Focus and performance

Focus and performance

Gold Award
for compliance with its Best Practices Recommendations (BPR) for financial reporting

ESG Risk rated as Low

AA
ESG rating
"leader"
among 86 companies in the real estate management & services industry

Environmental, Social and Governance rating

ESG Risk rated as Low (11.4/100) by Sustainalytics, a leading independent global provider of ESG ratings.

NEPI Rockcastle was also included in the FTSE4Good index (founded by FTSE Russell) measuring the performance of companies demonstrating strong ESG.

ESG approach revolves around the following:

  • strong focus on corporate governance through compliance with the King IV Report on Corporate Governance in South Africa, and voluntarily implements selected principles recommended in the UK and Dutch codes
  • relevant supporter and developer of the communities where it operates
  • commitment to achieve the highest standards of sustainability and act as a responsible corporate citizen
  • consistent application and continuous improvement of the ESG approach

Key sustainability metrics in 2020

71%

of the properties are BREEAM Certified

40%

share of renewable energy from total energy consumption

-20%

climate change impact from CO2 emissions

1,500

working places created during 2020 in the relevant communities

€24 million

local taxes paid

100%

of shopping centers are offering facilities for bicycles and motorcycles

Sustainability Approach

NEPI Rockcastle strongly believes in its duty to be a responsible corporate citizen and achieve the highest standards of sustainability. Under the guidance of the Board of Directors and the permanent coordination from the Social and Ethics Committee, the Group embraces this approach as a driving force of its strategic objectives, influencing significantly its stakeholders relationship management and allowing one unified approach towards customers, local communities, staff, suppliers, investors, analysts, local and central government, peers and non-governmental organizations.

NEPI Rockcastle continues to pursue its focus on sustainability, as outlined in the Annual Report. With the clear vision of improving the long-term sustainability of its operations, the Group continued to invest in clean and sustainable technologies, adopt policies that address environmental and social risks and engage in more proactive stakeholder discussions.

Green Financing

A successful €500 million green bond was issued based on the Green Finance Framework, resulting in the expansion of the Group’s investor base. The Company has committed to use proceeds from green bonds to finance or refinance existing and future projects which improve the environmental performance of the Group’s property portfolio.

Green Buildings

BREEAM is the world’s leading environmental assessment method and rating system. Buildings that obtain BREEAM recognition have achieved the highest corporate, organisational and environmental objectives, and enhance the continuous improvement capability for sustainable design, construction and operation.

The BREEAM ‘In Use’ certification policy ensures that biodiversity issues are well addressed and promoted to achieve high standards. Once the project has been built and delivered, the Group’s operating management team, particularly the on-site teams that manage each asset, are responsible for maintaining and monitoring biodiversity.

The Group continues to monitor its buildings, to certify or re-certify them, as a measure of its commitment to long-term sustainability. BREEAM certification is a continuous process, where all buildings requiring review and re-certification are analyzed timely by independent authorized consultants.

The status of BREEAM certifications, as at 31 December 2020, is presented as follows:

Property
Country
Property Type
Status
Scoring obtained/ targeted
Bonarka City Center
Poland
Retail
Certified
excellent
Arena Mall
Hungary
Retail
Certified
very good
Mega Mall
Romania
Retail
Recertification in progress
excellent
Mammut Shopping Centre
Hungary
Retail
Certification in progress
very good
Paradise Center
Bulgaria
Retail
Certification in progress
excellent
Arena Centar
Croatia
Retail
Certified
very good
City Park
Romania
Retail
Certified
excellent
Promenada Mall
Romania
Retail
Certified
excellent
Aupark Kosice Mall
Slovakia
Retail
Certified
very good
Galeria Warmińska
Poland
Retail
Certified
excellent
Serdika Center
Bulgaria
Retail
Certification in progress
excellent
Karolinka Shopping Centre (1)*
Poland
Retail
Certified
excellent
Karolinka Shopping Centre (2)*
Poland
Retail
Certification in progress
excellent
Ozas Shopping and Entertainment Centre
Lithuania
Retail
Certified
excellent
Shopping City Sibiu
Romania
Retail
Recertification in progress
excellent
Shopping City Timisoara
Romania
Retail
Recertification in progress
excellent
Galeria Mlyny
Slovakia
Retail
Certified
very good
Aupark Zilina
Slovakia
Retail
Recertification in progress
very good
Promenada Novi Sad
Serbia
Retail
Certification in progress
excellent
Focus Mall Zielona Góra
Poland
Retail
Certification in progress
excellent
Shopping City Galati
Romania
Retail
Certified
excellent
Promenada Sibiu
Romania
Retail
Certification in progress
excellent
Iris Titan Shopping Center
Romania
Retail
Certified
excellent
Alfa Centrum Białystok
Poland
Retail
Certified
excellent
Forum Ústí nad Labem
Czech Republic
Retail
Recertification in progress
very good
Shopping City Deva
Romania
Retail
Certified
very good
Braila Mall
Romania
Retail
Certified
very good
Solaris Shopping Centre
Poland
Retail
Certification in progress
excellent
Forum Liberec Shopping Centre
Czech Republic
Retail
Certification in progress
excellent
Pogoria Shopping Centre
Poland
Retail
Certified
excellent
Platan Shopping Centre
Poland
Retail
Certified
excellent
Vulcan Value Centre
Romania
Retail
Certified
excellent
Aura Centrum
Poland
Retail
Certification in progress
excellent
Galeria Wołomin (1)*
Poland
Retail
Certified
very good
Galeria Wołomin (2)*
Poland
Retail
Certification in progress
excellent
Shopping City Buzau
Romania
Retail
Recertification in progress
excellent
Shopping City Satu Mare
Romania
Retail
Certified
excellent
Shopping City Piatra Neamt
Romania
Retail
Certified
excellent
Shopping City Targu Jiu
Romania
Retail
Certified
excellent
Shopping City Ramnicu Valcea
Romania
Retail
Certified
excellent
Kragujevac Plaza
Serbia
Retail
Certification in progress
excellent
Focus Mall Piotrków Trybunalski
Poland
Retail
Certified
excellent
Aupark Shopping Center Piestany
Slovakia
Retail
Slovakia
very good
Korzo Shopping Centrum
Slovakia
Retail
Recertification in progress
very good
Severin Shopping Center
Romania
Retail
Certified
very good
Galeria Tomaszów
Poland
Retail
Certified
excellent
Retail Park Pitesti
Romania
Retail
Certified
excellent
Aupark Kosice Tower
Slovakia
Office
recertification in progress
very good
Serdika Office
Bulgaria
Office
certification in progress
excellent
*Karolinka Shopping Centre and Galeria Wołomin consists of two buildings with different stages of BREEAM certifications

Priorities of the Community Engagement strategy

The Group focused on three main pillars that are contributing altogether to more healthy and responsible ecosystems, thus improving people’s lives and lifestyles:

  • Social and Health
    NEPI Rockcastle increased the impact of its social and health education programs by developing a series of scalable projects across its network. It focused on rigorously selected community needs that tackled education and health support, from prevention to intervention. NEPI Rockcastle believes a community should be well informed, well connected with its relevant bodies, with strong networks within the respective community, becoming an engaged, responsible and active part of the society. The Group believes it is its role to support community growth and development, and it chooses to do that in ways that are collaborative, encourage engagement amongst community players, authorities and people. The Group brings all parties together and acts as a facilitator of sustainable engagement.

 

  • Environment
    Climate change and environment protection are not just global priorities and top policy concerns in Europe, but also local and community issues. Tackling environmental matters starts at the level of each person and the community as a whole. The Group believes that it should also be a practice in everyday life of companies and people to bring their contribution. In this respect, environment responsible actions have been implemented across all countries. Moreover, the Group continuously engages with the tenants and business partners to encourage them to join in this initiative, build awareness and boost support.

 

  • Educating communities
    NEPI Rockcastle invested in educational programs for children and parents, as it is the belief of the Group that education is the most powerful tool that one can use to truly create positive impact and change the world to a better place in the long run. The Group aligned educational topics with the local communities, bringing them relevant information from various fields of interest: science, parenting, technology, road safety, safeguarding and keeping traditions.