Flemming Højbo writes analyses for AMWatch about the Nordic asset and wealth management sector. Højbo was head of communications in the asset management industry for 15 years, and before that, he worked for 25 years as financial and business reporter and editor. | Foto: Jan Bjarke Mindegaard

Analysis: Will the confusion about EU regulation harm sustainable investments?

Complexity and confusion about the European ESG regulation are costly. It can make sustainable investments even more expensive and favor the largest asset managers, Flemming Højbo assesses (Part One).

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Large-scale coal operations are the reason why six Chinese companies, and one Indian, have been added to the AP7 investment blacklist. | Foto: Sam Mcneil/AP/Ritzau Scanpix

Swedish state pension fund adds seven coal polluters to blacklist

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The new E version of the Swedish JAS 39 Gripen multi role fighter being rolled out at SAAB in Linkoping, Sweden. | Foto: Anders Wiklund/AP/Ritzau Scanpix

Swedish company comes in from cold as investors return to defense

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The exclusion of DuPont is the first time Nordea has banned a company for biodiversity reasons. | Foto: Sina Schuldt/AP/Ritzau Scanpix

Nordea AM excludes chemicals giant on biodiversity grounds

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At least 40,000 years old paintings that depict animals discovered in caves on the island of Sulawesi are rewriting the history of art. | Foto: Handout/Reuters/Ritzau Scanpix

Oil fund puts Indonesian company on observation list, fearing damage to cultural heritage

Richard House, head of emerging market debt at Allianz Global Investors, thinks that we will see the same level of return in emerging markets’ sovereign debt as typically seen in equities. | Foto: Magnus Eidem

Allianz pursues using ESG to find excess return in emerging market debt

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CIP makes first investment in Nordic onshore wind farms
CIP enters partnership with Finnish Myrsky Energia in a deal that concerns the development of onshore wind farms for a total of EUR 2.3bn.
Storebrand excludes company accused of threatening wildlife
For the first time, Norway’s Storebrand Asset Management has excluded a company based on its impact on endangered animals.
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ESG debt investors face confusion over trigger event for payment
Investors in a controversial corner of the ESG debt market are facing a new layer of uncertainty thanks to a gray area of carbon accounting.
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More Swedish savers than ever invest in sustainable funds
The fact that more men than previously have chosen this particular fund option is the main reason for the increase in sustainable investing, the Swedish Investment Fund Association writes.
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EU reports identify numerous ways of misleading ESG investors
An airport calling itself ”green” because of solar panels on its roof is an example of misleading sustainability information, a new report by the EU’s financial markets watchdog states.
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AkademikerPension invests in French climate fund
The Danish pension fund is investing a three-digit million-kroner sum in the early phase of climate projects.
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PFA met with criticism for increasing investment in oil company
At the annual general meeting on Tuesday, PFA will vote against Shell’s own climate plan and at the same time refrain from supporting a stricter proposal from a number of investors.
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Defense investments are hardly a black and white issue, says Evli CEO
Discussions of military investment exclusions after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine have soared for a good reason, asserts the CEO of Finnish Evli, Maunu Lehtimäki.
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Graven Larsen’s Qblue funds keep their AAA ratings despite massive MSCI downgrades
Only 0.2% of all funds now have an ESG AAA rating from MSCI compared to previously 19.9%.
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Sweden's leading asset managers have different approaches to defense investments
In the new geopolitical landscape, one of Sweden’s major asset managers has felt compelled to take a closer look at its investment policies on military equipment.
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Oil fund to file shareholder proposals on ESG
Filing a shareholder motion is particularly suited to companies in the US, partly because US companies lag behind their European counterparts in ESG matters, says NBIM’s head of corporate governance.
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OP plans to upgrade funds and launch new dark green fund
Fresh statistics suggest that the wave of Article 9 fund downgrades is now over. CEO of OP Asset Management Tuomas Virtala explains OP’s plans for its ESG funds and how it aims to avoid downgrading.
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Real estate industry leaders consider ESG a top priority
ESG targets are currently of top priority in the real estate industry. It is going to be costly, but it will pay off, some of the industry’s leading figures posited at the PropTech Symposium 2023.
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German fund manager looks for new projects and partners in the Nordics
Commerz Real’s head of green deal infrastructure Yves-Maurice Radwan, speaks about his ambitions in Nordic renewable energy.
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Funds marketed as "sustainable" hit by crossborder reality check
New report reveals that only 4% of funds using the word sustainability, or some version of it in their names, actually comply with all current and planned requirements set by authorities.
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Analysis: Does AGM activism pay off?
Shareholder activism is a tool that comes in handy for investors at the Annual General Meetings. It creates attention and publicity. But does it create results? Flemming Højbo analyzes the AGM trend.
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Danish pension fund increases voting at international AGMs
LD Fonde is taking a more active ownership role by voting at an increasing number of AGMs outside Denmark, the pension fund reports.
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AP7 to increase climate focus on high-emitting companies
The Swedish default pension fund has published its new Climate Action Plan 2023 which stipulates a stronger focus on influencing companies with a high carbon footprint.
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The number of climate funds out there has exploded
Finding the right climate strategy is becoming increasingly complicated.
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AP Pension invests in solar farm project through direct loan financing
The Danish pension fund engages in direct lending to green projects for the very first time. The money is set for photovoltaics - commonly known as solar panels - in Portugal.
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