of the HYPO NOE sustainability report is protected by copyright. September, 2016