FNG label: Erste AM receives multiple awards

All sixteen submitted sustainable and ethical funds receive FNG label and top marks
Social impact fund ERSTE FAIR INVEST* as debutant awardee

The sustainable and ethical line of funds by Erste Asset Management (Erste AM) received several awards from Forum für Nachhaltige Geldanlagen e.V. (FNG; Forum for Sustainable Investments) at this year’s call. All 16 funds submitted by Erste AM received the FNG label, the quality standard for sustainable investment funds in German-speaking countries. In addition, all funds submitted received the top rating – a quality label with three stars. For the first time, the label was also awarded to the social impact fund ERSTE FAIR INVEST, which was launched in the previous year.

“The FNG label is one of the most important awards for sustainable funds in the German-speaking region. The fact that all of our submitted funds not only received the label, but did so with 3 starts, shows that our funds meet the very highest quality standards. Sustainable investments are an essential cornerstone for achieving climate goals, as public investments alone are far from sufficient to ensure the needed transformation of the economy. We are very proud to make this positive contribution to changing the world together with our clients”, comments Walter Hatak, Head of Responsible Investments with Erste Asset Management.

310 investment funds from 112 investment fund houses were scrutinised

The FNG label is only awarded to funds that meet a certain minimum standard. These include transparency criteria and the consideration of labour & human rights, environmental protection, and anti-corruption measures and policies. In addition, funds that excel in the areas of “institutional credibility”, “product standards” and “portfolio focus” receive up to a maximum of three stars.

In total, 310 investment funds from 112 investment houses had applied for the label. Of the products that fulfilled the minimum criteria, 100 funds received top marks.

The Erste AM funds with FNG label:

Market leader and pioneer in sustainable investments

The demand for sustainable and responsible investments has been on the rise for years. Erste Asset Management is the market leader in Austria with sustainably invested assets under management of EUR 15.4bn (as of 30 October 2022) and is one of the most important players in the DACH (i.e. Germany, Austria, and Switzerland) region. The company has a long track record in the field of sustainability. As early as 2001, Erste AM launched the first environmental equity fund. In 2006, the cooperation with WWF Austria followed and in 2009, Erste AM was the first investment company in Austria to sign the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UN PRI). The most recent milestones include last year’s expansion of the Coal Divestment Policy to exclude coal-fired generation and the integration of the Paris climate targets.

For more information, please visit www.erste-am.at and www.forum-ng.org/en/

About FNG:

FNG (Forum Nachhaltige Geldanlagen e.V.) is the trade association for sustainable investments in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland and represents over 230 members who are committed to more sustainability in the financial industry. It awards the transparency logo for sustainable investment funds, publishes the FNG sustainability profiles and has developed the FNG seal for sustainable investment funds. FNG is also a founding member of the European umbrella organisation Eurosif.

Abouth the FNG label:

The FNG label is the quality standard for sustainable investment funds in the German-speaking region. The holistic methodology of the FNG label is based on minimum standards. These include transparency criteria and the consideration of labour and human rights, environmental protection, and anti-corruption measures and policies as summarised in the globally recognised UN Global Compact. All companies in the respective fund must also be fully scrutinised for sustainability criteria, and the product must come with an explicit sustainability strategy. Investments in nuclear power, coal mining, significant coal-fired power generation, fracking, oil sands, weapons, and armaments are taboo.

For further information on the sustainable focus of ERSTE ETHIK AKTIEN GLOBAL as well as on the disclosures in accordance with the Disclosure Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2019/2088) and the Taxonomy Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2020/852), please refer to the current Prospectus, section 12 and the Annex “Sustainability Principles”. In deciding to invest in ERSTE ETHIK AKTIEN GLOBAL, consideration should be given to any characteristics or objectives of the ERSTE ETHIK AKTIEN GLOBAL as described in the Fund Documents.

For further information on the sustainable focus of ERSTE ETHIK ANLEIHEN as well as on the disclosures in accordance with the Disclosure Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2019/2088) and the Taxonomy Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2020/852), please refer to the current Prospectus, section 12 and the Annex “Sustainability Principles”. In deciding to invest in ERSTE ETHIK ANLEIHEN, consideration should be given to any characteristics or objectives of the ERSTE ETHIK ANLEIHEN as described in the Fund Documents.

For further information on the sustainable focus of ERSTE FAIR INVEST as well as on the disclosures in accordance with the Disclosure Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2019/2088) and the Taxonomy Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2020/852), please refer to the current Prospectus, section 12 and the Annex “Sustainability Principles”. In deciding to invest in ERSTE FAIR INVEST, consideration should be given to any characteristics or objectives of the ERSTE FAIR INVEST as described in the Fund Documents.

For further information on the sustainable focus of ERSTE GREEN INVEST as well as on the disclosures in accordance with the Disclosure Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2019/2088) and the Taxonomy Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2020/852), please refer to the current Prospectus, section 12 and the Annex “Sustainability Principles”. In deciding to invest in ERSTE GREEN INVEST, consideration should be given to any characteristics or objectives of the ERSTE GREEN INVEST as described in the Fund Documents.

For further information on the sustainable focus of ERSTE RESPONSIBLE STOCK AMERICA as well as on the disclosures in accordance with the Disclosure Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2019/2088) and the Taxonomy Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2020/852), please refer to the current Prospectus, section 12 and the Annex “Sustainability Principles”. In deciding to invest in ERSTE RESPONSIBLE STOCK AMERICA, consideration should be given to any characteristics or objectives of the ERSTE RESPONSIBLE STOCK AMERICA as described in the Fund Documents.

For further information on the sustainable focus of ERSTE RESPONSIBLE STOCK EUROPE as well as on the disclosures in accordance with the Disclosure Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2019/2088) and the Taxonomy Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2020/852), please refer to the current Prospectus, section 12 and the Annex “Sustainability Principles”. In deciding to invest in ERSTE RESPONSIBLE STOCK EUROPE, consideration should be given to any characteristics or objectives of the ERSTE RESPONSIBLE STOCK EUROPE as described in the Fund Documents.

For further information on the sustainable focus of ERSTE RESPONSIBLE STOCK GLOBAL as well as on the disclosures in accordance with the Disclosure Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2019/2088) and the Taxonomy Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2020/852), please refer to the current Prospectus, section 12 and the Annex “Sustainability Principles”. In deciding to invest in ERSTE RESPONSIBLE STOCK GLOBAL, consideration should be given to any characteristics or objectives of the ERSTE RESPONSIBLE STOCK GLOBAL as described in the Fund Documents.

For further information on the sustainable focus of ERSTE WWF STOCK ENVIRONMENT as well as on the disclosures in accordance with the Disclosure Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2019/2088) and the Taxonomy Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2020/852), please refer to the current Prospectus, section 12 and the Annex “Sustainability Principles”. In deciding to invest in ERSTE WWF STOCK ENVIRONMENT, consideration should be given to any characteristics or objectives of the ERSTE WWF STOCK ENVIRONMENT as described in the Fund Documents.

For a glossary of technical terms, please visit this link: Fund Glossary | Erste Asset Management

Legal note:

Prognoses are no reliable indicator for future performance.

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This document is an advertisement. Unless indicated otherwise, source: Erste Asset Management GmbH. The language of communication of the sales offices is German and the languages of communication of the Management Company also include English.

The prospectus for UCITS funds (including any amendments) is prepared and published in accordance with the provisions of the InvFG 2011 as amended. Information for Investors pursuant to § 21 AIFMG is prepared for the alternative investment funds (AIF) administered by Erste Asset Management GmbH pursuant to the provisions of the AIFMG in conjunction with the InvFG 2011.

The currently valid versions of the prospectus, the Information for Investors pursuant to § 21 AIFMG, and the key information document can be found on the website www.erste-am.com under “Mandatory publications” and can be obtained free of charge by interested investors at the offices of the Management Company and at the offices of the depositary bank. The exact date of the most recent publication of the prospectus, the languages in which the key information document is available, and any other locations where the documents can be obtained are indicated on the website www.erste-am.com. A summary of the investor rights is available in German and English on the website www.erste-am.com/investor-rights and can also be obtained from the Management Company.

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N.B.: The performance scenarios listed in the key information document are based on a calculation method that is specified in an EU regulation. The future market development cannot be accurately predicted. The depicted performance scenarios merely present potential earnings, but are based on the earnings in the recent past. The actual earnings may be lower than indicated. Our analyses and conclusions are general in nature and do not take into account the individual characteristics of our investors in terms of earnings, taxation, experience and knowledge, investment objective, financial position, capacity for loss, and risk tolerance.

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