Report Profile

Forward-Looking Statements

This Report may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by the management of Covestro AG, Leverkusen (Germany). Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual results, financial situation, development, or performance of the Group and the estimates given here. The various factors include those discussed in Covestro’s public reports, which are available at www.covestro.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update such forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

Combined Management Report of the Covestro Group and Covestro AG

The combined management report pertains to both the Covestro Group and Covestro AG. This report covers the period from January 1 to December 31, 2021. The presentation of the business performance as well as the position of and the forecast for key management indicators pertain to the Covestro Group, except where otherwise indicated. Information that applies to Covestro AG only is identified accordingly. In the Report on Economic Position, the information disclosed pursuant to the German Commercial Code (HGB) with regard to Covestro AG is provided in a separate section. In addition, the nonfinancial statement pursuant to Sections 315b and 315c in conjunction with Sections 289c through 289e of the HGB is integrated into the Group Management Report. This includes the statements in accordance with the European Union’s Taxonomy Regulation (2020/852). A nonfinancial statement in accordance with Sections 289c through 289e of the HGB does not have to be provided at this time for Covestro AG.

Combined Management Report Reference Key

Reference to content in the Group Management Report or Consolidated Financial Statements

Reference to content in the supplementary sustainability information. The supplementary sustainability information that is not part of the statutory audit of the consolidated financial statements was subjected to a separate review with limited assurance pursuant to the International Standard on Assurance Engagements (ISAE) 3000 by KPMG AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft, Düsseldorf (Germany), and is identified as follows in this document:

Refers to content not contained in the Group Management Report, supplementary sustainability information, and Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. KPMG AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft, Düsseldorf (Germany), did not substantively audit or review the information referenced.

Nonfinancial Reporting

Covestro reports comprehensively and transparently about topics important from the company’s perspective and for our stakeholders. We measure our sustainability performance using financial indicators as well as key nonfinancial indicators published in the Group Management Report. Our objective here is to highlight how closely linked environmental and societal factors are with responsible corporate governance and the long-term success of our business. The Group Management Report and the supplementary sustainability information together comprise our annual sustainability reporting.

For all reportable aspects, the nonfinancial statement includes the policies we pursue in addressing environmental matters, employee matters, and social matters as well as respect for human rights and anti-corruption and bribery matters, the due diligence processes followed, as well as the outcomes of these strategies. Nonfinancial performance indicators are reported only when these are important to the Covestro Group.

As an integral part of the Group Management Report, the nonfinancial statement was audited with reasonable assurance by our auditor, KPMG AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft, Düsseldorf (Germany). The supplementary sustainability information specifically identified as such additionally contributes to the transparency of our reporting, which meets the requirements of the “Core” option of the Global Reporting Initiative’s (GRI) Sustainability Reporting Standards (SRS). The supplementary sustainability information that is not part of our statutory annual reporting was subjected to a separate review with limited assurance pursuant to the ISAE 3000 by KPMG AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft, Düsseldorf (Germany).

Environmental Performance Indicators

Environmental protection performance indicators are reported for all fully consolidated companies. Since these figures are calculated only at the end of the year, they include the group of companies consolidated as it stands at year-end. Moreover, we include data from all environmentally relevant Covestro sites, i.e., all production sites and relevant administrative sites. This data is used in addition to the environmental reporting contained in this report to communicate with various stakeholders, e.g., associations, the press, and government agencies, as well as to continually improve our environmental performance. In order to comply with publication deadlines, the sites estimate the environmental data for the final weeks of the current fiscal year on the basis of established estimation methodologies that ensure accurate reporting of data as close as possible to the actual figures for the year. If, however, in the course of the following year, we become aware of material deviations based on internally defined thresholds, the figures in question are corrected retroactively. This was not required in fiscal 2021 for the preceding 2020 fiscal year.

Reporting on Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions is based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and includes all fully consolidated companies. Measures taken to offset emissions are not currently tracked by Covestro and are therefore not part of this reporting. The global warming potential (GWP) factors correspond to the Fifth Assessment Report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Alternative Performance Measures

Throughout its financial reporting, Covestro uses alternative performance measures (APMs) to assess the business performance of the Group. These are not defined in the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs). These non-IFRS indicators should be considered a supplement to, not a replacement for, the financial performance measures determined in accordance with IFRSs. The alternative performance measures of relevance to the Covestro Group include earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), return on capital employed (ROCE), free operating cash flow (FOCF), and net financial debt. The calculation methods for the APMs may vary from those of other companies, thus limiting the extent of the overall comparability. These alternative performance measures should not be viewed in isolation or employed as an alternative to the financial indicators determined in accordance with IFRSs and presented in the consolidated financial statements for purposes of assessing Covestro’s net assets, financial position, and results of operations.

Inclusive Language

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are important to Covestro. To ensure better readability, we therefore strive to use gender-neutral language and avoid gender-specific terms in this Report. All terms should be taken to apply equally to all genders.

Rounding and Percentage Deviations

As the indicators in this Report are stated in accordance with commercial rounding principles, totals may not always be exact, and percentages may be approximated.

Percentage deviations are only calculated and reported if they are no more than 100%. Larger deviations are reported as >100%, >200%, etc. If a deviation changes from positive to negative or vice versa, or if it is greater than 1,000%, this is shown by a period.

Publication

The publication of this Annual Report does not comply with the legally required uniform electronic reporting format pursuant to Section 328, Paragraph 1, Sentence 4 HGB. A report in this format has been submitted to the operator of the electronic Federal Gazette in Germany and is accessible via the website www.unternehmensregister.de.

This Annual Report was published on March 1, 2022. It is available in German and English. The German version is binding.