SCH2017_DRF_EN_Livre.indb

2 Sustainable development

Schneider Electric, an eco-citizen company

Rollout To achieve its goals, the Access to Energy program operates through its local presence in the countries concerned by the energy access problem. With a few rare exceptions, all projects initiated benefit from monitoring by employees of Schneider Electric entities operating in the countries concerned. These employees constitute a network of key contact people for the design, management and monitoring of projects.

Their involvement may be part time or full time. They contribute their knowledge of the local context (organization of civil society, local authorities, the private sector, etc.) and guarantee that the project is aligned with local needs. Their presence is of crucial importance for the long-term oversight of projects in which Schneider Electric is involved. The main areas targeted by the program are India, Bangladesh, China, South Asia, Africa, Middle East, South and Central America.

Key targets and results For this section, 3 key performance indicators have been set in the Planet & Society Barometer for 2015-2017:

Objectives for year-end 2017

2017

2016

2015

2014

1. x5 turnover of Access to Energy program to promote development* 2. 150,000 underprivileged people trained in energy management 3. 1,300 missions within Schneider Electric Teachers NGO*

x2.08

x2.07

-

x2.21 ▲

148,145 ▲

123,839

102,884

73,339

1,347 ▲

1,065

878

460

The 2014 performance serves as a starting value for the Planet & Society Barometer between 2015 and 2017. ▲ 2017 audited indicators. * A methodological change was made in Q4 2016, see note on page 134. Please refer to pages 131-134 for the methodological presentation of indicators and the following pages for the analysis of the results (pages 122-124 for indicator 1, 124-125 for indicator 2, and 127-128 for indicator 3).

Social investment In July 2009, Schneider Electric created a social welfare investment structure in the form of a variable-capital SAS (simplified joint-stock company), Schneider Electric Energy Access (SEEA), with a minimum of EUR3 million in capital. On December 31, 2017, the following amounts were managed by SEEA: E EUR3,000,000 in capital invested by Schneider Electric; E EUR2,300,000 invested by Schneider Énergie Sicav Solidaire (including EUR500,000 in capital), a mutual fund managing the employee savings scheme for Schneider Electric employees in France; E EUR200,000 in capital invested by Phitrust Partenaires. Approach Created with the support of the Crédit Coopératif, the fund’s mission is to support the development of entrepreneurial initiatives worldwide that will help the poorest populations obtain access to energy. It will invest in specific projects: E helping jobless individuals create businesses in the electricity sector; E the development of businesses that fight against fuel poverty in Europe by promoting energy efficiency and the provision of efficient housing; E promoting the development of businesses that provide access to energy in rural or suburban areas in developing countries; E supporting the deployment of innovative energy access solutions that use renewable energies for underprivileged people. The SEEA fund brings together different stakeholders by encouraging Schneider Electric’s employees and business partners around

the world to play an active role in this commitment. This social welfare investment structure, designed by Schneider Electric to promote responsible development, constitutes a response to new French legislation on employee savings plans. At the end of 2017, 5,300 Group employees in France showed their interest in the Access to Energy program by investing EUR16.8 million. The aim of the SEEA fund is to promote development while protecting the assets under management. Accordingly, it has adopted strict management rules, such as: E always invest in partnerships with recognized players; E never take a majority shareholding; E always ensure sustained company support (help develop a business plan, technical advice, etc.) to deliver the optimum social efficacy while minimizing risk. Examples of companies supported Investments in France La Foncière Chênelet is a Chênelet Group employment opportunity company formed to counter energy precariousness by creating energy-efficient social housing. Moreover, construction sites bring together employment opportunity companies and conventional firms to promote rehiring of the unemployed. SIDI (International Solidarity for Development and Investment) is an investment fund that assigns priority to the impact on development rather than return. The fund is an important partner of SEEA and is particularly active in the microfinance sector.

2017 REGISTRATION DOCUMENT SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC

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