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49 GRI Index and Assurance statement Engaged citizen Fair partner Responsible banker Human Capacity Report Sustainability management Overview Foreword Lobbying Lobbying is defined as the deployment of suitable people within the company or independent companies to influence public decision-making processes for the purpose of safeguarding or enforcing specific interests in respect of the public sector. We basically consider this to be advisable and legitimate in the process of democratic decision-making and in matters of the execution of state regulations. This activity is subject to high standards of transparency, both for specialized lobbying companies and for companies that use their own employees – known as corporate lobbyists – for lobbying activities. All members of the RZB Group are required to register lobbyists who are active for them in the national lobbying register. In the RZB Group, lobbying work is carried out via RZB AG as well as the “Fachverband der Raiffeisenbanken” (Association of Raiffeisen banks, part of the Austrian Economic Chambers WKO). Accordingly, RZB AG is registered in the Austrian lobbying register. At the EU level, RZB AG is registered in the transparency register of the European Commission and the European Parliament. This involves observation of activities by EU institutions with regard to possible impacts on the Raiffeisen Banking Group (RBG), creation of networks and shared interest coalitions and specific research and preparation of information on EU initiatives and measures in the area of financial services that are of relevance to us (e.g. Basel III, deposit insurance fees, corporate governance). With its inclusion in the register, RZB AG is bound to comply with the code of conduct of the institutions (European Commission/European Parliament). Our position statements concerning consultations of the European Commission can be found on the website of the Commission. At the national level, our position enters into joint position statements by the Austrian Economic Chambers, banking and insurance section. (Membership of the Austrian Economic Chambers is mandatory.) Corporate lobbyists of the RZB Group also undertake to observe the following points in their contact with officials. They are committed to the truth, and any information that they provide must be – to the best of their knowledge – undistorted, complete, up to date and not misleading. They ensure that officials know who they actually are, that they work for the RZB Group, and declare that they are entered in the lobbying register. All lobbyists who work for the RZB Group obtain information exclusively by fair means and make decisions in a fair way. They inform themselves about the restrictions on activities and rules on incompatibility that apply to office holders and comply with these restrictions and rules. They do not tempt office holders to infringe the applicable rules and standards of behavior and never exert unfair or inappropriate pressure on office holders. Clear rules are defined in our Compliance Manual as well as the “Code of Conduct according to Article 7 of the Lobbying Act”. Pursuant to Art. 7 of the Austrian Lobbying and Representation Transparency Act (LobbyG), more information can be found on the RBI AG website at www.rbinternational.com under Investors ➝ Corporate Governance ➝ Code of Conduct pursuant to art. 7 Austrian LobbyG. The Managing Board of RZB AG is solely authorized to approve contributions to political parties, election committees, party-affiliated organizations and political figures (politicians, candidates) for the entire RZB Group, which are permitted only if the following conditions are fulfilled: • The contribution does not violate any statutory regulations. • The contribution is within the customary extent of the respective country. • The contribution is not apt to have any improper impact. Such payments must be handled transparently, involving RBI Group Compliance. The transparency provisions regarding party financing and lobbying in place since 1 January 2013, must be complied with and are implemented in the Manag ing Board Office of RZB AG. Once again in 2016, the RZB Group did not make any financial contributions or contributions in kind to any politicians, parties or affiliated institutions.


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