General information and reports

The image depicts a serene and scenic landscape, likely captured during sunset or sunrise. Key elements in the image include:

1. **Dense Forest:** The foreground is dominated by lush greenery, suggesting a dense forest of trees. The vibrant colors indicate healthy vegetation, and the varying shades of green show diversity in the plant life.

2. **Winding River/Lake:** Nestled within the forest is a winding body of water, either a river or a small lake, adding a tranquil element to the scene. The reflection of the surrounding trees and the sky may be visible on its surface.

3. **Rolling Hills:** Beyond the immediate foreground, the landscape features rolling hills extending towards the horizon, covered with more forested areas.

4. **Sky:** The backdrop showcases a sky painted with hues characteristic of early morning or late afternoon, such as soft yellows, oranges, or pinks, enhancing the natural beauty of the scene.

5. **Horizon:** In the distance, the horizon stretches, providing a panoramic view of the area, which may include additional bodies of water or clusters of trees.

Overall, the image evokes a sense of peace and connection with nature, highlighting the beauty of a tranquil, undisturbed environment. This scene likely serves as a habitat for various wildlife and plant species, presenting an ideal space for outdoor activities such as hiking, birdwatching, or simply appreciating the natural landscape.

Investor Relations

Sustainability

General information and reports

DZ BANK was an early advocate of sustainability. Important milestones were:

the signing of voluntary commitments such as the UN Global Compact (2008), the Equator Principles (2013), and the Principles for Responsible Banking (2020)
the introduction of sustainability assessment procedures in lending (2009), as well as the development of specific sector principles (2011) and the introduction of exclusion criteria (2014)
achieving ISS ESG (formerly ISS-Oekom) Prime Status in 2011 for the first time, and maintaining our status ever since.

The image contains a collage of logos from various organizations and initiatives related to finance, sustainability, and responsible investment. These logos represent:

1. **UNEP Finance Initiative**: A partnership between the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the global financial sector.

2. **Principles for Responsible Banking**: A framework for sustainable banking that aligns to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.

3. **GRI (Global Reporting Initiative)**: An international organization that helps businesses, governments, and other organizations understand and communicate their impacts on issues such as climate change, human rights, and corruption.

4. **Equator Principles**: A risk management framework adopted by financial institutions for determining, assessing, and managing environmental and social risk.

5. **ICMA (International Capital Market Association)**: An organization that promotes resilient and well-functioning capital markets to meet investor needs.

6. **Corporate ESG Performance**: A reference to the evaluation of a company's environmental, social, and governance performance, often rated by organizations like ISS ESG.

7. **Climate Bonds**: An initiative promoting investment in projects that mitigate climate change and related impacts, focusing on bonds intended to finance such activities.

Further information

The image depicts a rural landscape setting.

1. **Wind Turbines**: The most prominent features are several large wind turbines scattered across the field. Wind turbines are used to generate renewable energy by converting wind into electricity.

2. **Green Field**: The foreground shows a green field, possibly a farmland or a natural grass field, emphasizing the natural environment and potentially reflecting agricultural activity.

3. **Person**: A single individual, who appears to be a man, is standing in the field. He is dressed in business attire, wearing a buttoned shirt and trousers. This suggests he may be surveying or overseeing the area, possibly linked to environmental management or energy production.

4. **Clear Sky**: The sky is clear without any clouds, providing a bright backdrop to the scene, indicating good weather.

Overall, the image conveys themes of sustainable energy, nature, and possibly agricultural management or production, highlighting the coexistence of human activity and natural landscapes.

The issuance of DZ BANK's Green Bonds in 2018, 2020, and 2021 was another significant step for DZ BANK. As a member of the Climate Bonds Initiative and the International Capital Markets Association, DZ BANK stands firm for transparency and disclosure in green bonds as well as compliance with specific sustainability loan principles. In 2022, DZ BANK was the lead bank for green, social and sustainable transactions with a total volume of more than € 43 bn making it one of the leading syndicate banks in the sustainable bond market in Germany.

With a financing volume of about € 6.5 bn in 2022, DZ BANK AG is also one of Germany's largest renewable energies financiers (especially wind power and photovoltaics).

Since January 2023, the Group Sustainability Committee (GSC) at the level of the Board of Managing Directors has focused on the implementation of sustainability in the DZ BANK Group and, going forward, will be the central steering committee within the DZ BANK Group. It replaces the Group Corporate Responsibility Committee (GCRC) (established in 2014). The GSC reports regularly to the Group Coordination Com-mittee, the highest-level management and coordination committee in the DZ BANK Group.