MERLIN Properties Annual Report 2021

72 | Annual Report | 2021 Moreover, during 2021, MERLIN has invested a total of €645,763 to obtain, maintain and extend these certifications, as part of the Company’s commitment to effectively incorporate sustainability into the management of its assets. (1) (10) Includes investments to obtain LEED, BREEAM and WELL certifications. This figure was down by 21.6% in 2021 compared to the previous year due to CAPEX and OPEX adjustments, taking into account that the pandemic was still ongoing in fiscal year 2021. In addition to the LEED and BREEAM sustainable construction certifications, MERLIN’s commitments to sustainability are validated through other certifications: ISO 14001, ISO 50001, energy ratings, AEO, AIS and WELL. More information can be found in chapter 8 of the 2021 Sustainability Report. + MERLIN regularly participates in various sustainability ratings, which reflect the Company’s efforts and the effectiveness of the steps taken in both internal management and asset management. The Company’s score increased in 2021 compared to 2020 on all of the relevant sustainability ratings. Specifically, MERLIN participates in six sustainability ratings. Three of them, GRESB (real estate), CDP (climate change) and S&P Globa l (general) consist of a questionnaire, while the other three, Sustainalytics (ESG risks), Bloomberg (general) and Vigeo Eiris (general) are based on the Company’s public reporting. MERLIN has reinforced its position on GRESB, an international benchmark that measures the environmental, social and governance performance of companies in the real estate sector, having participated for the fourth year in a row. The company achieved a score of 81 points out of 100, which places it above the global average and ahead of its peers (companies ranked as comparable to MERLIN). For the second year in a row, MERLIN also participated in the CDP questionnaire, which assesses the degree of a company’s commitment to climate change. MERLIN held its “B” rating, which means that the Company is transparent and manages climate change issues adequately. This rating is higher than the global, European and peer group average assigned by CDP (financial services). MERLIN participated in the S&P CSA questionnaire again last year, something it had not done since 2016. On this occasion, the Company was able to highlight all of the efforts made in recent years, as a result of which MERLIN was included in the select DJSI Europe index for the first time ever since first being invited to complete the questionnaire. SUSTAINABILITY RATINGS