10/05/2022at 14:32

Danish pension fund criticized for taking exclusion list too far

Lærernes Pension is facing criticism for going too far in its policy on responsible investments, and for the list of excluded companies, 658 in total, to be too long.

Tesla is among the 658 companies that Lærernes Pension doesn't want to invest in. | Photo: Aly Song/REUTERS / Ritzau Scanpix

by jørgen rudbeck, translated by jonas sahl hollænder

Danish pension fund Lærernes Pension excludes itself from investing in around 9% of the global stock market on account of responsible investing.

The exclusion list covers a total of 658 companies, approaching the point of worry, says Aarhus University financing professor Peter Løchte Jørgensen to finance media Børsen Pro Finans.

”The more you exclude of the available investable market, the poorer your prospects of creating an optimal portfolio. That’s why it could end up being a problem to have a very long exclusion list,” he says.

In a written comment to Børsen Pro Finans, Lærernes Pension’s Chief Invesment Officer Morten Malle replies that the fund disagrees with this criticism, and that the exclusions are having an effect on risk-adjusted returns.

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