The Pension & Investment Europe Pension Conference was recently held in Dublin, Ireland. The annual conference brings together pension providers from all over Europe. At the conference, each year, industry-leading performances among pension funds are awarded in a prize-ceremony.
AP4 CEO Niklas Ekvall has been invited to attend the Investor Forum that is part of the G20 meeting this week in Buenos Aires.
During 2016 AP4 made a business decision not to invest in tobacco companies, since we anticipate that rising long-term risks will have a negative effect on tobacco company valuations in the future. Now, AP4 joins the initiative Tobacco-Free Finance Pledge that aims to highlight financial institutions that have implemented tobacco-free finance polices and encourage others to do the same.
AP4 has been ranked first in an analysis of 100 global pension funds based on an analysis of the funds’ approach to climate-related risks and opportunities.
With a positive net result of SEK 13.7 billion, total fund capital grew to SEK 366.9 billion during the first half of 2018. The return was 3.8 % after costs (3.9 % before costs). AP4 exceeded both its medium-term and its long-term return target. During the first half of 2018 a net total of SEK 3.3 billion was paid out to the pension system.
Today the Fourth Swedish National Pension Fund (AP4) published a climate report in accordance with the Task Force on Climate-related Disclosures’ (TCFD) recommendations. The report is structured in accordance with the TCFD’s four thematic areas: Governance, Strategy, Risk Management, and Metrics and Targets. In addition, the report provides examples of AP4’s climate-related risks and opportunities.
The Council on Ethics of the Swedish National Pension Funds (the Council) celebrated ten years in 2017. During these ten years, the Council has influenced global portfolio companies to improve their work and information regarding environmental, social issues and corporate governance through corporate dialogues. During 2017 the dialogues have included discussions and meetings with companies relating to corruption, human rights and workplace issues in several industries, where the AP Funds as active owners have worked to bring about positive changes.
With a net result of SEK 30.1 billion for 2017, AP4’s fund capital increased to SEK 356.6 billion by the end of the year. The net return was 9.1 per cent (9.2 per cent gross of costs), and AP4 outperformed both the income index and the long-term return target. Net outflows to the national pension system totalled SEK 7.4 billion during the year.