4 Foreword Dear readers, We have several good reasons to look back on the past year with satisfaction. Our annual result proves that economic conditions on our markets have improved and our strategic measures are already showing significant, positive results. Alongside various other initiatives described in this report, we also emphasize the relevance of the issue of sustainability in our business operations through our membership of the United Nations Global Compact. We have been a member of the world’s largest network for corporate responsibility since 2010. This report has once again been produced on the basis of the internationally recognized “GRI G4” guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative on sustainability reporting. The report’s motto “Strength through diversity” was chosen because we are convinced that diversity in the company produces better long-term decisions. The merger between RZB AG and RBI AG, completed on 18 March 2017 with its entry in the Commercial Register, means that the 2016 Sustainability Report is being published on behalf of the RZB Group for the last time. The merged company – like RBI AG before it – operates under the name of Raiffeisen Bank International AG. The 2017 Sustainability Report will therefore be published under the name of the RBI Group. The merger between RZB AG and RBI AG has further simplified the group structure. The previously specialized subsidiaries of RZB AG – Raiffeisen Bausparkasse, Raiffeisen Kapitalanlage-Gesellschaft, Raiffeisen-Leasing, Raiffeisen Factor Bank, Raiffeisen Wohnbaubank and Valida Vorsorge Management – became subsidiaries of RBI AG as a result of the merger. The RZB Group’s pre-tax profits improved by 14 percent in 2016, to € 843 million, and the consolidated result by 7 percent, to € 253 million. The RBI Group’s pre-tax profits increased by almost 25 percent on the previous year to € 886 million, and the consolidated result by 22 percent, to € 463 million. The specialized subsidiaries – following the deduction of minority groups – made a significant contribution to the RZB Group’s consolidated result of around € 68 million. We have significantly increased our capital buffer and improved our risk profile in recent years. Once again, we are able to devote all our resources to improving our business model and customer relationships. Selective growth is in our sights again, especially in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Romania, and we continue to anticipate a reassuring economic tailwind in our growth targets. The RZB Group has an environmental and social management system in place in nine network banks and a corresponding environmental and social policy which defines the principles of the Bank’s environmental and social risk management. These are based on the standards of the International Finance Corporation and/or the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency. Moreover, RBI AG is a member of the International Capital Market Association’s “Green Bond Principles”, which promote the transparency and integrity of the rapidly growing Green Bond market by stipulating a standardized issuing process. The “Digital Regional Bank” program launched by RZB AG last year on behalf of the Raiffeisen Banking Group is developing very well. This year, an important milestone, the “Personal Finance Portal”, goes online. Starting in the autumn, each domestic Raiffeisen Bank branch will be able to provide customers with online product deals using video authentication. We are proud of the first Human Capacity to be published on behalf of the Raiffeisen Banking Group at the end of 2016. The report supplies scientifically analyzed key figures which show that we are making an aboveaverage contribution to economic growth and productivity with investments in the training and development of our employees. Ultimately, the training-based performance potential of employees, alongside innovation, is one of the most important factors of economic growth. The detailed report for the RZB Group revealed some pleasing results. In 2015, around € 4 million were spent on training and development measures for employees of the RZB Group in Austria. This figure is far higher than the on-the-job training costs spent in Austria. Several preventive measures have also been taken in the area of health. This is corroborated by above-average per capita expenditure of € 697 and a total amount of € 2.7 million per year on promoting health in the workplace.
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