As we come to the end of the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, many themes have crystallized that have had a profound influence on how the world does business. Both challenges and opportunities have emerged, from cybersecurity and climate change to social justice, human rights, and much more. The pandemic has highlighted the strain on the environment and on society and underscored the crucial need for responsible investing. The COP26 conference brought together global leaders, policy makers and investors, and as we prepare for COP27 to be held in Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt, we must acknowledge that there has been a fundamental shift in attitude and momentum when it comes to sustainability. It is a time for action, not for words.

As signatories of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UN PRI) since 2018, EFG Hermes is at the forefront of efforts to champion responsible investment in Frontier Emerging Markets (FEM), particularly when it comes to climate change and the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).

Vortex Energy, our ground-breaking renewable energy investment platform, has been a pioneer in financing the transition to clean energy. Since inception, Vortex Energy has deployed, managed, and harvested capital across three fund vehicles, focusing on efficient portfolio management and maximizing its environmental and social impact. In 2021, Vortex Energy partnered with Ignis Group, a Spanish independent integrated renewable player, to deploy critical capital across the globe to further spur the clean energy transition.

Our commitment to responsible investment does not stop at clean energy, however. We are highly conscious that decisions made by the financial industry have real- world impact and consistently seek to ensure that our investment portfolio provides long-term sustainable value and contributes to the fulfilment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We have successfully integrated ESG considerations across our four business lines. Strategic investment in socially critical sectors such as health, education, pharmaceuticals and food security also underline our commitment to impactful investment.

We believe that the creation of economic opportunity is core to our sustainability efforts. Through our non-bank financial instruments (NBFI), we continue to support and empower the micro-finance and start-up sector by providing access to financing and tools that foster financial inclusion. Our flagship NBFI brands such as Tanmeyah, PayTabs, valU and Corp-Solutions continue to grow from strength to strength, continuously redefining the market and offering innovative, sustainable solutions to a wide range of clients.

On a social level, the EFG Hermes Foundation continues to do us proud with its pioneering integrated development work in underprivileged rural areas of Upper Egypt. This year marks the successful conclusion of all sewerage and water supply work in Naga’ El Fawal in Luxor, with all houses now connected to clean water and sanitation networks and a brand-new sanitation pumping station and sanitation car delivered to local authorities for management. This year, we are also proud to report significant CSR initiatives across our geographic locations. Our subsidiaries in Kenya, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nigeria have committed to innovative partnerships with grass roots organizations that provide community support in areas such as child health, education, and economic empowerment.

We also continue to improve our reporting and disclosure procedure and to update our policy environment. Last year, we included disclosure on gender diversity and inclusion for the first time in our sustainability report. To further demonstrate our commitment to these values, this year we issued statements on Gender Equity and Gender Equality and Sexual Harassment. As CEO of EFG Hermes, I also personally signed the Statement of Support for the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), a set of principles that offer guidance to business on how to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in the workplace, marketplace and community. In Q1 2021, we also submitted our third transparency report as part of our commitment to the UN PRI and renewed our commitment to the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC).

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the EFG Hermes team, and particularly the CSR department, for their dedication and commitment to developing actionable plans and upholding our commitment to sustainability. I would also like to thank our stakeholders, partners and clients for their faith and support and herewith present our progress in this, our eighth annual Sustainability Report.

Sincerely yours,

KARIM AWAD

Group Chief Executive Officer