Sustainability and Corporate Governance Report 202
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HANDELSBANKEN FONDER – HOW WE WANT TO HELP RAISE
LIVING STANDARDS Gender equality and diversity – a good investment A greater gender balance increases the chances of progress for the companies we invest in. Equality is also a stated goal in the 2030 Agenda. Gender equality is about fundamental human rights, and it can generate huge gains for human progress, economic growth and businesses. We also know that increased gender equality promotes positive performance in companies. Our differences help to reveal fresh perspectives and ideas, producing business value and benefitting the companies we invest in. • Companies with high gender equality in senior positions are 21 per cent more likely to have above-average profitability.6 • Companies with a higher percentage of women in senior management positions generate 18 per cent higher returns on equity and more conservative balance sheets.7 • Companies with at least three female executives appear to be able to double profits – meaning higher earnings per share and return on equity as well as a better-functioning organisation with greater employee dedication and lower employee turnover.6 Our approach to gender equality As asset managers, we have both the opportunity and a responsibility to engage in gender issues with the companies we own. Through high engagement in our nomination committee work, we can actively appoint more female members to the board and pursue issues related to greater gender equality. We can also influence the companies’ gender equality efforts by raising the issues in dialogue with the companies. We also take gender issues into account in our investment research and invest in those companies whose business models, products and services promote diversity and gender equality. Together, we can make a difference In our nomination committee work, we take action based on the common interests of the fund customers. This means that each customer can make a difference through their own savings. We have taken several decisions on the direction of the fund company in pursuing increased gender equality in our nomination committee work. Our goals include a gender balance of 40/60 per cent, appointing more women as board chairs, and recruitment that strives for a certain number of candidates of the underrepresented gender to serve on the board. We also wish to bring more diversity in the broader sense to the boards. This will improve the potential “ We attach great importance to getting the right expertise and putting together a board whose members complement each other. A good gender balance is an important factor, but equally important is a board represented by people of different ages and from different socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. We can engage by actively pursuing diversity within the board.” Lilian Fossum Biner, member of Handelsbanken Fonder’s nomination committee team Information about risk Past performance does not predict future returns. The value of the money invested in the fund can increase or decrease and there is no guarantee that all of your invested capital can be redeemed. The fund’s prospectus (“Informations broschyr”), fund rules and KIID are available at handelsbanken.se/funds. 38