Responsible investment

Here you will find concise information on ways in which SEB assesses sustainability risks in taking investment decisions, providing investment portfolio management services and advises on investments and insurance services.

Sustainability risk is the probability that a financial asset value will decrease as a result of the issuer's negative impact on sustainability or of any other adverse environmental, social or governance factors (e.g. floods, decline in biodiversity, staff loss, etc.).

SEB manages this risk by setting criteria which require that the financial instruments advised to our clients and used in management of investment portfolios comply with the international asset management standards. Therefore, the fund managers, whose instruments we advise or use in our portfolio services, must be signatories to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment and have comprehensive sustainable investment policies in place.

SEB offers its clients investment funds managed by SEB Investment Management AB. The funds’ sustainability and potential risk transfer channels are assessed and managed through strategies for integration, participation in corporate governance and removal of financial instruments from the investment portfolio. More detailed information on sustainability risk management by SEB Investment Management AB can be found here.

SEB's direct investment in equity and government bonds is based on the assessment of the issuers' sustainability risks, also taking into account the criteria set in the Policy for removing financial instruments from investment portfolios.

A negative impact on sustainability is the financial instrument issuer’s direct adverse effect on environmental, social, governance and sustainability factors.

SEB provides investment portfolio management service as well as investment and insurance advice, considering its potential adverse effect on sustainability.

Statement on policies for reviewing an adverse effect of investment decisions on sustainability factors

SEB has adopted a range of sustainability-related sustainability policies, including the Sustainability Policy, the Environmental Policy and the Human Rights Policy, which also apply to the bank's investment decisions.

Sustainability-related positions stated in SEB's policies are reflected in SEB's decisions to limit investments in companies related to the development and production of controversial weapons, fossil fuels, gambling and tobacco. SEB strives to ensure that the financial instruments advised to our clients and used to provide portfolio management services to our clients meet the international asset management standards. Therefore, fund managers, whose financial instrument we advise or attract for the provision of our services, must be signatories to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment and have comprehensive sustainable investment policies in place.

The investment portfolios managed by SEB do not include any direct investments in equity, therefore, SEB has no approved policy for the participation in corporate governance.

SEB recognizes the importance of international standards that help to create more sustainable business. SEB has joined or supports various international agreements and global systems. In SEB's Sustainability Policy, you will find all the international agreements and systems supported by SEB's Sustainability Policy.

Remuneration policy as regards sustainability risk assessment

SEB’s remuneration policy has been developed taking sustainability risks into account.

“SEB Life and Pension Baltic SE information on responsible investment is available here.

UAB “SEB investicijų valdymas” information on responsible investment is available here.