Protesters in Frankfurt, Germany, demonstrate against alleged EU greenwashing. | Foto: Arne Dedert/AP/Ritzau Scanpix

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.

For subscribers

Carine Smith Ihenacho is Chief Governance and Compliance Officer at NBIM. | Foto: PR/NBIM

AMWatch

Oil fund seeks to take lead in lawsuit against SVB

The manager of the Norwegian oil fund has found that legal action against companies it invests in is so lucrative that it wants to be lead litigator in the case against Silicon Valley Bank.

Frederik Gundorph Olesen is CEO of The Many. | Foto: PR

Fund Management

Alternative fund manager reported to the police

Fund manager The Many has grossly violated the law and made use of, as well as marketed, an investment strategy that is outside of the manager’s authorization, says the FSA.

For subscribers

Pension

Challenged Danish manager poaches pension fund CIO

After two years as CIO, Rasmus Cederholm leaves his job at AP Pension.

For subscribers

Did you read?

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).

For subscribers

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

Fund Management

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

For subscribers

Peder Hasslev will take over as CEO of Alecta on September 1. | Foto: PR / Alecta

Pension

Alecta’s next CEO: Stock picking closer to home is less risky

A first priority for Peder Hasslev is to ensure that there is no repetition of the US investment debacle that cost Alecta close to SEK 20bn, the newly appointed chief executive tells Dagens Industri.

For subscribers

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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

Responsible Investing

Swedish state pension fund adds seven coal polluters to blacklist

The number of companies excluded from the AP7 fund’s investment universe has increased to 107. The seven newcomers conduct large-scale coal operations, and most of them are Chinese.

For subscribers

Did you read?

Danish pension fund names current CIO as next CEO

The upcoming CEO of P+ joined the EUR 20bn pension fund in 2020 from a position as vice-CEO at Danske Bank Asset Management.

For subscribers

Claus Johansen has been a healthcare stockpicker at Danske Bank for more than 19 years. | Foto: Private

Fund Management

Change of plans - former Danske Bank stock picker to launch health care fund of his own

The plan of launching a fund together with investment boutique St Petri has been scrapped. Instead, former healthcare manager at Danske, Claus Johansen, will start his own healthcare fund.

For subscribers

At Danish broadcaster DR, Iben Maria Zeuthen hosts the Danish radio program "What would Jesus have said?", among others. | Foto: Anders Rye Skjoldjensen

Pension

Radio host quits job at national broadcaster to dodge mandatory pensions scheme

”It’s not activism, it’s common sense,” says the radio host who no longer wants to have her savings invested by Denmark’s largest corporate pension provider.

For subscribers

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

Responsible Investing

Nordea AM excludes chemicals giant on biodiversity grounds

US chemical company DuPont is liable for legacy PFAS pollution and has therefore been placed on Nordea AM’s exclusion list along with several other companies, the Nordic asset manager says.

For subscribers

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

Fund Management

Swedish company comes in from cold as investors return to defense

One of the players reconsidering its defense investments is Swedbank Robur, Sweden’s largest fund manager.

For subscribers

Did you read?

Nordea AM excludes chemicals giant on biodiversity grounds

US chemical company DuPont is liable for legacy PFAS pollution and has therefore been placed on Nordea AM’s exclusion list along with several other companies, the Nordic asset manager says.

For subscribers

Kåre Hahn Michelsen will step into the management team on June 1, officially taking on the CEO role on October 1. | Foto: Pr/p+

Pension

Danish pension fund names current CIO as next CEO

The upcoming CEO of P+ joined the EUR 20bn pension fund in 2020 from a position as vice-CEO at Danske Bank Asset Management.

For subscribers

Incoming CEO Peder Hasslev will aim to restore confidence in Alecta following the company's US investment failures. | Foto: PR / Alecta

AMWatch

New CEO aims to “restore confidence” in troubled Swedish pensions giant

Sweden’s largest commercial pension company, Alecta, has recruited a chief executive with vast experience from the pensions sector as well as asset management.

For subscribers

Chief Executive Officer of Storebrand Asset Management Jan Erik Saugestad. | Foto: PR / Storebrand AM

Fund Management

Storebrand AM experiences tough competition but tops net sales in Norway

The asset manager has taken the largest share of the net inflow to the Norwegian fund market this year. In terms of flow, DNB is by far the largest domestic player.

For subscribers

Turmoil on financial markets makes ATP decrease its risk exposure

The financial turbulence has made ATP take some of the risk out of its portfolio, Group CEO Martin Præstegaard says. But the pension fund is a long-term investor, he points out.

For subscribers

Peter Høltermand is the new chairman of the board at independent asset manager | Foto: PR/SEB

People

Former longstanding SEB country head becomes chairman of asset manager

After exiting his position at SEB, Peter Høltermand has built up a large portfolio of chairmanships which is now expanding further.

For subscribers

Riikka Laine-Tolonen, CEO of S-Bank. | Foto: PR S-Pankki Oyj: Martti Lindholm.

AMNews

S-Bank to buy Handelsbanken’s AM operations in Finland

The sale of Handelsbanken asset management operations will boost S-Bank’s role in the Finnish market, where it’s currently the tenth-largest fund manager in terms of AUM.

For subscribers

Lars Bo Bertram, CEO of BankInvest. | Foto: Pr/bankinvest

Fund Management

BankInvest CEO sees tailwinds on institutional sales

Return performance is behind increased interest from institutional investors, says BankInvest CEO Lars Bo Bertram. Net flows were negative in Q1, but BankInvest maintained its retail market share.

For subscribers

LGIM's Head of Nordics, Anders Arjes, describes the region as a key market and a leader in innovative ESG investment solutions. | Foto: PR/ LGIM

AMWatch

AP7 and LGIM launch joint effort to invest in “climate laggards”

A new initiative involving AP7 and LGIM will strive to improve green transition efforts of companies that are lagging behind in this area.

For subscribers

Denmark's banks do relational work and pull on networks when the banks are to seduce the nation's richest people. | Foto: Ernst van Norde

AMNews

The fight for the wealthiest bank customers is all about relations

When private banking customers enter the fold, the match between advisor and customer is paramount, as it improves relations. If customers feel important, they do more business, scientist says.

For subscribers

Lars Tvede launched the Atlas Macro Global fund two years ago. | Foto: Carsten Bundgaard/POLFOTO/arkiv

AMNews

Hedge fund of Danish entrepreneur has lost 42% since inception

Hedge fund Atlas Global Macro was initiated by the Danish investor and entrepreneur, Lars Tvede, two years ago.

For subscribers

Pension

Sampension criticized for lack of transparency

Around 10% of the pension fund’s total investments are undisclosed, according to Danish news outlet Danwatch. Sampension says that no ”black investments” are hidden in the portfolio.

For subscribers

Elisabeth Bull Daae is supposed to have received a notice of termination from Norges Bank. Here, she's seen in Oslo District Court with her lawyer, Sigurd Knudtzon | Foto: Ida Oftebro

AMNews

Oil fund employee receives notice of termination prior to trial verdict

Elisabeth Bull Daae is banned from Norges Bank’s IT systems and is accused of unfounded allegations against colleagues.

For subscribers

”There will be a more strict line,” says PKA CEO Jon Johnsen. | Foto: Pr/pka

Pension

Pension investor to take hard line on corporate taxes

Many companies will have to prepare, says PKA’s CEO, as the Danish pension fund is about to accelerate the monitoring of corporate tax payments with a new tool from EY.

For subscribers

Pension

Leaving AP7: “I did not imagine that we would reach a trillion”

After being part of the Swedish default pension fund’s top management for 23 years, Richard Gröttheim is leaving his job as CEO on 31 May. AMWatch met him for a farewell interview.

For subscribers

Influencers that advise on financial products have drawn the attention of the European Commissioner for financial services, Mairead McGuinness. | Foto: Aurore Martignoni / European Union

Fund Management

EU to crack down on "finfluencers"

Financial companies must be held responsible if hired influencers do not disclose the risk tied to investments, and violations should lead to fines or license suspension, says the EU Commission.

For subscribers

EU reports identify numerous ways of misleading ESG investors

Oil fund seeks to take lead in lawsuit against SVB

Alternative fund manager reported to the police

Challenged Danish manager poaches pension fund CIO

Did you read?

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

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

Alecta’s next CEO: Stock picking closer to home is less risky

Sign up for our newsletter

Swedish state pension fund adds seven coal polluters to blacklist

Did you read?

Danish pension fund names current CIO as next CEO

Change of plans - former Danske Bank stock picker to launch health care fund of his own

Radio host quits job at national broadcaster to dodge mandatory pensions scheme

Nordea AM excludes chemicals giant on biodiversity grounds

Swedish company comes in from cold as investors return to defense

Did you read?

Nordea AM excludes chemicals giant on biodiversity grounds

Danish pension fund names current CIO as next CEO

New CEO aims to “restore confidence” in troubled Swedish pensions giant

Storebrand AM experiences tough competition but tops net sales in Norway

Most read

Turmoil on financial markets makes ATP decrease its risk exposure

Former longstanding SEB country head becomes chairman of asset manager

S-Bank to buy Handelsbanken’s AM operations in Finland

BankInvest CEO sees tailwinds on institutional sales

AP7 and LGIM launch joint effort to invest in “climate laggards”

The fight for the wealthiest bank customers is all about relations

Hedge fund of Danish entrepreneur has lost 42% since inception

Sampension criticized for lack of transparency

Oil fund employee receives notice of termination prior to trial verdict

Pension investor to take hard line on corporate taxes

Leaving AP7: “I did not imagine that we would reach a trillion”

EU to crack down on "finfluencers"