Summary
No principal adverse impact on a sustainable investment objective
Sustainable investment objective of the financial product
Investment strategy
Share of investments
Monitoring of sustainable investment objectives
Methods
Data sources and data processing
Limitations of the methodology and data
Due diligence
Shareholder engagement policy
Achieving a sustainable investment objective
Summary
The Fund's goal is to make sustainable investments. The Fund invests in sectors that have a significant positive impact on sustainable social wellbeing. The Fund typically invests in companies that develop health and wellbeing services, solutions related to the availability of education, financing and digital services, the circular economy, sustainable traffic and infrastructure solutions, the availability of apartments, improved nutrition, and sustainable agriculture, for example. Companies that are in line with the Fund's sustainable investment goals also include companies which are exemplary employers in terms of selected social questions, such as companies listed as the best places to work in global comparisons, and which otherwise pass OP's sustainable investment analysis.
Those investment options whose business promotes one or more UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) without harming other sustainable factors or goals are considered sustainable investments. Sustainable investments are determined using OP Asset Management’s analysis model based on SDG and EU Taxonomy alignment data and green revenues data by external service providers, among other sources. The analysis model used by OP Asset Management is also supplemented by manual analysis used to identify the best-in-class social impact of companies.
Principal adverse impacts (PAI) on sustainability are regularly analysed by screening all investments for their PAI indicators. If the screening reveals investee companies with significant principal adverse impacts on sustainability in comparison to peers and if the said PAI indicator is deemed essential for the investee company, the investee company will be monitored more closely and excluded, if necessary. Also, a process to influence the company’s behaviour can be started.
OP Asset Management uses several data sources from different service providers. Primary data sources are MSCI ESG Research and S&P Trucost, which provide information on topics such as the sustainability risks of investee companies, share of business operations with adverse impacts, climate risks and opportunities, and how the operations of investee companies align with UN Sustainable Development Goals. The service providers use both data reported by companies and estimates based on an assessment model developed by each service provider.
No principal adverse impact on a sustainable investment objective
The OP Asset Management’s sustainable investment analysis model is used to check whether a company has violated international standards (UN Global Compact and OECD guidelines for multinationals). If a violation is identified, the company cannot be determined as a sustainable investment. The definition of international standard violations and company-specific analysis is based on the methodology of a third-party service provider.
In addition, principal adverse impacts (PAI) are analysed regularly by screening investments against all PAI indicators listed in Annex 1, Table 1 of the SFDR RTS, as well as additional indicator #4 of Table 2 and additional indicator #14 of Table 3 using OP Asset Management's internal PAI tool based on data from an external service provider. If the screening reveals companies with significant principal adverse impacts on sustainability in comparison to peers, and if the said PAI indicator is deemed essential for the investee company, the investee company will be monitored more closely and excluded if necessary, or a process to influence the company's behaviour can be started. Portfolio managers use the PAI tool to determine the values of the company and line of business, and this data is used when making investment decisions.
More information about how we take adverse sustainability impacts into account can be found in the document “Consideration of Principal Adverse Sustainability Impacts in Investing and Insurance Operations (in Finnish)”, which is available online at op.fi.
Sustainable investment objective of the financial product
The Fund invests its assets broadly in the global equity markets. It may invest both in developed and emerging equity markets, with the typical focus on Europe and the USA.
Sustainable investment: the Fund invests in sectors that have a significant positive impact on sustainable social wellbeing. The Fund typically invests in companies that develop health and wellbeing services, solutions related to the availability of education, financing and digital services, the circular economy, sustainable traffic and infrastructure solutions, the availability of apartments, improved nutrition, and sustainable agriculture, for example. Companies that are in line with the Fund's sustainable investment goals also include companies which are exemplary employers in terms of selected social questions, such as companies listed as the best places to work in global comparisons, and which otherwise pass OP's sustainable investment analysis.
Those investment options whose business promotes one or more UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) without harming other sustainable factors or goals are considered sustainable investments. Sustainable investments are determined using OP Asset Management’s analysis model based on SDG and EU Taxonomy alignment data and green revenues data by external service providers, among other sources. The analysis model used by OP Asset Management is also supplemented by manual analysis used to identify the best-in-class social impact of companies.
Exclusion: The Fund excludes from its active direct investments controversial weapon manufacturers, mining companies producing thermal coal, power companies using thermal coal, tobacco companies, and companies that have breached international standards, and where engagement has been unsuccessful. The list of exclusions is public. In addition to general exclusion rules, the Fund does not invest in companies whose principal business is in unconventional oil and gas extraction or other fossil fuels (50% of revenue or more).
Violations of international standards: The Fund is screened regularly for non-compliances with international standards. In the event that a non-compliance is detected, an influencing process is begun with the company in question. The aim is to make non-compliant companies change their practices and begin to comply with international standards in their operations. If influencing proves fruitless, the company may be removed from the Fund portfolio and placed on the exclusion list.
Shareholders’ meetings: The Fund votes at shareholders’ meetings through a service provider in line with OP Fund Management Company Ltd’s shareholder engagement principles that take responsibility aspects into account.
Methods for assessing good governance practices: Analysing the target company’s governance is an important part of the sustainable investment process, and analysis of good governance is part of OP Asset Management's sustainable investment assessment model. For us, good governance is a key foundation for any company’s financial success, regardless of sector. To identify controversies, all companies are screened regularly for international standard violations. This ensures the detection of serious controversies related to governance identified in the external service provider's analysis. If a controversy is detected in the investee company, investing is possible only if an influencing dialogue is launched. If influencing is unsuccessful or impossible, the company is excluded from the investment universe. In assessing the governance of investee companies, the analysis examines the appropriateness of the company's governing structures and general risk management related to ESG factors. In our view, the company's ability to manage ESG risks also provides a comprehensive view of the company's level of governance. Our assessment of sustainable investment in terms of governance includes an estimate of the investee company's actions related to employees and practices concerning remuneration and taxation. In assessing good governance, we use an external service provider’s analysis and our own qualitative analysis if no external data is available. We screen the funds regularly to check them against the criteria of good governance. Minimum limits apply for these criteria.
Investment strategy
The Fund invests its assets broadly in the global equity markets. It may invest both in developed and emerging equity markets, with the typical focus on Europe and the USA.
Sustainable investment: the Fund invests in sectors that have a significant positive impact on sustainable social wellbeing. The Fund typically invests in companies that develop health and wellbeing services, solutions related to the availability of education, financing and digital services, the circular economy, sustainable traffic and infrastructure solutions, the availability of apartments, improved nutrition, and sustainable agriculture, for example. Companies that are in line with the Fund's sustainable investment goals also include companies which are exemplary employers in terms of selected social questions, such as companies listed as the best places to work in global comparisons, and which otherwise pass OP's sustainable investment analysis.
Investee companies are screened using OP Asset Management’s analysis model, which is based on an external service provider’s SDG and sustainability data. Companies whose business promotes one or more UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) without harming other sustainable factors or goals are considered sustainable investments.
Exclusion: The Fund excludes from its active direct investments controversial weapon manufacturers, mining companies producing thermal coal, power companies using thermal coal, tobacco companies, and companies that have breached international standards, and where engagement has been unsuccessful. The list of exclusions is public. In addition to general exclusion rules, the Fund does not invest in companies whose principal business is in unconventional oil and gas extraction or other fossil fuels (50% of revenue or more).
Violations of international standards: The Fund is screened regularly for non-compliances with international standards. In the event that a non-compliance is detected, an influencing process is begun with the company in question. The aim is to make non-compliant companies change their practices and begin to comply with international standards in their operations. If influencing proves fruitless, the company may be removed from the Fund portfolio and placed on the exclusion list.
Shareholders’ meetings: The Fund votes at shareholders’ meetings through a service provider in line with OP Fund Management Company Ltd’s shareholder engagement principles that take responsibility aspects into account.
Methods for assessing good governance practices: Analysing the target company’s governance is an important part of the investment process. For us, good governance is a key foundation for any company’s financial success, regardless of sector. When assessing governance, some of the areas considered include the appropriateness of the target company’s administrative organisation, the target company’s actions in relation to its personnel, and the target company’s rewarding and taxation practices. In assessing good governance, we use an external service provider’s analysis and our own qualitative analysis if no external data is available. We screen the funds regularly to check them against the criteria of good governance. Minimum limits apply for these criteria.
Share of investments
The Fund engages exclusively in sustainable investments. If necessary, the Fund may also invest its assets in exchange traded derivatives and OTC derivative contracts in order to hedge against the risk of adverse market movements, to replace direct investments and to otherwise promote effective portfolio management. However, the share of sustainable investments is always at least 75%.
Monitoring of sustainable investment objectives
The portfolio manager regularly monitors the sustainability criteria of the Fund's investments. All the Fund's investee companies must engage in activities that support sustainable wellbeing for people and societies, while accounting for the environmental impact of the investments’ business operations, such as climate goals. Sustainability indicators include the share of services and goods producing social wellbeing solutions as a proportion of the company's total revenue and/or the company's success as an employer in a given social issue.
Revenue is assessed using indicators by an external service provider regarding the percentage of the company's revenue that is in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). In addition, revenue is assessed based on various lines of business classifications and with the aid of a thematic analysis by an external service provider.
The company's success as an employer in social issues is measured by the company's placement in publicly available global comparisons/rankings, for example, if the company is ranked as ""best employer"" or has the ""best diversity"", etc.
Portfolio managers also have access to the Fund's ESG analysis, which lists the fund's social, environmental and governance scores, among other information. Fund-specific ESG indicators on top-level social and environmental characteristics related to the Fund are reported on a monthly basis.
Investments are regularly screened by ESG specialists for principal adverse impacts (PAI), exclusion criteria and international standard violations.
Methods
The internal model developed by OP Asset Management for defining sustainable investments provides relevant company-specific ESG data and gives an estimate of the company's sustainability. Those investment options whose business promotes one or more UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) without harming other sustainable factors or goals are considered sustainable investments. To be sustainable, the company must also be well governed. The Fund’s proportion of sustainable investments is reported annually in periodic reports, in addition to which portfolio management has access to data updated on a monthly basis on the share of sustainable investments of the Fund’s portfolio.
To identify companies that excel in social and equality issues, a scoring model has been developed that examines factors such as the company's placement in various employer ranking lists.
Negative screening is used to limit and exclude certain sectors and operations from the Fund’s investments. The Fund excludes from its active direct investments controversial weapon manufacturers, mining companies producing thermal coal, power companies using thermal coal, tobacco companies, and companies that have breached international standards and where engagement has been unsuccessful. The list of exclusions is public. In addition to general exclusion rules, the Fund does not invest in companies whose principal business is in unconventional oil and gas extraction or other fossil fuels (50% of revenue or more).
The Fund’s investments are also screened regularly for violations of international standards using an external service provider’s analysis. If a standard violation is detected, the preferred option is to influence the company’s behaviour. If that is impossible or unsuccessful, the company may be removed from the Fund portfolio and placed on the list of exclusions. Identified standard violations and their related engagement processes are reported twice a year in connection with shareholder engagement reporting.
In addition to ESG tools applied to the investee companies, portfolio managers have access to fund-specific reports on ESG issues at the portfolio level.
The Fund votes at shareholders’ meetings in line with OP Fund Management Company Ltd’s shareholder engagement principles that take responsibility aspects into account. Attendance at meetings is based on the company’s share of the Fund’s investments. Attendance at shareholders’ meetings and the Fund’s votes are reported twice a year in connection with shareholder engagement reporting.
Data sources and data processing
OP Asset Management uses several data sources from different service providers. Primary data sources are MSCI ESG Research and S&P Trucost, which provide information on topics such as the sustainability risks of investee companies, share of business operations with adverse impacts, climate risks and opportunities, and how the operations of investee companies align with UN Sustainable Development Goals. The service providers use both data reported by companies and estimates based on an assessment model developed by each service provider.
In shareholder meeting votes, we use data and company research by ISS ESG.
The service providers we use have detailed and appropriate processes in place for ensuring data quality and correcting inaccuracies in the data.
When selecting new data packages and service providers, we carefully compare and analyse the data quality, coverage, methodology and reliability of each service provider. We regularly monitor trends in ESG data and service providers on the market to ensure the best possible data to support our investment decisions and client reporting.
Data sources are utilised either directly based on metrics or analysis by the service provider as well as by combining different metrics and using them for internal analyses and assessments by OP Asset Management. A part of the data is imported directly to OP Asset Management’s database, from which it can be used in internal analysis models and reports. Data is also used directly from interfaces offered by the service providers.
The share of data that is assessed depends on sustainability indicators and the sustainability factor under scrutiny, and it is not possible to give a universal definition of the share of assessed data of all ESG data. It is difficult to determine what portion of ESG data are based on reported information and estimates, respectively. In cases where reported data is available, it is used as the primary source. Third-party service providers must specify for each metric whether the data is reported by companies themselves or estimated using the provider’s internal model.
Limitations of the methodology and data
At the moment, ESG data is not fully standardised, and investee companies do not report on the data widely. This makes it challenging to compare investee companies. Service providers may use different methods for compiling, evaluating and analysing data. For these reasons, we carefully review the methodologies of service providers to ensure their suitability for our purposes.
We use several different service providers to enable us to assess certain metrics from multiple sources and plug any gaps in data.
Due diligence
The Fund's sustainable investment model is automated, and the manual analysis process is limited in scope in writing and carried out by the portfolio manager in writing. Sustainable investments are screened and reported regularly. The Fund is also subject to exclusion criteria and screened for international standard violations as described above in part (d) Investment strategy. A party independent of portfolio management oversees that the Fund complies with the criteria. The Fund’s material exclusion criteria are implemented in the trading system.
Shareholder engagement policy
OP is an active shareholder through its funds by voting in Finnish and international shareholders’ meetings, engaging in direct dialogue with companies and supporting joint initiatives by investors. OP's funds comply with the principles of shareholder engagement that take into account OP Fund Management Company Ltd’s ESG perspectives. These principles and the latest report on the implementation of shareholder engagement principles are available at op.fi/responsible-investing. Participation in general meetings of foreign companies takes place in markets where participation is cost-effective, taking into account their proportion of the Fund’s investments.
This Fund participates in the shareholder meetings of listed companies in accordance with OP Fund Management Company’s principles of shareholder engagement. A detailed list of attended meetings and actions taken and decisions adopted at the meetings can be found at op.fi/responsible-investing. By 2025, OP Asset Management’s climate-related shareholder engagement will cover 70% of financed emissions, as measured by direct equity and bond investments by OP funds in high climate risk sectors (NACE categories A-H and J-L). In practice, shareholder engagement in these companies involves either voting at shareholders’ meetings, direct dialogue or joint initiatives by investors. In addition, the Fund is involved in shareholder engagement more broadly where necessary, such as in relation to good governance, responsible tax practice or business ethics.
Achieving a sustainable investment objective
All the Fund's underlying investments must be sustainable in accordance with the criteria set by OP Asset Management. The portfolio manager regularly monitors the sustainability criteria of the Fund's investments. All the Fund's investee companies must engage in activities that support sustainable wellbeing for people and societies, while accounting for the environmental impact of the investments’ business operations, such as climate goals. Sustainability indicators include the share of services and goods producing social wellbeing solutions as a proportion of the company's total revenue and/or the company's success as an employer in a given social issue.
In addition, the Fund is committed to the climate targets of OP Asset Management and even though these do not constitute the Fund's main investment goal, climate targets are binding on all funds managed by OP Asset Management.
Data published on 16 November 2023
ISIN: FI4000561311
Updated: