Sustainability and Corporate Governance Report 202
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HOW WE WANT TO HELP RAISE LIVING STANDARDS – HAND
ELSBANKEN FONDER to gain valuable perspectives, knowledge and approaches to work on the board, which we know has beneficial effects on the companies’ results and performance – and in the long run, it also brings positive social development. More women on the nomination committee help improve the board The nomination committee plays a key role in corporate governance. For us, it is important that the nomination committee consists of a mixed group of individuals of different genders, backgrounds and knowledge, not least because it is easy to see oneself reflected in potential board members during the recruitment process. For several years now, Handelsbanken Fonder has worked on achieving a good gender balance in the nomination committee. This work has paid off. In recent years, the composition of our nomination committee has been dominated by women. In 2020, 71 per cent of our nomination committee positions were filled by women. This can be compared to barely 14 per cent women who, according to a report by the AllBright Foundation, were on the nomination committees of major listed companies in 2020. Their review shows that the number of women on nomination committees has increased by only one per cent since 2012. “ In recent years, we have seen a positive trend in companies’ attitudes. Most people no longer discuss gender balance – it’s so obvious that it brings benefits. But the problems of meeting the need for balanced gender representation remain, especially among smaller companies.” Helen Fasth Gillstedt, member of Handelsbanken Fonder’s nomination committee team Nomination committee team Handelsbanken Fonder’s nomination committee team consists of people who represent Handelsbanken Fonder on the nomination committees we are members of. At the nomination committee team meetings, we discuss the principles that guide the committee’s work in addition to individual issues that have come to light during various meetings. This approach enables us to work methodically on issues, share experiences and build the skills needed to carry out effective, fit-for-purpose committee activities. More than half the nomination committee is made up of women, which we are convinced is an important factor in achieving our goals around gender equality and diversity. 41