Andra AP-fonden reports its best ever result

Andra AP-fonden’s (AP2) profit of SEK 62.3 billion for 2021 is the best ever reported by the Fund. For 2021, the Fund’s total return amounted to 16.3 per cent, which after net payments of SEK -7.5 billion to the pension system increased the Fund’s assets under management to SEK 441 billion. The relative return was 0.5 per cent.

“AP2’s profit of SEK 62.3 billion is the best ever reported by the Fund. We have had a positive development in virtually all asset classes. This performance was primarily attributable to Swedish and global equities. In addition, we can report a fantastic return of as much as 66.1 per cent on our private equity investments,” says Eva Halvarsson, CEO of AP2.

“In the past ten years, AP2 has generated a return of 148.5 per cent, corresponding to an average return of 9.5 per cent per year. Less inflation, this corresponds to an annual real return of 8.3 per cent. In 2021, the real return was 12.0 per cent,” says Eva Halvarsson.

“In 2021, the Fund reduced the asset management costs to historically low levels, and the total asset management costs now amounts to 0.11 per cent,” says Eva Halvarsson.

“AP2 celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2021. Since the start in 2001, we have not only increased the Fund’s assets under management by SEK 307 billion, but we have also developed our sustainability activities, making us one of the leading companies in sustainability management in the world today. This is not something that has happened overnight, it has involved constant effort and the commitment and skills of all employees. The Fund will continue to develop and improve this work, with the aim of contributing to sustainable development and to a stronger pension system,” says Eva Halvarsson.

Key ratios31 Dec 202131 Dec 2020
Fund assets under management carried forward, SEK billion441.0386.2
Result for the year, SEK billion62.312.8
Net payments to the national pension system, SEK billion-7.5-7.9
Fund assets under management brought forward, SEK billion386.2381.3
   
Asset management costs: operating expenses, %0.060.06
Asset management costs: commission expenses, %0.050.08
Total asset management costs, %0.110.14
   
Return after costs, %16.33.5
Real return after costs, %12.03.0
Annualised return after costs, 5 years, %8.57.3
Annualised return after costs, 10 years, %9.57.7
Real annualised return after costs, 10 years, %8.36.6

The English versions of AP2’s Annual Report 2021, the Sustainability and TCFD reports will be available at www.ap2.se from mid March.

For further information, please contact:

Eva Halvarsson, CEO of AP2, tel. +46 (0)31 704 29 00 or

Ulrika Danielson, Head of Communications and Corporate Governance, tel. +46 (0)709 50 16 13

Andra AP-fonden publishes Sustainability Report for 2021

Andra AP-fonden (AP2) continued its intensive efforts to integrate sustainability into its asset management in 2021. The Fund’s approach to sustainability is based on the conviction that sustainability leads to better asset management results, which benefits the income pension system and pensioners. The Fund began working on sustainability issues already at launch just over 20 years ago, and among other things the Fund was one of the founding signatories to the UN’s Principles of Responsible Investment (PRI). AP2 has frequently been a forerunner, for instance, in respect of its investments in green and social bonds, sustainability requirements in agreements entered into with private equity funds, fossil energy company divestments, reporting in accordance with TCFD and UNGPRF, and the alignment of the portfolio with the goals of the Paris Agreement.

“Since the end of 2020, the Fund’s global equity and credit portfolios have been managed in accordance with the criteria of the EU Paris-Aligned Benchmark (PAB). This means that the Fund is no longer invested in around 250 companies because they receive revenue from coal, oil or gas. In 2021, the Fund worked on analysing and developing PAB for the Fund’s management of Swedish equities and in 2022, the Fund will continue to adapt indices and portfolios for other assets in accordance with the criteria for PAB,” says Eva Halvarsson, CEO of AP2.

“The total carbon emissions of the Fund’s equity portfolios are continuing to decrease and declined by 20 per cent in 2021 compared with the previous year. This was mainly due to changes in holdings, but the companies also contributed a certain amount,” says Eva Halvarsson.

“In 2021, we continued to develop our work on human rights. We have begun the implementation of our updated Policy on Human Rights and have started working towards our long-term goal, which is that the Fund will continue to implement the UN Guiding Principles and that our operations should conform to these by 2025. In 2021, we implemented processes for due diligence and initiated proactive dialogues. We have also published our second report in accordance with the UN Guiding Principles Reporting Framework (UNGPRF),” says Eva Halvarsson.

“In 2020, we began investing in sustainable infrastructure, and in 2021 we made additional investments, including an investment made in in partnership with AP1, AP3 and AP4 in the battery manufacturer Northvolt. This type of investment, where we, as representatives of long-term pension assets, are able to invest in projects and companies that contribute to the necessary transition to a low-carbon economy, is growing in scope and importance, both for society at large and as portfolio weighting for us as asset managers,” says Eva Halvarsson.

Significant events during the year

  • In 2021, the Fund worked on analysing and developing the Paris-Aligned Benchmark (PAB) for the Fund’s management of Swedish equities.
  • The Fund published its second Human Rights Report in accordance with the UN Guiding Principles Reporting Framework (UNGPRF).
  • For the fourth consecutive year, AP2 published a report in compliance with the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).
  • The Fund was awarded the “Global Stewardship Disclosure Award” by the International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN). The purpose of these awards is to recognise those investors who provide genuine insight into their stewardship policies and how they have been implemented, and whose approach to transparency and reporting provides a model that others might follow.
  • At the beginning of June 2021, the Swedish National Audit Office published an audit report on the AP Funds’ sustainability work. It showed that the AP Funds’ sustainability work is appropriate in relation to their mission.

The English versions of AP2’s Sustainability and TCFD reports for 2021 will be available at www.ap2.se from mid March.

For further information, please contact:

Eva Halvarsson, CEO of AP2, tel. +46 (0)31 704 29 00 or
Ulrika Danielson, Head of Communications and Corporate Governance, tel. +46 (0)709 50 16 13

AP2 recruits Erik Kleväng Callert to new CIO

Andra AP-fonden (AP2) has recruited Erik Kleväng Callert as the new CIO (Chief Investment Officer). Erik is currently CIO and Sustainability Manager at PRI Pensionsgaranti and has previously been CIO at both SPP Pension & Insurance and at Nordea Life & Pensions. In addition to having extensive and broad experience of leading and developing asset management in large and international organizations, he has also had extensive experience and knowledge in sustainability issues, including being a board member of the Institutional Investor Group on Climate Change (IIGCC).

”I look forward to working with Erik. With his combination of leadership skills, broad expertise and experience in asset management and sustainability, he will strongly contribute to the continuing development of AP2 together with the rest of the team at the Fund,” says Eva Halvarsson, CEO of AP2.

“Together with AP2’s competent and experienced employees work to grow the pension assets and at the same time contribute to sustainable development, is something I look forward to,” says Erik Kleväng Callert.

Erik will take up the position in spring 2022 and succeed Hans Fahlin who has chosen to quit after 11 years as CIO at AP2.

Erik Kleväng Callert

For further information please contact:

Eva Halvarsson, AP2’s CEO, tel. no. (+46) (0)31 704 29 00, or

Ulrika Danielson, Head of Corporate Communications, tel. no. (+46) (0)709 50 16 13.

Andra AP-fonden is one of five buffer funds within the Swedish pension system and one of northern Europe’s largest pension funds. The Fund’s assets under management total SEK 421.2 billion (30 June 2021) and cover essentially all asset classes across the entire world. We are leading specialists in the Swedish pension system and strive to be a world-class asset manager. We are a global leader in integrating sustainability in our investments, for the benefit of the pension system. The Fund is a long-term and responsible asset manager. www.ap2.se

AP2 receives prestigious award for its sustainability reporting

AP2 has been awarded the prestigious “2021 ICGN Global Stewardship Disclosure Award” by the Global Corporate Governance Network (ICGN).

ICGN awards AP2 the “2021 ICGN Global Stewardship Disclosure Award” for the Fund’s sustainability reporting. The purpose of the award is to recognize those investors who provide genuine insight into their stewardship policies and how they are implemented, and whose approach to disclosure provides a model that others might follow. The Fund receives the award in the category of smaller asset owners (< £60 billion AUM).

We are very honored and proud to receive this award. It shows that we are at the forefront in the world in terms of sustainability reporting and transparency around these issues. Everyone at AP2 works with sustainability in different ways and are involved in what we report externally so this award is really for all employees”, says Ulrika Danielson, Head of Communications and Corporate Governance at AP2.


For further information please contact:

Eva Halvarsson, AP2’s CEO, tel. no. (+46) (0)31 704 29 00, or

Ulrika Danielson, Head of Corporate Communications, tel. no. (+46) (0)709 50 16 13.

Andra AP-fonden is one of five buffer funds within the Swedish pension system and one of northern Europe’s largest pension funds. The Fund’s assets under management total SEK 421.2 billion (30 June 2021) and cover essentially all asset classes across the entire world. We are leading specialists in the Swedish pension system and strive to be a world-class asset manager. We are a global leader in integrating sustainability in our investments, for the benefit of the pension system. The Fund is a long-term and responsible asset manager. www.ap2.se

Andra AP-fonden invests SEK 500 million in fund for sustainable infrastructure in emerging markets

AP2 further contributes to sustainable development in line with the Paris Agreement by investing approximately SEK 500 million (EUR 50 million) in the Climate Finance Partnership (CFP) managed by BlackRock. CFP will invest in sustainable infrastructure in developing countries focusing on renewable energy with associated infrastructure such as electricity grids and battery storage.

Sustainable infrastructure is an area that requires major investment, as energy and transport systems need to undergo a rapid transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources. At the end of 2019, AP2 decided to introduce a strategic allocation to sustainable infrastructure, which according to AP2’s definition means investment that directly promotes sustainable development in line with the Paris Agreement. The portfolio for sustainable infrastructure is under construction and has made several commitments and investments in 2020 and 2021.

“We are pleased to invest in the Climate Finance Partnership, which aims to make investments that have a positive impact on the climate and sustainable development and accelerate the global transition to a low-carbon economy. This aligns well with AP2’s mission to promote sustainable development, without compromising the overall goal of a good return, says Helena Olin, Head of Real Assets at AP2.

CFP’s investment strategy is to build a diversified portfolio of sustainable infrastructure projects in developing countries. The focus will be on projects that increase the availability of renewable energy, mainly solar and wind power, but also include electricity grids, battery storage, etc. that enable increased electricity use.

In addition to AP2, the French Development Agency (AFD), the German development bank KfW, as well as three US foundations; Hewlett Foundation, Quadrivium Foundation and Grantham Environmental Trust will invest in CFP, among others.

Link to BlackRock´s press release:
Climate Finance Partnership Mobilizes US$673 Million to Accelerate Net Zero Transition in Emerging Markets | Business Wire

For further information please contact:

Helena Olin, Head of Real Assets, tel. no. (+46) (0)31 704 29 00, or

Ulrika Danielson, Head of Communications, tel. no. (+46) (0)709 50 16 13.

Andra AP-fonden is one of five buffer funds within the Swedish pension system and one of northern Europe’s largest pension funds. The Fund’s assets under management total SEK 421.2 billion (30 June 2021) and cover essentially all asset classes across the entire world. We are leading specialists in the Swedish pension system and strive to be a world-class asset manager. We are a global leader in integrating sustainability in our investments, for the benefit of the pension system. The Fund is a long-term and responsible asset manager. www.ap2.se

The AP Funds to conduct a strategic review of the Council on Ethics

The First, Second, Third and Fourth AP funds will jointly conduct a strategic review of the Council on Ethics, as ESG and responsible investment practices are increasingly integrated into the AP Funds’ asset management strategies and objectives. In connection to this, John Howchin, Secretary General of the Council on Ethics since 2009, announces that he is leaving his role.

The Council on Ethics of the AP Funds was formed in 2007 as a collaboration between the First, Second, Third, and Fourth AP Fund with the aim of influencing global portfolio companies through dialogue and engagement to improve their work on environmental, human rights, and corporate governance issues. Since its formation, the Council on Ethics has engaged thousands of listed foreign companies in dialogue. Sustainability and responsible investment practices has gained in importance and been more widely in the strategies and processes of the AP Funds in recent times, including in their legal mandate. It is against this background that the funds have now jointly decided to review the Council of Ethics’ mission and strategy. 

Kristin Magnusson Bernard, CEO AP1, Eva Halvarsson, CEO AP2, Kerstin Hessius, CEO AP3, and Niklas Ekvall, CEO AP4, speak jointly:

“Through dialogue and engagement, the Council on Ethics plays an extremely important role in driving positive change at foreign companies where the Swedish AP Funds are owners. The purposeful work has highlighted dialogues as an effective tool for improved sustainability work and better long-term returns – a work that will continue and be further developed. With great commitment and strong leadership, John Howchin has played a central part in taking the Council on Ethics to where it is today. We would like to thank him for his important contributions and wish him every success in the future.”

Secretary General John Howchin comments:

“The AP funds and Council on Ethics today holds a strong position, both nationally and internationally, and is seen as a good example when it comes to responsible and sustainable investments. It has been an educative and interesting time where I have had the opportunity to contribute to sustainable development as well as closely follow the rapid positive developments in sustainability that have taken place within management and governance. The strategic review which is now initiated is a natural opportunity for me to leave the role of Secretary-General after 12 years. I want to thank the AP funds for the trust I have received during this time, and it is with pride that I finish my mission”.

An acting Secretary-General responsible for day-to-day operations will be appointed shortly.

For more information, please contact:

Peter Lundkvist, Chairman of Council of Ethics, peter.lundkvist@ap3.se, Mobile +46 709 517 244

Council of Ethics of the AP Funds

Since 2007, the First, Second, Third, and Fourth AP Funds have been coordinating their work on environmental and ethical issues through the joint the Council on Ethics. The Council on Ethics sees its mission as encouraging companies, on the basis of the business they conduct, to address relevant sustainability issues, to have in place fit-for-purpose guidelines and to apply control and follow-up systems to enable the business to be operated in as responsible way as possible. The Council on Ethics does this both by driving forward and participating in preventive initiatives and by acting to bring about positive change in a number of companies associated with violations of international conventions on the environment and human rights. www.etikradet.se

The Swedish National Pension Funds, AP Funds

The AP Funds manage buffer capital in Sweden’s national pension system for the benefit of current and future pensioners, on behalf of Swedish Parliament and the Swedish people. The AP Funds (AP1–AP4) share the same mission but have different asset management strategies, and they are governed by the National Pension Insurance Funds Act (2000:192) (the AP Funds Act). At the end of June 2021, net assets totalled almost SEK 1,810 billion. The AP Funds balance payments into and disbursements from the pension system, and have since the beginning paid SEK 220 billion into the system. These assets comprise approximately 16 per cent of total assets in the pension system.
www.ap1.se   www.ap2.se  www.ap3.se  www.ap4.se   

AP2 reports its best ever half-year result

Andra AP-fonden (AP2) reported a total return of 10.2 per cent, after costs, for the first half of 2021. Profit amounted to SEK 39.2 billion and the Fund’s assets reached SEK 421.2 billion at the first half of 2021. This is the best half-year result ever achieved by the Fund. The Fund’s private equity portfolio contributed to the strong performance, with a return of 39.7 per cent. The Fund’s return relative to the benchmark index was 0.4 per cent, excluding alternative investments and costs.

“Our profit of SEK 39.2 billion is the best half-year result ever achieved by the Fund. It is also pleasing to note that our efforts to reduce costs have had an effect and that we have the lowest-ever total management cost ratio,” says Eva Halvarsson, CEO of AP2.

“Macroeconomic growth in the half-year was characterised by a gradual economic recovery after the sharp cyclical decline in 2020 as a consequence of the pandemic,” says Eva Halvarsson.

“Primarily the Fund’s equity portfolios and the portfolio of private equity funds gave the strongest returns during the first half-year. The Fund’s Swedish and foreign equity portfolios in developed countries achieved returns of 22.3 per cent and 17.2 per cent, respectively. Emerging market equities appreciated by 14.8 per cent and private equity funds gave a return of no less than 39.7 per cent,” says Eva Halvarsson.

“AP2’s return exceeds the Fund’s expected long-term real return of 4.5 per cent per year. Over the past ten years, the Fund’s real return has averaged 7.5 per cent,” says Eva Halvarsson.

“A number of changes were made to the portfolio during the first half-year. As a consequence of the Fund’s process for managing risks associated with human rights abuses, it was decided that a number of countries will no longer be included in the emerging-market bond index. The sustainable infrastructure portfolio is being developed and a number of commitments and investments were made. These included the investment in Northvolt AB through the AP Fund-owned (AP1, AP2, AP3, AP4) company 4 to 1 Investments,” says Eva Halvarsson.

Read the full interim report (pdf) on the Fund’s website www.ap2.se AP2’s sustainability work during the first half of 2021 is described in a separate published report at www.ap2.se

For further information please contact:
Eva Halvarsson, AP2’s CEO, tel. no. (+46) (0)31 704 29 00 or
Ulrika Danielson, Head of Corporate Communications, tel. no. (+46) (0)709 50 16 13.

Andra AP-fonden is one of five buffer funds within the Swedish pension system and one of northern Europe’s largest pension funds. The Fund’s assets under management total SEK 421.2 billion (30 June 2021), and cover essentially all asset classes across the entire world. We are leading specialists in the Swedish pension system and strive to be a world-class asset manager. We are a global leader in integrating sustainability in our investments, for the benefit of the pension system. The Fund is a long-term and responsible asset manager. www.ap2.se

AP2 publishes its sustainability report for the first half of 2021

During the first half of 2021, Andra AP-fonden (AP2) continued its intensive work of integrating sustainability in its portfolio management. This includes a number of investments in sustainable infrastructure, such as the investment in Northvolt through an AP Fund-owned (AP1, AP2, AP3, AP4) company. The Fund’s approach to sustainability is based on the conviction that sustainability leads to better portfolio management results, for the benefit of the income pension system and of pensioners.

AP2 publishes a separate half-year report on the Fund’s sustainability work. The background is the Fund’s wish to be as transparent as possible and the high level of activity in the sustainability area. The report presents the work on the basis of the Fund’s four focus areas within sustainability: climate, corporate governance, diversity and human rights.

“During the first half of the year, we continued to develop our sustainability work within all of the Fund’s focus areas. We are one of the few investors in the world to publish a second report on human rights in accordance with the UN Guiding Principles’ Reporting Framework. The report describes our method of identifying companies involved in human rights controversies, which are thereby engaged in dialogue and may be excluded from the portfolio. It also describes the framework we have developed to manage the Fund’s geographical exposure with a focus on human rights. The framework is based on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the Fund’s Human Rights Policy,” says Eva Halvarsson, CEO of Andra AP-fonden.

“At the beginning of June 2021, the Swedish National Audit Office published an audit report on the AP Funds’ sustainability work. This report showed that the AP Funds conduct appropriate sustainability work in relation to their mission. The audit also confirmed that the AP Funds have established processes and integrate sustainability in both asset management and corporate governance,” says Eva Halvarsson.

Significant events during the first half-year:

  • In February 2021, AP2 signed the “Net Zero Asset Owners Commitment” developed by the Institutional Investor Group on Climate Change’s (IIGCC) Paris-Aligned Investment Initiative, which is accredited by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change as a Race to Zero initiative. This is a global campaign to mobilise a coalition of leading net zero initiatives with the aim of accelerating the transition to a CO2-free economy before COP26. For AP2, signing this document entails a number of specific commitments.
  • Since the end of 2020, the Fund’s global equity and credit portfolio has been managed in accordance with the criteria for the EU Paris-Aligned Benchmark (PAB). This entails that the Fund no longer invests in around 250 companies because they have income from coal, oil or gas. During the first half of 2021, the Fund worked to analyse and develop PAB for the Fund’s management of Swedish equities. During the first half of 2021, the Fund worked to analyse and develop PAB for the Fund’s management of Swedish equities.
  • The Fund has continued to invest in sustainable infrastructure and further investments were made during the first half of 2021.
  • AP2 has supported a document setting out investor expectations for banks, “Aligning the Banking Sector with the Goals of the Paris Agreement”, produced by the IIGCC and which includes the requirement of a net zero commitment by 2050, that boards have sufficient expertise to oversee the climate strategy, and that the banks report in line with the recommendations of the TCFD.
  • In the first half of 2021, AP2 voted at 888 foreign and 111 Swedish general meetings.
  • During the period, AP2 published its second report on human rights in accordance with the UN Guiding Principles’ Reporting Framework. This report describes the Fund’s work on human rights in greater detail, and enhances the Fund’s transparency in its work to implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, in terms of both progress and challenges.

Read the entire AP2 Sustainability Report for the first half of 2021 on the Fund’s website www.ap2.se

For further information please contact:
Eva Halvarsson, AP2’s CEO, tel. no. (+46) (0)31 704 29 00, or
Ulrika Danielson, Head of Corporate Communications, tel. no. (+46) (0)709 50 16 13.

Andra AP-fonden is one of five buffer funds within the Swedish pension system and one of northern Europe’s largest pension funds. The Fund’s assets under management total SEK 421.2 billion (30 June 2021), and cover essentially all asset classes across the entire world. We are leading specialists in the Swedish pension system and strive to be a world-class asset manager. We are a global leader in integrating sustainability in our investments, for the benefit of the pension system. The Fund is a long-term and responsible asset manager. www.ap2.se

Andra AP-fonden publishes new report on human rights

Andra AP-fonden (AP2) publishes its second report on its work with human rights, based on the United Nations’ Reporting Framework. The report describes how the Fund addresses its responsibility to respect human rights and the processes it employs to make these rights integral to its business activities. As well as describing areas where the Fund has made important strides in developing its human rights efforts, the report also highlights some of the challenges identified.

Since 2016, AP2 has worked systematically to enhance the integration of human rights issues in its investment decisions. As one of the first investors in the world, AP2 published the first report in 2019 in accordance with the UN Framework. The report published today is an updated and developed report aimed at increasing transparency regarding its efforts to implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, as well as its achievements and challenges during this process.

“As early as 2016, we had already decided to support the ‘UN Guiding Principles Reporting Framework’. We hope it will not only explain how we are working with human rights, but also contribute to a broader dialogue on human rights issues in the finance industry,” says CEO Eva Halvarsson, AP2.

“We are actively engaged in integrating sustainability issues, including human rights issues, as part of our asset management activities. Among other topics, the report describes our method for identifying companies involved in human rights controversies and which may therefore be excluded from the portfolio. But also, the framework we have developed to manage the Fund’s geographical exposure with a focus on human rights. The framework is based, inter alia, on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the Fund’s human rights policy,” explains Eva Halvarsson.

Using the UN Guiding Principles Reporting Framework helps the Fund to focus on the key issues, while also functioning as an internal instrument for identifying deficiencies and developing the process.

Human rights – Andra AP-fonden (ap2.se)

More about the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights at www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/GuidingPrinciplesBusinessHR_EN.pdf

For further details, please contact:

Ulrika Danielson, Head of Corporate Communications, on +46 709 50 16 13.
Åsa Mossberg, Senior Sustainability Strategist, on +46 31 704 29 00.

Andra AP-fonden is one of five buffer funds within the Swedish pension system and one of northern Europe’s largest pension funds. The Fund’s assets under management total SEK 386.2 billion (31 December 2020), and cover essentially all asset classes across the entire world. We are leading specialists in the Swedish pension system and strive to be a world-class asset manager. We are a global leader in integrating sustainability in our investments, for the benefit of the pension system. The Fund is a long-term and responsible asset manager. www.ap2.se

AP2’s Female Representation Index 2021 – highest ever proportion of women on boards and management teams

Andra AP-fonden’s (AP2’s) Female Representation Index for 2021 shows that the proportion of women on the boards of companies listed on NASDAQ Stockholm is once again increasing and is now 34.5 (33.7) percent. The proportion of women in executive management teams in listed companies continues to increase and this year’s increase, from 24.3 to 26.0 per cent, is the largest measured in percentage points since the studies began in 2002. Over time, the trend for women in executive positions has shown much greater stability compared to the trend for boards, particularly in the last decade. However, the long-term trend is also clearly positive with regard to boards of directors.

Despite the increase in the proportion of female board members, the proportion of female chairmen of the board remains unchanged at 8.6 per cent, which is lower than the record figure of 10.2 per cent in 2019. The proportion of women who are CEOs has risen by 2.3 percentage points and is now at 12.7 percent.

“After showing a slight decline in the proportion of female board members last year, we are delighted to see our Female Representation Index resume its upward trajectory since 2013 and that the proportion of women in executive positions continues to increase steadily. This shows that Swedish owners and companies are diligently working towards a more even gender distribution. However, we need to be better at diversity in all its dimensions and I think that this is an issue we need to discuss in a wider context in nominating committees, boards, management teams and in society at large,” says Eva Halvarsson, CEO of AP2.

“It is interesting to note once again that nominating committees with women correlate favourably with boards that have a higher proportion of women. Boards without nominating committees have a lower proportion of female board members than other companies,” she says.

On the boards of primary-listed Large-cap companies, excluding the CEO, the proportion of women is 40.7 (40.3) percent.

Of the 339 companies in the survey, 271 have at least 25 percent women on the board (79.9 per cent), an increase on the previous year’s figure of 76.5 percent. When broken down into market capitalisation groups, more than 9 out of 10 large cap companies reach the level.

Newly elected women on boards are younger than their male counterparts and female board members have on average a slightly higher number of board assignments than male members. This pattern is unchanged from previous years, although the age difference between newly elected men and women is greater this year and that both men and women on average have fewer board assignments than before.

Background to AP2’s Female Representation Index
AP2 has since 2003 conducted an annual survey with Nordic Investor Services to determine the proportion of women at middle management level, in executive positions and on the boards of listed companies. The survey for 2021 covered 339 primary and secondary listed companies on NASDAQ Stockholm. In addition, the survey records the proportion of women who have graduated from study programmes that constitute the traditional recruitment base for management groups and boards.

For more information, please contact:
Eva Halvarsson, CEO of AP2, phone +46 (0)31 704 29 00
Ulrika Danielson, Head of Communications, phone +46 (0)709 50 16 13

www.ap2.se/en/

The figures refer to all companies listed on NASDAQ Stockholm, unless otherwise specified.

Andra AP-fonden is one of five buffer funds within the Swedish pension system and one of northern Europe’s largest pension funds. The Fund’s assets under management total SEK 386.2 billion (31 December 2020), and cover essentially all asset classes across the entire world. We are leading specialists in the Swedish pension system and strive to be a world-class asset manager. We are a global leader in integrating sustainability in our investments, for the benefit of the pension system. The Fund is a long-term and responsible asset manager. www.ap2.se