It is with great pleasure that I present you with EFG Hermes’ 2021 Sustainability Report. As the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic comes to a close and the world is faced with volatility of a different kind, it has become more clear than ever that societies, governments and institutions must work together for the survival of humanity. Nowhere is this more apparent than in addressing climate change. The world stands at a crossroads-the resources of the natural world form the basis of our economic system; their degradation poses risks not only to our investments and our ability to thrive but to our entire existence. The financial sector has a crucial role to play given its influence over investment decisions that affect the ecosystems we depend on.

EFG Hermes is the leading financial services corporation in frontier emerging markets. As such, we have a responsibility to our shareholders and the societies where we work. Every decision made in the finance industry results in real world impact somewhere. Sustainable finance has become a necessity if we want to weather the turbulence ahead. This translates not only to abstaining from financing industries that harm the planet but also to having the vision to finance new technologies.

The transition to a carbon neutral world is one of the main areas where progressive investment decisions can have significant impact on mitigating the risk of climate change. As signatories of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI), we take this responsibility seriously, and I am proud to report that EFG Hermes is a pioneer in this field through Vortex Energy, our ground-breaking renewable energy investment platform and a core pillar within the Private Equity division of EFG Hermes. Formally established in 2015, Vortex Energy has a global mandate to invest in clean energy opportunities on behalf of sovereign, institutional, and strategic investors and maintains a firm commitment to clean energy and sustainable finance.

Over the past ten years, we have been making steady, determined progress towards full integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues in both our investment decisions and our operations as a whole. Today, the results of our efforts are clear: sustainability has become an immutable consideration in our investment decisions with clear actionable plans across all our business lines. We are committed to the highest standards of governance, continuously augmenting our levels of disclosure, and working to incorporate new metrics such as the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). We constantly engage with our peers and stakeholders and consider ourselves ambassadors of sustainability and thought leaders when it comes to championing diversity and inclusion across our geographic footprint.

On the social front, our Foundation for Social Development has always been a pioneer in corporate social responsibility (CSR) endeavours, and we are happy to report that our signature integrated development projects continue to be at the forefront of model economic and social development initiatives in Egypt.

As the world stands at a generational tipping point, we are confident that we have the vision and tools to make impactful, responsible decisions and continue not only to provide value for our shareholders but also a more sustainable future for our children.

As always, I thank you for your continued support and I humbly present you with EFG Hermes’ 2021 Sustainability Report.

Sincerely yours,