We collaborate to positively influence companies

The AP Funds cooperate on sustainability issues through the AP Funds Council on Ethics with the objective of achieving a positive impact on portfolio companies and their value chains from an economic, environmental and social perspective. We use dialogue to influence companies when we identify holdings that may be linked to serious violations of international conventions. We also engage in more proactive advocacy work on the basis of a number of priority focus areas. The aim of the Council on Ethics is to influence companies to act responsibly in the event of serious incidents, to work strategically to prevent violations of international conventions and agreements, and to address systemic risks that are important to the funds

The PRI is a global initiative for institutional investors. More than 2,000 investors are working together within the PRI on the basis of a set of principles to enhance understanding and implementation of responsible investment. The principles form an important part of Första AP-fonden’s work on responsible investment.  
The Fund’s latest report to the PRI can be viewed here.

SWESIF is an independent networking forum for organisations working for or with sustainable investment in Sweden. Its aim is to raise awareness and interest in sustainable investment among institutional asset owners and managers.

The Swedish Institutional Owners Association (Institutionella Ägares Förening - IÄF) is a national partnership involving AP Funds, funds affiliated to insurance companies and banks, other long-term investors. The association aims to promote good practice and self-regulation in the stock market, including the Swedish Code of Corporate Governance.

IGCN is a global partnership aimed at raising standards in stewardship, including the rights of shareholders to vote at general meetings. ICGN has members from some fifty countries, and collectively manages more than USD 50,000 billion. 

The IIGCC is a European investor network for collaboration on climate issues. Its activities aim to put forward investors’ views and engage companies, public authorities and other investors on climate change.

Climate Action 100+ is a global collaborative initiative to help investors influence companies to take the necessary actions to mitigate climate change. This initiative focuses primarily on the 100 companies that are deemed to have the largest carbon footprint worldwide on account of their activities or the use of their products.

Nature Action 100 is a collaborative initiative that focuses on increasing business ambitions and efforts regarding nature-related risks. The initiative targets companies in key sectors deemed systemically critical to reversing the loss of natural capital and biodiversity by 2030.

The Net Zero Engagement Initiative (NZEI) is a collaborative initiative that builds on Climate Action 100+. This initiative targets companies that are major users of fossil fuels, encouraging them to adopt climate transition plans in line with net zero. 

The TPI is a global initiative supported by investors, including Första AP-fonden, which aims to provide information and assess how well prepared companies are to make the transition to a less carbon-intensive economy. 

The Investor Initiative on Hazardous Chemicals is a collaborative initiative that aims to reduce the adverse impacts of hazardous chemicals. Through this initiative, institutional investors engage in dialogue with the world’s biggest listed chemical companies. This initiative is coordinated by ChemSec. 

Through the Montreal Pledge, Första AP-fonden – like many other investors – undertakes to measure and report the portfolio’s carbon footprint each year.

PRI Advance is a collaborative initiative where institutional investors work together to promote human rights and other social issues. Investors use their collective influence in dialogue with companies and other decision-makers to help bring about positive developments for both employees and society in general. The initiative was established in 2022 and is coordinated by the PRI. 

Första AP-fonden, working in partnership with Transparency International Sweden and five Swedish investors, has formed the Investors Integrity Forum (IIF) to strengthen the role of investors in encouraging companies to fight corruption. This is a platform where owners can jointly address key issues related to corruption risks, gather and share intelligence and promote transparency, integrity and accountability, thereby creating better conditions for sustainable, profitable investments.

Första AP-fonden signed the Tobacco-Free Finance Pledge in 2019, and we no longer invest in companies that are active in the tobacco industry.