Sustainable development

SFI bases its activities on the principles of corporate behavior contained in the Corporate Governance Code, which was approved on March 21, 2014, by the Board of Directors of the Bank of Russia. The holding regularly assesses compliance with the corporate governance principles set forth in the Code. The assessment results are contained in the Report on Compliance with the Principles and Recommendations of the Corporate Governance Code and are published annually together with the holding's Annual Report.

The holding fully abides by the corporate governance principles and the independence criteria for the members of the Board of Directors in accordance with the Listing Rules of PJSC Moscow Exchange. It also submits quarterly compliance reports to the Moscow Exchange.

SFI is committed to providing shareholders and investors with open access to information, limited only by the law and competitive conditions, and accounts for their demands, claims, suggestions, and expectations in its work. Each shareholder may participate in General Shareholder Meetings and vote on issues on the agenda, as well as access the documents that the holding is obliged to provide in accordance with the Law on Joint Stock Companies.

SFI has Regulations on Information Policy in place in order to protect the rights and legitimate interests of shareholders and investors, provide access to complete and reliable information about the holding's operations, improve corporate governance, make informed investment decisions, and increase the value of its financial assets. The Regulations define the goals and principles of information disclosure, the list of information (in addition to the information required by the laws), regarding which SFI undertakes the disclosure obligation, the procedure and timing of information disclosure, as well as measures to ensure control over compliance with the information policy.

Personal data security is the most important attribute of interaction with employees, counterparties, investors, and shareholders. To ensure the protection of human and civil rights and freedoms in the processing of personal data, as well as for the purposes of compliance with Russian laws in the field of personal data, SFI has developed, and adheres to, a Personal Data Protection Policy. The holding has also developed Personal Data Regulations.

These documents specify the composition of personal information that SFI collects about employees, partners, and shareholders, as well as the purpose of its collection, the scope of its application, and the terms of transferring such information to third parties. All new employees sign the consent to the processing, storage, and dissemination of their personal data. Employees must also familiarize themselves with SFI's Personal Data Protection Policy and other local regulations upon getting hired.

SFI employees are the most important asset of the holding. SFI takes all necessary measures to protect their occupational safety and health, including COVID-19 safety measures, and operates a program of financial incentives for employees, including bonuses, financial aid, and allocated funds for employee training. Interaction between the holding as an employer and employees is regulated by Russian law and local regulations, which include the Internal Labor Rules, Regulations on the Labor Protection Management System, and Regulations on Remuneration and Incentives.

SFI uses a limited amount of energy resources in its work, taking a responsible approach to their consumption. The holding and its subsidiaries and affiliates continuously implement measures aimed at reducing fuel, power, and heat consumption.

The SFI investment holding itself does not employ more than 50 people. The holding has minimal impact on the environment. At the same time, the employees are aware of the importance of responsible consumption.

When selecting investment targets, the holding prioritizes companies that adhere to the principles of sustainable development and conscientiously monitor their impact on the environment and society, minimizing the risks of negative effects and creating and expanding opportunities for positive change. The investment process at SFI is governed by internal documents and procedures.