grenke around the globe
Human Rights
Respect for human rights
Respecting human rights is essential for us. As part of compliance management, rules for equal treatment, anti-discrimination and respect for human rights are defined in the Code of Conduct and in the guidelines applied. We have taken precautions to ensure that no child or forced labor, no (modern) slavery and no human trafficking are tolerated along our value chain or in the procurement of products and services. We do not tolerate coercion, threats or exploitation of possible weaknesses or emergencies in the establishment and maintenance of work activities.
The rules of mutual respectful and ethical conduct are also enshrined in writing in our Code of Conduct (see www.grenke.com/de/unternehmen/grenke-gruppe/esg/), which is provided to all employees as part of their employment contracts, and in our Supplier Code of Conduct. These documents incorporate the relevant national and international regulations and rules that are of importance to grenke. In this way, they sensitize us to the legal risks in everyday working life and at the same time define both our claim and our promise to ethics and morals internally and externally. We strengthen and monitor the anchoring of these principles in particular through strong compliance and data protection, as well as internal audits.
Compliance and Data Protection
Risk management
We ensure our sustainable success through careful risk management. We integrate current developments and circumstances, such as the opportunities and risks of climate change, into our risk management.
Corporate risk management
At grenke, corporate risks are assessed taking ESG risk drivers into account. We define sustainability risks as risks that result from material ESG issues. We view them as drivers that can materialize in the known risk types. Accordingly, as part of the risk inventory, the physical and transitory risks are considered, analysed, categorized and evaluated along the ESG dimensions for each risk type.
Internal Audits
The Internal Audit department provides independent and objective auditing and advisory services on behalf of the Management Board. This ensures the maintenance, further development and monitoring of the governance and compliance structure. Since 2022, these dimensions have been expanded to include sustainability topics such as strategy, processes, sustainability reporting, carbon footprinting and the Green Bond.
Compliance management
Our Group-wide compliance management system (CMS) helps us to meet the various international requirements and prevent risks. Our aim is to use the Group-wide compliance management system (CMS) to meet the various international requirements and thus counteract operational risks and uncertainties. To ensure compliance with all national and international requirements and guidelines, we also have local compliance officers in all countries in which we are represented.
Money laundering and fraud prevention
We counter potential money laundering and terrorist financing as well as other criminal acts with our specially qualified employees, work instructions, guidelines and controls. To this end, we have appointed national money laundering officers throughout the Group who monitor legally compliant actions.
Data Protection
We are continuously developing our data protection management system. This enables us to ensure that data processing is carried out in compliance with the law at all times throughout the Group, that potential breaches are identified at an early stage and that suitable countermeasures are taken. In order to meet the major challenges in data protection, both grenke AG and its subsidiaries have appointed data protection officers in accordance with legal requirements and created a central office for operational data protection.
Information Security
In order to protect the information we process in the best possible way, we are constantly evaluating and improving our information security management system. Our actions are based on compliance with regulations and laws, in particular the Minimum Requirements for Risk Management (MaRisk), the EU Commission's Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) and the banking supervisory requirements for IT (BAIT).
Money laundering and fraud prevention
We counter potential money laundering and terrorist financing as well as other criminal acts with our specially qualified employees, work instructions, guidelines and controls. To this end, we have appointed national money laundering officers throughout the Group who monitor legally compliant actions.
Data Protection
We are continuously developing our data protection management system. This enables us to ensure that data processing is carried out in compliance with the law at all times throughout the Group, that potential breaches are identified at an early stage and that suitable countermeasures are taken. In order to meet the major challenges in data protection, both grenke AG and its subsidiaries have appointed data protection officers in accordance with legal requirements and created a central office for operational data protection.
Information Security
In order to protect the information we process in the best possible way, we are constantly evaluating and improving our information security management system. Our actions are based on compliance with regulations and laws, in particular the Minimum Requirements for Risk Management (MaRisk), the EU Commission's Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) and the banking supervisory requirements for IT (BAIT).
Access to financial markets
Access to financial markets
As a financial services provider, refinancing is a central component of our business. In a changing financial world, sustainability and ESG (environmental, social and governance) are becoming increasingly important - both due to the growing interest of investors and the increasing requirements of financial market regulation. ESG ratings and benchmarks play an important role here, as they facilitate access to capital for companies that are actively committed to sustainability. They also provide investors with a clear basis for evaluating the sustainability performance of companies and making informed decisions.
As part of our refinancing strategy, grenke Bank AG has been purchasing lease receivables from the Group companies since 2009. In addition, grenke Bank AG cooperates with various development banks by purchasing receivables from lease agreements in the form of global loans. With regard to our senior unsecured instruments, green, social or sustainability bonds, for example, enable the targeted promotion of sustainable projects.
With our Green Bond, we offer our investors the opportunity to invest in sustainability. In operational terms, we support the sustainable transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by enabling them to finance green economy projects. We are guided by the Green Project Categories of the International Capital Market Association (ICMA) and finance properties in the following areas, among others: Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, Clean Transportation, Pollution Prevention and Control, Sustainable Water and Wastewater Management.
In 2024, we expanded our sustainable financing offering and added social product categories to our Sustainable Bond Framework in addition to green economy properties. This new framework is in line with the ICMA Green Bond Principles, the ICMA Social Bond Principles and the ICMA Sustainability Bond Guidelines.
Our Sustainable Bond Framework underlines our commitment to financing small and medium-sized enterprises, especially in countries facing social challenges in the labor market. In this way, we actively contribute to the development of a more sustainable and socially just future.
Further information can be found under the heading "sustainable refinancing" under the following button.
Corporate Governance
Here you find further information regarding our Corporate Governance.
