Flash Infos - 2009 Responsible Investor's Awards

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FLASH INFOS NOVEMBER 2009

2nd annual Responsible Investor's Awards On November 17, 2009, Natixis Asset Management and Amadeis awarded the second annual Prix de l’Investisseur Responsable (Responsible Investor’s Awards) at a ceremony attended by nearly 90 participants. Natixis Asset Management and Amadeis, in partnership with the daily newspaper, Les Echos, gave the Prize to AGRICA Epargne, the asset management company of the AGRICA Group, for its involvement in and approach to socially responsible investment. The jury also awarded special mention to the Danone company. By way of introduction, Pascal Voisin, CEO of Natixis Asset Management highlights Natixis Asset Management’s commitment to SRI management: "Natixis Asset Management has been very active in the field of SRI for more than 25 years. For us, SRI management is fundamentally an encounter between commitment and expertise: the commitment of investors, who would like their investments to be in line with their values, and the expertise of the extra-financial research and SRI management teams of Natixis Asset Management. Therefore, it is only natural that we wished to create this Prize last year, with the intention that the Prize become a lasting force."

Seven competitors in the running: one winner and one special mention Competitors had to meet several conditions to be eligible. They must be French institutions (retirement and pension schemes, insurance companies, public agencies, companies, foundations, etc.) that invest following a socially responsible approach and have made tangible initiatives during the 12 last months, while being prepared to communicate about such initiatives. The company AGRICA Epargne performed well in winning the 2009 Prize. It succeeds ERAFP (the French Public Services Additional Pension Scheme), the 2008 winner. Danone distinguished itself in earning the special mention of the Jury.

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FLASH INFOS www.leprixinvestisseurresponsable.com Concrete actions toward Socially Responsible Investment This Prize rewards AGRICA Epargne’s commitment in the area of socially responsible investment (SRI). Since January 1, 2009, AGRICA Epargne has put in place an SRI policy that now accounts for nearly 80% of the assets currently under management. The policy was implemented following a feasibility and impact study by the rating agency Vigeo, which was based on 5 principles: human rights, behavior in the markets, human resources, the environment, and community involvement. According to Jean-Claude Guimiot, Deputy CEO of Agrica Epargne, the Prize is in recognition of the Group’s approach in terms of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): "The key point of our approach is that it forms a part of the Group's global CSR policy. Finance alone cannot do anything. The essential thing is that the SRI approach is based on values that are shared by everyone within the company, in order to guarantee its actual implementation." Danone was communities”,

recognized for which makes

its ICVC, “danone. socially responsible

investments in fixed-interest instruments, and for an FCPR (French venture capital fund) devoted to projects with a major social impact. The special mention awarded to Danone was also in recognition of its creation of the endowment fund “Danone Ecosystème” in 2009. The purpose of the latter is the development of the "ecosystem" of the group through a concentration on the creation and strengthening of economic activities and the development of competencies in the areas where Danone is active, including activities such as skills training programs for local suppliers and occupational integration programs at plants. According to Muriel Pénicaud, CEO of the Human Resources of Danone "Above all, this Prize rewards an economic and social plan with the idea that economic performance cannot be achieved without social progress. Danone has been affirming this conviction in different forms for 40 years. You could say that it is in the company’s DNA."

A jury of well-known personalities chaired by Erik Orsenna “The Jury strove to use the Prize to reward investors whose practices presented an answer to the question, 'what is socially responsible investment?' and whose practices can be duplicated and reproduced.”. Erik Orsenna, Chairman of the Jury in 2009

The 2009 jury was chaired by the writer and member of the Académie française, Erik Orsenna. Serving with him were seven personalities sensitive to issues related to SRI and sustainable development: Philippe Chalmin, professor of economics at Paris-Dauphine and founder of the Cercle Cyclope, Philippe Desfossés, CEO of the French Public Service Additional Pension Scheme (ERAFP, the 2008 winner), Robin Edme, professor and Vice President of Eurosif and President of the French Social Investment Forum (FIR), Daniel Lebègue, president of the French Institute of Directors (IFA), president of the Observatoire sur la Responsabilité Sociétale des Entreprises (Corporate social responsibility monitor, ORSE) and of the Institut du Développement Durable et des Relations Internationales (Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations, IDDRI), Corinne Lepage, lawyer and president of Cap 21, Nicole Notat, president of Vigeo and Frédéric Picard, CEO of EuroPerformance.

www.am.natixis.com


FLASH INFOS www.leprixinvestisseurresponsable.com About... Natixis Asset Management Natixis Asset Management is the European expert of Natixis Global Asset Management. Based in Paris, it is among the top European asset managers with EUR 301 billion under management and around 630 employees as of September 30, 2009. Natixis Asset Management provides a full range of products and investment solutions in all asset classes for institutional investors, companies, distributors and banking networks. A recognized pioneer with 25 years experience, Natixis Asset Management is also one of the leading SRI managers in France and in Europe. Amadeis Amadeis is an independent consulting firm specializing in asset management. Amadeis assists institutional investors in determining their investment strategy. Amadeis is one of

the leaders in France with nearly EUR 20 billion in assets under management. Les Echos Founded in 1908, the Les Echos is the first French national newspaper for economic and financial information. It covers and analyzes current national, regional, and international events which have an impact on the world of business. It celebrated its hundredth anniversary in April 2008. In 2008, Les Echos had a total circulation of 123,571 copies (source OJD 2008). It is the leading national economic daily read by company managers and executives. Altogether, more than 700,000 people read the newspaper each day (Source Epiq 2007-2008).

The members of the jury...

Erik Orsenna, Chairman of the Jury - writer and member of the Académie française

Philippe Chalmin professor at ParisDauphine and founder of the Cercle Cyclope

Robin Edme - vice president of Eurosif, president of the French Social Investment Forum (FIR)

Daniel Lebègue president of the French Institute of Directors (IFA)

Nicole Notat president of Vigeo

Frédéric Picard - CEO of EuroPerformance

www.am.natixis.com

Philippe Desfossés - CEO of the French Public Services Additional Pension Scheme (ERAFP) 2008 winner Corinne Lepage attorney, president of Cap 21


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