EQS-News: SIGNA Prime Selection AG publishes 2021 Sustainability Report

EQS-News: SIGNA Prime Capital Market GmbH / Key word(s):
   Sustainability/Miscellaneous
   SIGNA Prime Selection AG publishes 2021 Sustainability Report

   19.07.2022 / 10:30
   The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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   SIGNA Prime Selection AG publishes 2021 Sustainability Report

   Highlights in 2021

     • Green Finance Framework established
     • Issue of sustainable financing instruments with a volume of €250m
     • Green lease clauses introduced and re-certifications for buildings in
       the Long-term Portfolio initiated
     • Reporting in accordance with GRI Standards: Core option, first-time
       application of EPRA Sustainability Best Practices Recommendations, and
       TCFD

   Vienna, July 19, 2022 — SIGNA Prime Selection AG (“SIGNA Prime”) has
   published its 2021 Sustainability Report. Today, people spend around 85%
   of their life indoors. SIGNA Prime presents its approach to this
   far-reaching responsibility toward its stakeholders in the light of
   climate change under the heading “Responsible Buildings.”

   Important steps were taken once again during the past year as part of the
   ESG strategy “Our sustainable SIGNAture”. Around two-thirds of the
   sustainability initiatives planned up to 2025 have already been delivered.
   The focus here is ESG management and the significant progress that has
   been made in terms of its buildings.

   Reduction of greenhouse gases in buildings

   SIGNA Prime creates sustainable buildings that make a significant
   contribution to decarbonization whilst still retaining their value over
   time. At the forefront are the energy-efficient setup, renovation, and
   management of the projects to ensure a low-emission life cycle.

   Important milestones were reached on this basis in 2021, such as the
   introduction of green lease clauses in commercial leases, the start of
   re-certifications of existing buildings, and the voluntary commitment to
   perform green building certifications in all development projects. SIGNA
   Prime is working on conversion to green electricity for a gradual
   transition to low-emission operation of its buildings. Currently, 51% of
   existing properties (2020: 38%) are supplied with electricity from
   renewable energy sources.

   Timo Herzberg, CEO SIGNA Prime Selection AG: “We want to make a
   sustainable contribution to livable cities with holistic, modern, and
   sophisticated concepts. We will fulfill our responsibility to reduce CO₂
   emissions in both existing projects and current construction projects as
   far as possible in the process. We will achieve this through targeted and
   long-term measures.”

   First sustainable financial instruments issued

   The volume of green financing issued by SIGNA Prime for the first time in
   fiscal year 2021 amounted to €250m. The medium-term goal is to cover at
   least 50% of new financing through sustainable products by 2025.

   As the first of several planned issues, SIGNA Prime issued a green
   promissory note with a volume of €150m in the fall of 2021. In addition,
   the first green profit participation certificate with a maturity of 20
   years and a volume of €100m was issued. Thus, in the first year, around
   10% of new financing was already being financed with green finance
   products.

   In line with the EU action plan to promote sustainable financing, SIGNA
   Prime has made this a priority. The proceeds of green financing
   instruments will be used exclusively for sustainable projects. The Green
   Finance Framework, which was published in May 2021, serves as the basis
   for this.

   SIGNA Prime has an excellent ESG rating. The current risk rating from
   rating agency Sustainalytics is 11.3 (“low risk”).

   Introduction of ESG software to collect environmental data

   Today, the efficiency of the real estate portfolio is a key success factor
   when it comes to carefully implementing ESG measures. A software system
   was introduced in 2021 to collect quantitative and qualitative
   environmental data on the real estate portfolio. This system made it
   possible to register the entire portfolio for the first time, which will
   guarantee continuous improvement and enhancement of data quality.

   Further expansion in reporting and governance

   The sustainability report was again prepared in accordance with the GRI
   Standards: Core option. The report also serves as progress report as
   defined by the United Nations Global Compact. Reporting followed the
   guidelines of the EPRA Sustainability Best Practices Recommendations (EPRA
   sBPR) specific to real estate for the first time and contains information
   on the core areas recommended by the Task Force on Climate-Related
   Financial Disclosures (TCFD).

   In terms of Corporate Governance and Compliance, in addition to
   implementing ESG criteria in due diligence transaction processes, new
   guidelines were also published on sustainability, environment and energy,
   as well as health and safety in 2021. Furthermore, the SIGNA Holding
   Compliance Management System (CMS) used in the SIGNA Group was certified
   in the current year in accordance with international compliance standard
   ISO 37301.

   Positive perception of social commitment

   SIGNA Prime considers itself a partner for cities. The real estate company
   develops livable districts and helps increase regional added value in a
   sustainable way. This understanding is reflected in the new “Strong
   communities” action area. In the course of a stakeholder survey at the end
   of 2021, data was collected on how activities were perceived outside the
   company. The survey elicited a positive response. The majority of
   stakeholders consulted cited the impact of SIGNA’s business activities on
   future cityscapes and the character of downtown locations as particularly
   relevant.

   Outlook 2022: Continue to press ahead with decarbonization

   Within the framework of the Paris Climate Agreement and the European Green
   Deal goals, SIGNA Prime is gearing its activities toward achieving a
   net-zero economy. This will be underpinned by a comprehensive carbon
   footprint and decarbonization strategy for the entire portfolio. Risk
   assessment and management of climate and sustainability risks will also be
   at the forefront in the current fiscal year 2022.

   2021 Sustainability Report

   [1]SIGNA Prime Selection AG
    

   About SIGNA Prime Selection AG

   SIGNA Prime Selection AG (“SIGNA Prime”) is one of the largest European
   non-listed commercial real estate groups, with a Gross Asset Value of
   €18.8b as of year-end 2021.

   It exclusively owns prime downtown properties with a long-term
   perspective, focused on the largest cities in Germany, Austria,
   Switzerland, and northern Italy. This includes the luxury department store
   KaDeWe and the UPPER WEST office tower in Berlin, the Goldenes Quartier as
   an extension of Vienna’s downtown pedestrian area, and other well-known
   buildings in major cities, such as Berlin, Vienna, Hamburg, Munich, and
   Zurich.

   Centrally located, established properties are characterized by
   persistently high demand, enabling long-term contractual agreements. In
   order to expand this crisis-resistant portfolio and generate value, SIGNA
   Prime is actively repositioning, modernizing, and rebuilding further
   city-center assets over the next few years. Thinking in terms of
   generations, all new buildings are certified according to international
   green building standards.

   Additional information is available at [2]www.signa.at
    

   Questions?

   Robert Leingruber

   [3]r.leingruber@signa.at

   +43 1 5329848-0

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   19.07.2022 This Corporate News was distributed by EQS Group AG.
   www.eqs.com

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   Language:    English
   Company:     SIGNA Prime Capital Market GmbH
                Freyung 3
                1010 Wien
                Austria
   E-mail:      investor@signa.at
   Internet:    www.signa.at
   ISIN:        AT0000A0WPF1
   WKN:         A1HAYF
   Listed:      Luxembourg Stock Exchange (Euro MTF), Vienna Stock Exchange
                (Vienna MTF)
   EQS News ID: 1400857


    
   End of News EQS News Service


   1400857  19.07.2022 

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