Ethias is concerned about the potential impact of investments on the financing of the energy transition and the creation of a fairer society. This role as responsible investor comes with a long term responsibility, particularly in the management of legal and supplementary pensions and in supporting the economy. By taking ESG factors into account in its investment decisions, Ethias seeks above all to have an impact, whether social or environmental, in favour of the regions, companies and sectors in which it invests.

Ethias invests in socially oriented structures, such as social economy funds (Netwerk Rentevrij, Carolidaire) or funds for scientific research. In doing so, it holds financial participations in various fields that are important for strengthening solidarity: social loan companies, housing companies, microfinance organisations, support for various associations and alternative finance organisations.

It has also established privileged links with companies in this sector.

From the outset, Ethias has provided significant financial support (€80 million) to the various regional and federal recovery plans, through participations in the following organisations

• Welvaartsfonds: a €205 million Flemish regional fund aimed at strengthening the solvency of companies and achieving a successful transition towards a sustainable economy
  
• Amerigo: a €160 million Walloon regional fund dedicated to the recovery of Walloon companies affected by COVID
  
• boosting.brussels: a Brussels regional fund improving the solvency of companies after COVID with €80 million
  
• Belgian Recovery Fund: the € 218 million federal fund aims to provide subordinated and/or convertible loans to companies that were financially sound before the coronavirus crisis, but had to face a reduction of their equity due to the pandemic

• Eiffel Impact Debt is the first private impact debt fund in Europe.
• OfficeCenter: this loan funds charging stations for electric vehicles with an interest rate level that is dependent on the achievement of ESG objectives
• WDP “Chocolate Box”: Ethias financed the world's largest and most sustainable chocolate warehouse. It is the first building in the Benelux to be certified "BREEAM Outstanding", the highest standard for sustainable logistics. It is the first building in the Benelux to be certified "BREEAM Outstanding", the highest standard for sustainable logistics.

Ethias invests in financing the energy transition towards a low-carbon economy.

• Green4You: In collaboration with Luminus, Ethias created the company Green4You, whose goal is the installation, maintenance and financing of photovoltaic panels, cogeneration units and charging stations for electric vehicles. Through Green4You, Ethias supports the transition towards low-carbon energy
• Infrastructure funds: Ethias has continually increased its investments in infrastructure funds that invest in renewable energy (wind, solar, biomass), public transport, energy efficiency, etc.
• Biobest: Ethias has participated in financing the growth of Biobest, a subsidiary of La Floridienne, a holding company active in Flanders in the biological crop protection and pollination market. Thanks to this investment, Biobest was able to take over an American partner in the sector, Beneficial Insectary. The latter is the most important producer in the market of biological crop protection by insects.

Ethias reserves a large part of its investments for sectors that are, as the crises of the last two years have shown, the foundations of our society:

• Social housing corporations
• Hospitals and nursing homes in the real estate sector
• Scientific research (university funds, spin-offs)
  • Qbic Feeder Fund
  • ICC (UGent)
  • ICAB (VUB)
• Gimv Health & Care Fund

Ethias invests in the capital of numerous organisations granting social loans or loans to people in need. When finance meets solidarity.

• Incofin
• Socrowd
• Inclusie Invest
• Trividend
• Carolidaire
• Impulse Microfinance Investment Fund
• Triodos
• Epimède
• Belgian Growth Fund

Investments in sustainable bonds include both "green bonds" and "social bonds".

In 2021, Ethias continued to invest in sustainable bonds, so that this investments portfolio reached an amount of € 619 million at the end of the year. This represents an increase of 44% (168%) compared to 2019 (2018).

Ethias is particularly attentive to ensuring that its real estate investments meet the most demanding environmental and social criteria.

The total amount invested in 2021 in "sustainable real estate" remains significant but still lower than in previous years due to less overall activity in this market segment in 2021 compared to previous years.

Some examples:

• Stationstraat 51 (Mechelen), State Archives (Namur and Ghent), the new headquarters of BDO (Luxembourg), NAOS (Luxembourg)...
• Joint venture with the Belgian logistics company Weerts Group: Ethias acquired two logistics properties in 2021, one located in Tessenderloo and the other in Bury St Edmunds in England. As part of its policy of direct investments in sustainable real estate, Ethias has made sure that these new buildings are certified BREEAM Very Good. This certificate, which corresponds to a global environmental approach, guarantees that the building will be as environmentally friendly as possible throughout its life cycle (design, use, demolition).

FOR OUR INSTITUTIONAL CLIENTS

Through the Global 21 Ethical Fund: The Ethias Global 21 Ethical Fund is intended for the management of pension and group insurance reserves. It is certified “Ethibel Excellence”. This fund has two solidarity mechanisms, for the benefit of the Réseau Financité and Fairfin. Depending on the client's choice, Ethias pays one of these partners 0.05% of the average capital invested in the fund at year-end. Affiliates who so wish may also retrocede all or part of their yield to the association of their choice.

Through the “Ethical” sub-fund of the Ethias Life Fund offered in our dedicated asset funds: The objective of this sub-fund is to invest in units of funds that invest in shares and/or bonds of companies that integrate ecological, social or ethical criteria into their long-term strategy and are certified Towards Sustainability by Febelfin.

FOR OUR RETAIL CLIENTS

Through the Invest 23 Mundo fund: Our private clients also have the opportunity to invest in the Ethias Life Fund's "Ethical" sub-fund through our Ethias Boost Invest Mundo insurance product (which received the Towards Sustainability label in 2021).