On Monday 5 May 2025, Spuerkeess (Banque et Caisse d'Épargne de l'État - BCEE) and Erste Asset Management, the asset management company of the Austria Erste Group, announced a strategic partnership to promote sustainable financial solutions in Luxembourg.
In a press release, Spuerkeess stated that the collaboration highlighted the commitment of both companies to promoting and offering its clients investment solutions that consider sustainability challenges.
Spuerkeess added that, as part of this partnership, it becomes the sole distributor of Erste Asset Management’s sustainable investment funds in Luxembourg. These funds provide investors with the opportunity to combine financial returns with environmental and social criteria. Spuerkeess noted that it will therefore strengthen its position in sustainable and responsible finance while funds of Erste Asset Management will be available to clients in the Luxembourg market for the first time.
Romain Wehles, Chief Commercial Officer at Spuerkeess, stated: “I would like to thank Erste Group for launching our partnership allowing Spuerkeess to offer a new range of sustainable investment opportunities to its customers. Our clients can be assured that their investments not only support their financial future but also actively contribute to addressing global challenges”.
According to Spuerkeess, Erste AM has been one of the pioneers of sustainable investing in the German-speaking region for more than 20 years, with a total Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) fund volume of €31.9 billion (on 31 March 2025). Strict minimum criteria that consider all ESG factors and a specially developed sustainability score to evaluate companies are described as the hallmarks of Erste AM's investment approach. A Responsible Investments team analyses companies in terms of sustainability factors and contacts companies in the form of engagements, to help them move towards a more sustainable path. The sustainable philosophy is also underpinned by external certifications and labels. In addition, Erste AM has developed its own ESGenius Score model to assess the sustainability performance of companies and countries. In the future, Spuerkeess customers are expected to be able be able to benefit from Erste AM’s experience in the field of sustainable investing.
Thomas Kraus, Member of the Executive board of Erste AM, said: “We are convinced that our well-established sustainable investment process, developed over decades of dedicated work, will add significant value to the customers of Spuerkeess, while addressing the numerous climate and environmental challenges our planet faces”.
Spuerkeess added that it had selected some of Erste Asset Management's sustainable funds in the following categories:
- ESG funds: These funds are designed to promote environmental and social characteristics. This is achieved through Erste Asset Management’s proprietary methodology, ensuring enhanced ESG integration in investment selection and minimising sustainability risks;
- Impact Funds: Spuerkeess customers will also be able to purchase Impact funds. These funds are designed not only to generate financial returns but also to create a positive impact on the environment and society. This is achieved through Erste Asset Management’s proprietary methodology, which seeks to select investments that contribute positively to one or more environmental and social objectives.
