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Responsible investment 2020

Long-term active ownership pays off in troubled times

The coronavirus pandemic has stress-tested companies around the globe. As the world's largest shareholder, we have seen this at close hand. All in all, we held 2,877 meetings with companies in 2020. We also voted on 121,619 resolutions at shareholder meetings and began to publish an explanation whenever voting against the board's recommendation.

Published 25 Feb. 2021

11,871 shareholder meetings voted at

Voting is one of the most important tools we have as a shareholder for safeguarding the fund's assets. We voted at 11,871 shareholder meetings in 2020.

98.0 percent voted at

We aim to vote at all shareholder meetings at companies in our portfolio. We voted at 98.0 percent of the company shareholder meetings in 2020.

2,877 company meetings

As a long term investor, we engage in regular dialogue with our largest companies. The aim is to promote good corporate governance and responsible business practices.

Divestments in 2020

In 2020, we divested from 32 companies following assessment of environmental, social and governance risks. Altogether we have divested from 314 companies since 2012.

32 new divestmens

Norges Bank makes decisions on the observation and exclusion of companies after receiving a recommendation from the Council of Ethics. Norges Bank excluded 15 companies and revoked the exclusion of three companies in 2020.

15 excluded companies

3 revoked company exclusions

Company follow-up

4,158 assessments of company reporting

1,521 companies assessed

92,388 equity portfolio carbon footprint. Thousand tonnes CO2 equivalents