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65 GRI Index and Assurance statement Engaged citizen Fair partner Responsible banker Human Capacity Report Sustainability management Overview Foreword Raiffeisenbank Austria d.d. in Croatia offers several programs for financing socially and/or ecologically desirable investments. For instance, there is a low interest rate loan by EIB for SMEs, since these are viewed as the engines of the domestic economy. In addition, there are two credit lines available in cooperation with the EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development): the “EBRD WiB Line” (Women in Business Line) for the promotion of entrepreneurship among women and the “EBRD Credit Line MSMEs”, which aims at supporting micro, small and medium-sized entities in their banking activities. Cooperation also continues with HBOR (Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development), in which preferential financing arrangements are offered for projects aimed at protecting the environment and increasing energy efficiency. The “EIF First Loss Portfolio Guarantee” program from the EIF to boost lending to SMEs is also worth mentioning. Raiffeisen Factoring d.o.o., the factoring subsidiary of Raiffeisenbank Austria d.d., as well as Raiffeisen Leasing in Croatia also offer EBRD credit lines to small and medium-sized enterprises. The prerequisite is compliance with the EBRD environmental and social standards, the exclusion list as well as an annual environmental and social report. In addition, favorable real estate financing is provided for buildings with high energy efficiency or investments for improving energy efficiency. The financing portfolio for renewable energies amounts to € 11.8 million. In Romania, Raiffeisen Bank S.A structures financing with the goal of promoting investment in environmentally friendly projects. This includes, for example, financing the construction of an environmentally friendly landfill site. This resulted in improved waste management in a region of poor infrastructure. There was also one noteworthy financing project in the area of health: The expansion of the existing oncology polyclinic and the purchase of radiotherapy equipment were made possible by a long-term loan from Raiffeisen Bank S.A. In the area of sustainable real estate, the bank is participating in financing projects with a total volume of approx. € 76.1 million, including a BREEAM-certified class A office building in Cluj-Napoca and the financing of a class A industrial building, for which an environmental problem on the neighboring property was first resolved through the revitalization of a former landfill site. Additional projects included the revitalization and renovation of a historic building as well as the development of a shopping center that helped improved local supply and also included 15,000 m² of green space. The entire renewable energy financing portfolio amounts here to approx. € 99 million. In Serbia, Raiffeisen banka a.d. places EIB lines on the market. Their use requires compliance with specific environmental requirements and the EIB exclusion criteria with the objective of supporting local small and medium-sized entities. In 2016, a class A office building with LEED certification was financed with € 12 million. In the area of renewable energies, the overall portfolio totals approx. € 16 million. Eastern Europe (EE) AO Raiffeisenbank Bank in Russia can once again point to projects with positive effects on health and social welfare. Examples here include the financing of five homes for the elderly for a company specialized in providing high-quality care for seniors and financing for a company that produces medications for such diseases as cancer, HIV and tuberculosis. The renewable energy portfolio totals approx. € 66 million. In Ukraine, Raiffeisen Bank Aval JSC offers “partnership programs” which make it easier for small and medium-sized companies to access favorable funding for the purchase of agricultural raw materials and operating materials. This contributes to the development of the Ukrainian economy and thereby supports improved prosperity in many areas. Raiffeisen Bank Aval JSC also has a small renewable energy financing portfolio of € 1.7 million.


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