3 Value Creation 3in and Valuefor society Creation 3.1 in and Our commitment to for society stakeholders is further strengthened through Connect21 As an insurance group, Ageas is at the heart of a number of societal themes which are very much present in all our lives. An ageing population, health related matters, new forms of living, mobility and climate change, all create risks and opportunities for Ageas's businesses. To remain relevant not just today, but also in the future, the company has reflected on these challenges. In the context of Connect21, its current 3 year strategic plan, it adopted a full stakeholder model including society aiming at creating value for all its stakeholders whilst taking into account the specificities of the various countries. For each stakeholder category, clear ambitions have been agreed upon and are being put in practice. Ageas committed to adhering to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Based on its core competences it choose to actively work around the following 10 SDGs: 1616 3 Value Creation in and for society 3.1 Our commitment to The visual symbolises Ageas’s stakeholder engagement stakeholders is further and a clear commitment on who the company wants to be as a Group, strengthened through a true “Supporter of your life” Connect21 As an insurance group, Ageas is at the heart of a number of societal themes which are very much present in all our lives. An ageing population, health related matters, new forms of living, mobility and climate change, all create Ageas’s first materiality matrix risks and opportunities for Ageas's businesses. To gain detailed insight into the sustainability topics that are most Ageas and were categorised under Employees, Investors, Society and To remain relevant not just today, but also in the future, the company has reflected on these relevant for the business, Ageas performed its first materiality Business Partners. The End Customer was not included during this first challenges. In the context of Connect21, its current 3 year strategic plan, it adopted a full assessment in 2020. The results of the assessment will be used as input materiality assessment. Alternatively, business partners (brokers) did stakeholder model including society aiming at creating value for all its stakeholders whilst taking for future strategic planning cycles as well as to increase transparency provide insights on the expectations of the End Customer. Even though into account the specificities of the various countries. For each stakeholder category, clear on sustainability to stakeholders. The materiality assessment consisted Ageas is in frequent contact with all stakeholder groups, it was the first ambitions have been agreed upon and are being put in practice. Ageas committed to adhering of three large phases which took place between February and time these stakeholders were consulted specifically in the context of to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Based on its core competences it choose to September 2020. sustainability. Discussions will be ongoing with each stakeholder group actively work around the following 10 SDGs: on specific topics resulting from the assessment. To gain insight into As consultations were conducted during the global COVID-19 crisis, it the geographical differences of the Ageas Group different entities were is no surprise that the topics Financial Resilience and Responsible included in these consultations: Belgium, UK, Continental Europe and Governance rank highest from both a stakeholder and management the Ageas headquarters in Brussels and Hong Kong. perspective. For an insurance company, having a solid financial performance, strong and reliable governance and continuously For the internal perspective the Executive Management and Board of anticipating (societal) challenges is crucial to fulfil all stakeholders’ Directors, as well as the OpCo CEOs and HR managers were involved. needs. Both the stakeholder and management consultations consisted of an online survey, combined with in-depth interviews. Ageas received a How we went about it total of 1,234 answers for the surveys (response rate of 54%). In a first phase, an elaborated desktop study on internal and public Furthermore, a total of 22 in-depth interviews were organised, spread documents (documentation by internationally recognised sustainability across the different stakeholder groups and management, to ensure a standards and organisations, ESG ratings, reports of peers and media more profound understanding of the expectations and performance of articles) was performed, to arrive at a list of relevant topics for Ageas, Ageas on these topics. adhering to the concept of double materiality. Ageas’s different operating companies were involved in this phase to ensure the list of The third and final phase consisted of analysing all the input received topics were representative for all geographical areas in which Ageas is and drawing conclusions. This resulted in a consolidated materiality active. matrix for the entire Ageas Group (see below). To make the results more tangible for the local OpCos, a materiality matrix was built for each In the second phase stakeholder and management consultations were OpCo as well. The group materiality matrix was presented to and held to help prioritise the relevant topics. Different stakeholder groups validated by the Executive Management and the Board of Directors. were selected based on Ageas’s impact on them and their influence on 16 Ageas Annual Report 2020 Annual Report 2020 1717 Results The first materiality matrix for Ageas shows as follows: Results The first materiality matrix for Ageas shows as follows: OPIC HIGHLY TERIAL MATERIALITY 9 Financial resilience 9 7 Responsible governance MATERIAL 7 11 Insurance products and services protecting against societal challenges 14 Social responsible investments focusing on societal challenges 12 11 12 Easy to understand, fair and transparent information to customers 2 10 2 Health and well-being of our employees 3 14 3 Personal and professional development of our employees 6 1 8 13 10 Insurance products and services incentivising responsible behaviour 4 5 MODERATELY TERIAL OPICS 1 Environmental footprint of our business operations 4 Equal opportunities of our employees Significance of the reporting organization’s economic, 6 Employees and customers’ data protection environmental and social impacts 13 Financial inclusion of customers (accessibility of protection) 8 Local community engagement 5 Public debate participation on societal challenges. Ageas has connected the top 8 ESG materiality topics to the capitals of the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC1), as included in Ageas’s business model, and the by Ageas selected SDGs. The overview clearly demonstrates the use of the IR capitals and supports the SDG choices. Ageas has connected the top 8 ESG materiality topics to the capitals of the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC1), as included in Ageas’s business model, and the by Ageas selected SDGs. The overview clearly demonstrates the use of the IR capitals and supports the SDG choices. MATERIAL SDGs 9 Financial resilience Financial 7 Responsible governance Intellectual, Human, Social & Relationship 11 Insurance products and services protecting against societal challenges Intellectual, Social & Relationship 14 Social responsible investments focusing on societal challenges Financial, Intellectual, Social & Relationship 12 Easy to understand, fair and transparent information to customers Social & Relationship, Intellectual 2 Health and well-being of our employees Human 3 Personal and professional development of our employees Human 10 Insurance products and services incentivising responsible behaviour Social & Relationship, Intellectual 1 Integrated Reporting model see https://integratedreporting.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/13-12-08-THE-INTERNATIONAL-IR-FRAMEWORK-2-1.pdf 1 Integrated Reporting model see https://integratedreporting.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/13-12-08-THE-INTERNATIONAL-IR-FRAMEWORK-2-1.pdf 1188 18 Governance of sustainability The Group Director Sustainability leads and oversees all projects, reports to and interacts with the CEO and ensures regularly briefings The Ageas governance model is based on a robust framework capable to the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee and the of ensuring that there is understanding, oversight and accountability Management Committee on the progress made as well as requesting for risks arising from sustainability related topics at all levels of the their approval of topic specific action plans. Group. As stipulated in the Corporate Governance Charter, the Board of Directors has the role of oversight and pursues sustainable value Besides the SDGs and the Principles for Responsible Investment (UN creation by the Company, Ageas group, by setting the strategic PRI), Ageas also formally subscribed to the UN Global Compact (UN ambitions for the management of the Company and by putting in place GC) and Principles for Sustainable Insurance – UNEP FI (PSI) effective, responsible and ethical leadership and lastly by monitoring frameworks in 2020 which are all supportive to the overall objective to the Company’s performance. In order to pursue effectively such be a stakeholder driven company focusing on creating both economic sustainable value creation, the Board develops an inclusive approach and societal value and reconfirm its commitment. that balances the legitimate interests and expectations of its shareholders with