Screening for Corporate Bonds
Corporate Bonds are covered by the Storebrand Standard which has been explained earlier in the equities sections.
Screening for Soveregn Bonds
Storebrand aims to invest in corporations and countries that contribute actively to sustainable development. We believe such practices – when integrated in core business – will be financially rewarded. Based on this, Storebrand will not invest in government bonds from countries that
Are systematically corrupt
Systematically suppress basic political and civil rights
Are subject to sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council
As a responsible long term investor, with a geographically diverse investment portfolio, it is in Storebrand’s interests to promote good governance, stability and the maintenance of basic political and civil rights. Therefore Storebrand’s goal is to avoid purchasing bonds from governments that are systematically corrupt, unstable and/or oppressive. To achieve this goal, Storebrand utilizes two corruption indexes, a political and civil rights index and the list of countries subject to UN Security Council sanctions. The indexes and lists chosen are issued by reliable and well respected sources, are methodically rigorous and are updated regularly.
Corruption indexes
Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), published annually since 1995, has been widely credited for putting the issue of corruption on the international policy agenda. The CPI ranks almost 200 countries in terms of perceived levels of corruption, as determined by expert assessments and opinion surveys. These assessments and surveys include questions relating to bribery of public officials, kickbacks in public procurement, embezzlement of public funds, and questions regarding the strength and effectiveness of public sector anti-corruption efforts. http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi
The World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators; Control of Corruption Index has been published annually since 1996. The index captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption and "capture" of the state by elites and private interests. Information to put together the index is obtained from business providers, surveys of firms and households, non-governmental organisations and public sector data providers. Exclusion criterion: Countries ranking among the 10 percent worst performers on the Transparency International CPI index and/or the World Bank Control of Corruption index will be excluded from investments at Storebrand. The 10 percent threshold includes any country with the same numerical score as the best performer of the group.
Political and Civil Rights Index
Freedom House Freedom in the World index has been published annually since 1972 and ranks over 200 countries and disputed territories countries according to political and civil rights and freedom. To compile the index, analysts used a broad range of sources of information, including foreign and domestic news reports, academic analyses, non-governmental organizations and visits to the region.Exclusion criterion: Countries and territories which are given the lowest rating of 7 will be excluded from investments at Storebrand. Countries are given a rating of 7 when political and civil rights are absent or virtually nonexistent and the nature of the regime is characterised by severe oppression.
UN Sanctions
Under Article 41 of the UN Charter, the UN Security Council may call upon Member States to apply measures not involving the use of armed force in order to maintain or restore international peace and security. Such measures are commonly referred to as sanctions. Current practice at the UN Security Council is to impose targeted measures aimed at removing the circumstances that have led to a threat to, or breach of, international peace and security. Exclusion criterion: Countries that are subject to sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council will be excluded from investments at Storebrand. Countries will not be excluded in cases where sanctions are targeted specifically at independent groups within a country and not at the government of the country.