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The Swedish Region of Gävleborg, located north of Stockholm on the coast of the Baltic Sea, manages assets totalling approximately SEK 6.5 billion (approximately EUR 562 million) as of December 31, 2023, including pension funds for its employees. In doing so, the region follows investment guidelines that exclude companies in sectors such as weapons, tobacco, alcohol, and gambling.
The region works with external asset managers to handle its investments. One of these partners is William Blair & Company to which the Region’s Director of Finance in 2019, Bo Svedberg gave an interview commenting on the organisation’s focus on sustainability.
Svedberg emphasised Sweden’s focus on equitable and sustainable global development pointing to the United Nations statement of 2030 social goals.
“The 2030 Agenda is a very important document for us and guides our sustainability policies,” he said to William Blair.
He also cites his investment guidelines restrictions and comments on the opportunity for impact investing: “[Sustainable investing means] also looking at companies that are making changes with how they do business and making a positive impact while being successful doing that.”
“My view is that it has no negative effect on revenues. I think in the long term it’s better to be invested in companies with a sustainable business because otherwise they won’t survive. That’s a belief,” he explained to William Blair, with the article also mentioning the region’s efforts to ensure that its suppliers adhere to similar sustainability principles.
After Svedberg’s departure in 2021, the position has been filled by Mikael Rauden who declined to be interviewed.
Additionally, a public profile of Region Gävleborg provides insights into its investment activities, including commitments to various funds and collaborations with asset managers. This profile offers detailed information on the region’s asset management strategies and partnerships, including with CF Private Equity, Aberdeen Asset Management, BlackRock Realty Advisors and Highstar Capital. The most recent of these investments was performed in 2015 which may indicate that this information is outdated.
