Glossary

In the glossary you will find all the important definitions relating to possible risks in the area of investments. The glossary is updated on an ongoing basis.

General Risks

General Investment Risks

Bonds / Annuities / Debentures

Shares

Domestic Investment Funds

  • Unit certificates in Austrian investment funds (investment certificates) are securities that securitise co-ownership in an investment fund. Investment funds invest the unit holders' money according to the principle of risk diversification. The three main types are bond funds, equity funds and mixed funds, which invest in both bonds and equities. Funds can invest in domestic and/or foreign securities.

Foreign Investment Funds

  • Foreign investment funds are subject to foreign legal provisions, which may differ considerably from the provisions applicable in Austria. Supervisory law can often be less strict than in Austria.

    Abroad, there are also so-called "closed-end funds" or funds constructed in accordance with stock corporation law, where the value is based on supply and demand and not on the intrinsic value of the fund, similar to the price formation of shares. Please note that distributions and income equivalent to distributions from foreign investment funds (e.g. accumulation funds) - regardless of their legal form - are subject to different tax rules.

Exchange Traded Funds

Property Funds

  • Austrian property funds are special assets owned by an investment company that holds and manages the special assets in trust for the unit holders. The unit certificates securitise a contractual participation in this special fund. Property funds invest the monies received from the unit holders in accordance with the principle of risk diversification, in land, buildings, shares in property companies and comparable assets and own construction projects; they also hold liquid financial assets (liquidity investments), such as securities and bank balances. The liquidity investments serve to guarantee the property fund's upcoming payment obligations (e.g., due to the acquisition of properties) and redemptions of unit certificates.

Option Vouchers

Structured Products

  • Structured investment instruments” are investment instruments whose income and/or capital repayments are usually not fixed but are dependent on certain future events or developments. Furthermore, these investment instruments may, for example, be structured in such a way that the product can be terminated prematurely by the issuer if predetermined targets are reached, or automatic termination takes place at all.

    Individual product types are described below. Common collective terms are used to describe these product types, but these are not used uniformly on the market. Due to the wide range of connection, combination and payout options for these investment instruments, a wide variety of investment instrument designs have developed, the names chosen for which do not always consistently reflect the respective designs. It is therefore always necessary to check the specific product conditions. Your client advisor will be happy to inform you about the various structures of these investment instruments.

Sustainability risks within the meaning of the disclosure regulation (EU) 2019/2088

  • Sustainability risk is an environmental, social or governance event or condition that, if it occurs, could have an actual or potential material negative impact on the value of the investment. In addition to other sustainability risks, climate risks in particular, are increasingly coming into focus because of ongoing climate change. Climate risks include all risks that arise as a result of climate change or that are exacerbated by climate change. In the case of climate risks, a distinction is made between physical risks, which arise directly from the consequences of climate change, and transition risks, which arise from the transition to a climate-neutral and resilient economy and society and can therefore lead to a devaluation of assets. In addition to sustainability risks, sustainability factors can also play a role in an investment. Sustainability factors are defined as environmental, social and employee concerns, respect for human rights and the fight against corruption and bribery.

    Sustainability risks are identified for financial products in accordance with the Disclosure Regulation (EU) 2019/2088.