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Title:	Cricket Savings: the 2011 certification
Date of publishing:	May 23, 2012
Hits:	1197
Category:	News
Language:	English
Also available in the following languages:	Dutch, French

Cricket Savings: the 2011 certification
May 23, 2012

Since 1994, BNP Paribas Fortis (and its predecessors: the CGER and Fortis Banque) invests the funds raised by Cricket Savings (Krekelsparen / Epargne Cigale) according to a number of human and environmental criteria that have been agreed with Fairfin (since 1 March 2012 the new name of Netwerk Vlaanderen) and Réseau Financement Alternatif.

At least 25% is invested in small-scale initiatives respecting the human rights and the environment and in 13 priority sectors, including culture, education, health, renewable energy, the employment of disadvantaged groups,... Maximum 45% is invested in loans to public enterprises and social housing and ​​in shares of (inter) national institutions.

Nine kinds of products and services and 5 types of business practices are excluded, e.g. armaments, nuclear power, violations of human rights, vehicles running on fossil fuels, non-transparent financial institutions, animal testing,... The details of the reinvestment criteria can be found on www.fairfin.be/krekelspaarcriteria

Forum ETHIBEL, an independent advisory body, is responsible for the auditing process and the annual certification. For fiscal year 2011, we found that the socio-ethical reinvestment of the portfolio by BNP is fully compliant with the agreement between BNP, Réseau Financement Alternatif and FairFin. We have however slight reservations regarding the commitment to new forms of support to social and environmental initiatives.

Consult the certificates: Cricket Savings

Audit and certification - all cases