Address by the Chair of the Boards of Directors

Respected colleagues, partners, and friends,

Just a year or two ago, it seemed that the topic of sustainable development in Russia had been put on pause. However, today we can confidently say that it has firmly returned to life, primarily for large companies.

In the financial sector, ESG became a steady trend long before major corporate market participants and even the government actively included it on their agendas. The banking sector — the core of our activities — did not slow down its green initiatives even during the most challenging times related to sanctions and their consequences. As part of the financial market infrastructure, we do not stay aside from these trends. This is partly why we continuously pay attention to sustainable development issues. It is impossible to conduct high-quality verification of green and social projects and instruments without delving into the details of the agenda and having firsthand experience in implementing its principles. Deep theoretical understanding, our own implemented ESG solutions, analytical knowledge and skills supported by extensive independent practice — these are what make us the main ambassador of this agenda on the rating services market. We intend to maintain this status quo, develop, and strengthen our positions further.

With these goals in mind and continuing to deepen our ESG practice, we are publishing our second Sustainability Report (hereinafter — the Report).

Reporting is an important part of the sustainability agenda and at the same time one of the most complex, especially given a certain distance from centres setting global standards. This can be confirmed by all market participants who have tried their hand in this field. Therefore, releasing a public Sustainability Report for us is not only part of our internal ESG culture but also a training of competencies that allows us to educate other professional teams in this area. We are always ready to help those who are taking their first steps in ESG way and strive to set an example of transparency for our clients, which, among other things, is supported by our public reports.

What have we written about in the Report? First and foremost, in the reporting year, Expert RA continued to implement initiatives aimed at reducing environmental impact, developing human capital, and strengthening corporate governance.

During the reporting period, as promised in the previous Report, our Agency conducted its first greenhouse gas emissions assessment, with our calculations verified by an independent auditor. The data obtained will enable us to better understand our carbon footprint and manage it going forward.

The Agency not only proclaims sustainable development principles as its internal values but actively supports them through action. In particular, last year we organised an environmental campaign to restore the forest in the Ugra National Park in the Kaluga region. During the event, 4,000 pedunculate oak saplings were planted over an area of 2 hectares. We consider it especially important that not only Agency employees but also our clients and partners participated in this event. Such actions serve as a source for shaping the image of sustainable development and a practical demonstration of readiness to follow its principles and apply them in everyday practice. In this way, we create our own ecosystem of like-minded people who interact not only on a commercial basis.

For many years, Expert RA has held charitable mini-football tournaments twice a year. The championship aims to support Paralympic sports, football for the blind and visually impaired. Corporate teams from the financial market, our clients, and partners participate in these events. This also makes them an integral part of our sustainable development strategy.

Additionally, the Agency has actively collaborated with the Oncologica Foundation, which provides comprehensive support to adult cancer patients. A representative of the Agency sits on the foundation’s board of trustees. The proceeds from every tenth ticket sold for our in-person events (industry conferences, forums, strategic sessions) are donated to the foundation. This is a good source of support and an example for other businesses seeking practical ways to implement ESG values and principles in their activities. By the way, Oncologica is the only charitable foundation in Russia with its own endowment. Thus, our beneficiaries are also participants in the financial market and our colleagues, which further strengthens and deepens bonds within the ESG ecosystem I mentioned earlier.

Our internal social agenda remains a priority. We continue to make every effort to improve working conditions for our employees and strengthen the Agency’s HR brand. Internal employee training and professional development programmes are intensively evolving. Employee benefit packages meet the best Russian standards. All this helps the Agency attract top specialists and create truly high-quality rating products.

Sustainable development for Expert RA is not only about fulfilling obligations to nature and society but also a strategic path to long-term success and prosperity. We firmly believe that this applies not only to the Agency’s business but to the entire Russian market as a whole.

We are proud of the results achieved, which are described in detail in the Report, while understanding there is still much work ahead. We remain open to dialogue and are ready to jointly seek new solutions with other market participants to make an even more significant contribution to the country’s sustainable future.

We thank all employees, partners, and stakeholders for their support and trust. Together, we can achieve our goals and contribute to the well-being of society and the planet!

Marina V. Chekurova,

General Director — Chair of the Management Board,
Expert RA JSC