Swedbank Robur Corporate Governance & Engagement Report 2023

As the largest mutual fund company in Sweden, Swedbank Robur has a clear strategy on which companies to engage with, and why. The Corporate Governance & Engagement Report 2023 presents how Swedbank Robur works with corporate governance, engagement and drive sustainability issues based on its ownership role.

The 2023 report states, among other things, that Swedbank Robur:

•    Voted at 968 meetings, in more than 40 different markets
•    Evaluated more than 500 shareholder proposals
•    Voted for 91% of the equity holdings 
•    Participated in 100 nomination committees, which is more than any other investor in Sweden
•    Contacted 1418 companies in sustainability issues, with focus on, among other things, climate, biodiversity, and children’s rights

”We can both handle sustainability risks effectively and find good investment opportunities through our work with sustainability and corporate governance. We continue to work systematically to create long term and sustainable return to our savers”, says Pia Gisgård, Head of Sustainability and Corporate Governance at Swedbank Robur.

All decisions regarding voting are made internally by Swedbank Robur. To not outsource the voting is a conscious strategic choice. Proposals to general meetings are evaluated internally according to Swedbank Robur’s Principles for Shareholder Engagement.

”As active owners we believe that it is important to take the opportunity to vote on general meetings. Our senior corporate governance specialists evaluate the proposals. Then we decide how to vote. Our decision is based on what we determine is best for our savers”, says Pia Gisgård. 

Swedbank Robur has four themes for its sustainability dialogues, climate, nature, human rights and corporate governance. Swedbank Robur have dialogues directly with companies, but also use engagement service from ISS Ethix and Sustainalytics 360 and is a member of several international investor collaborations. 

”Collaboration through investor initiatives are important since they increase our possibility to impact companies and give us access to exchange of experience. In addition, it is also resource effective, both for us as an investor and for the companies”, says Pia Gisgård. 

During 2023, Swedbank Robur became a member of the network Farm Animal Investment Risk & Return (FAIRR), which works for a sustainable food industry. They were also founding participants of Nature Action 100, which has the ambition to address nature loss and biodiversity decline and participated in the engagement initiative ”Human Rights in Big Tech”, which was administered by the Council on Ethics of the Swedish National Pension Funds.

More information:
Swedbank Robur Corporate Governance & Engagement Report 2024 (eng, pdf)

Contact:
Carina Sesser Nylund, Head of information, Swedbank Robur, +46 72 230 52 64