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 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   

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

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 (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

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

Andra AP-fonden (AP2) continued to work intensively to integrate sustainability into its management activities in 2020. The Fund’s approach to sustainability is based on the conviction that sustainability leads to better management results, and is thus advantageous for the income pension system and for pensioners. AP2 has been a pioneer on several occasions, for instance, with 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 now, most recently, aligning the portfolio with the Paris Agreement.

“I am very proud that we adapted our internally managed holdings of global equities and corporate bonds during the autumn to bring them in line with the EU Paris-Aligned Benchmark, without compromising the return and risk characteristics of the portfolios. This alignment of the portfolio is, to our knowledge, unique in that it includes holdings of both corporate bonds and equities,” says Eva Halvarsson, CEO of AP2.

“Among other things, this means a reduction in the carbon footprint of the portfolios of global equities and corporate bonds by about 70 per cent when compared to market-weighted indices,” says Eva Halvarsson.

“There is so much going on in the area of sustainability. We have been working for many years to integrate sustainability into all of our management activities, and it is pleasing to see there is an ever-increasing knowledge among investors and companies and that discussions around the issues are becoming more nuanced,” says Eva Halvarsson.

Key events during the year

• The Fund has internally developed multi-factor indices for global equities and corporate bonds that meet EU Paris-Aligned Benchmark (PAB) criteria. Among other things, this means a reduction in the carbon footprint of the portfolios of global equities and corporate bonds by about 70 per cent when compared to market-weighted indices.
• During the year, the Fund has developed a human rights strategy.
• For the third consecutive year, AP2 published a report in compliance with the TCFD (Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures) recommendations.
• The United Nations-backed Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) have included AP2 in its Leaders’ Group 2020. This group showcases signatories at the cutting edge of responsible investment. The theme for the year was climate reporting.
• The Fund was nominated by ICGN (International Corporate Governance Network) for the Global Stewardship Disclosure Awards. The purpose of these awards is to recognise 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 English versions of AP2’s Sustainability and TCFD reports 2020 will be available at www.ap2.se from mid March.              

For more information, please contact:

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

Ulrika Danielson, Head of Communications and Corporate Governance, +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 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

Thanks to a strong end to 2020, full-year earnings reached SEK 12.8 billion. The average returns of Andra AP-fonden (AP2) in the last five and ten years have been 7.3 and 7.7 per cent respectively. Growth during the year means that the Fund’s return once again exceeds the Fund’s long-term return assumption.

“In many ways, 2020 was a very special year, strongly marked by the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet in spite of everything that has been happening around the world, we have managed to deliver much of what we had decided to do. We have taken key steps to further develop our asset management approach, which we hope and believe will contribute positively to returns and to a more sustainable society,” says Eva Halvarsson, CEO of AP2.

“I am very proud that we adapted our internally managed holdings of global equities and corporate bonds during the autumn to bring them in line with the EU Paris-Aligned Benchmark, without compromising the return and risk characteristics of the portfolios. This alignment of the portfolio is, to our knowledge, unique in that it includes holdings of both corporate bonds and equities,” says Eva Halvarsson.

“Our SEK 12.8 billion profit for the year is a result of developments in the stock market, particularly the Swedish, and also reflects a good return on the Fund’s investments in private equity funds, Chinese equities and real estate. The Fund’s Swedish and Chinese equity portfolios generated a total return of 15.9 per cent and 33.2 per cent respectively,” says Eva Halvarsson.

“The upward trajectory of the global stock market has largely been fuelled by growth equities in the technology sector. This has adversely affected the Fund’s equity portfolios, which avoid concentrating excessive holdings in large companies and instead overweight equities with low valuations. We expect this to generate a better return in relation to risk in the long run. However, it has been negative for us this year,” says Eva Halvarsson.

The English versions of AP2’s Annual Report 2020, the Sustainability and TCFD reports will be available at www.ap2.se from mid March.

For more information, please contact:

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

Ulrika Danielson, Head of Communications and Corporate Governance, +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 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

Andra AP-fonden (AP2) has aligned its internal indices and portfolios for foreign equities and corporate bonds to meet the 1.5 degree target of the Paris Agreement. This means, among other things, withdrawal of investment from companies that generate revenues from selling fossil fuels. This also reduces the climate risk from the Fund’s global investments and further reduces its carbon footprint.

During the autumn, AP2 has adjusted the holdings of global equities and corporate bonds it manages internally to ensure they are consistent with the Paris Aligned Benchmark (PAB), but it has not compromised the return and risk characteristics of the indices.

“As far as we know, this makes us unique because it includes both corporate bonds and equities worth approximately SEK 200 billion, which is half of our total portfolio. Our ambition is eventually to align other parts of our portfolio with the PAB, too”, says Eva Halvarsson, CEO of AP2.

The fact that AP2 is managing its holdings in keeping with the PAB means that the Fund does not invest in companies that generate more than 1 per cent of their turnover from coal, more than 10 per cent of their turnover from oil, and more than 50 per cent of their turnover from gas. In principle, this excludes the entire energy sector. Nor does the Fund invest in utility companies that receive more than 50 per cent of their revenues from fossil fuels. In total, approximately 250 companies will no longer be included in the Fund’s portfolio.

“Actually, we are moving beyond the PAB requirement for halving the carbon footprint in the first year because we are already reducing the carbon footprint of our global corporate bonds by about 75 per cent and that of our global equities by about 70 per cent, and we aim to reach net zero emissions by 2045”, says Eva Halvarsson.

In 2013, AP2 began analysing financial climate risks for fossil energy companies moving on to analyse companies generating electricity from coal. Because of financial climate risks, AP2 has previously withdrawn investment from shares and corporate bonds in a total of 80 companies. The Fund decided as early as 2016 to develop its portfolio in keeping with the Paris Agreement and set a target of net zero emissions by 2045 for its portfolio.

This alignment with the PAB is in step with climate regulations developed by the EU as part of its action plan to finance sustainable growth. Said rules, which are intended for public index providers who wish to market their indices as the EU climate index, provide for two levels of climate ambition: The EU Climate Transition Benchmark, which is somewhat less ambitious than the EU Paris Aligned Benchmark (PAB). Since AP2 is keen to align its portfolio with the Paris Agreement, the Fund has opted for the Paris Aligned Benchmark regulations.

The criteria for PAB are based on the IPCC’s conclusions and are intended to support the broad societal change needed to achieve the Paris Agreement’s climate goals. This means pulling investment out of certain companies, primarily those involved with fossil fuel operations, while ensuring that we continue to focus on industries that are important for the transition to a low carbon economy.

“I think that AP2 has taken a huge step towards a net zero world with the first asset owner in-house implementation of Paris-Aligned benchmark (PAB) indices, for both global equities and corporate bonds. The indices follow an aggressive path with the exclusion of fossil fuels, while at the same time being responsible in other social and sustainable aspects. Hopefully this can also inspire other asset owners around the world”, says Andreas Hoepner, Professor of Operational Risk, Banking and Finance at University College Dublin’s Smurfit Graduate Business School and a member of the EU’s Platform on Sustainable Finance and formerly of the EU’s Technical Expert Group.

For more information:

www.ap2.se

EU climate benchmarks and benchmarks’ ESG disclosures | European Commission (europa.eu)

Presentation on climate benchmarks and benchmarks’ ESG disclosures (europa.eu)

For more information, please contact:

Eva Halvarsson, CEO of AP2, T: +46 (0)31 704 29 00 

Tomas Morsing, Head of R&D at AP2, T: +46 (0)31 704 29 00

Ulrika Danielson, Head of Communications and Corporate Governance at AP2, +46 (0)709 50 16 13

AP2 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 357.9 billion (30 June 2020), within essentially all asset classes and across the entire world. We are leading specialists on the Swedish pension system, and we strive to be a world-class asset manager. We are a global leader when it comes to integrating sustainability into our investments for the benefit of the pension system. The fund is a long-term, responsible, asset management company. www.ap2.se/en/

During the first half-year 2020 AP2 continued to work intensively to integrate sustainability into its management activities. The Fund approaches the issue of sustainability based on the conviction that sustainability results in better management performance, and thus in a better income pension system and a better deal for pensioners.

AP2 has decided to publish a separate report on the Fund’s sustainability work for the first half of 2020. The reason for this is that the Fund strives to be as transparent as possible and there is constantly a great deal going on in the field of sustainability. The report presents the work based on the Fund’s four sustainability focus areas: climate, corporate governance, diversity and human rights.

“During the first half of 2020, the Fund’s sustainability work was impacted to a certain extent by COVID-19, which mainly affected attendance at general meetings, but also proposals for dividends and board fees,” says Eva Halvarsson, CEO of AP2.

“One area with major need for investment is sustainable infrastructure, as energy and transport systems need to implement a rapid transition from fossil-based to renewable resources. At the end of 2019, we decided to invest in sustainable infrastructure, that is, assets that contribute to sustainable development in line with the Paris Agreement. Two investments were carried out in the first half of 2020,” says Eva Halvarsson.

Key events during the half-year

• In May, AP2, together with 176 other investors, signed an open letter to EU leaders with recommendations aimed at supporting a sustainable economic recovery after COVID-19. The recommendations are that the EU must deliver a recovery that prioritises climate action needed for achieving the Paris Agreement’s target of net zero emissions by 2050.
• At the end of June, AP2 and just over 30 other investors wrote an open letter to the Brazilian Embassies in the investors’ respective countries because of concerns about the increasing deforestation of the Amazon and its negative effects on the climate, biodiversity and the rights of indigenous people. The initiative has attracted a lot of attention, not least in Brazil. In July, investors, including AP2, held meetings with both representatives of the Brazilian government and the Vice President, and with the Speaker and representatives of Congress. The initiative is led by Storebrand.
• The equity portfolio’s carbon footprint continues to decrease, both in absolute and relative terms. The reduction in total carbon emissions is mainly due to reductions in emerging markets. It is positive that both the portfolio and the companies have reduced their carbon footprint. Portfolio-weighted carbon intensity fell by no less than 15 per cent. Of the decrease, 11 percentage points were attributable to changes in holdings and four percentage points to changes in companies.
• This year, the Fund decided to increase its voting power in global companies from the previous total of 750 to 1,000 companies. In the first half of 2020, AP2 voted at 844 foreign general meetings. AP2 also voted in 92 Swedish general meetings during the first half-year 2020.
• In spring 2020, the Fund has worked on clarifying its preference and governance for its human rights work in order to ensure a sustained focus on prioritised issues. The work has resulted in the revision of AP2’s policy for human rights, the preparation of a strategy and the adoption of a long-term goal up to and including 2025.

The complete version of AP2’s Sustainability Report for the half-year is available at www.ap2.se.

For more information, please contact:

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

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

AP2 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 357.9 billion (30 June 2020), and cover essentially all asset classes across the entire world. We are leading specialists in the Swedish pension system, and we strive to be a world-class asset manager. We are a global leader when it comes to integrating sustainability into our investments, for the benefit of the pension system. The Fund is a long-term and responsible asset manager. www.ap2.se