Responsibility

We build a sustainable future through responsibility across all asset classes

We believe that businesses that operate in a responsible manner, in accordance with sustainable norms, are more profitable in the long term than companies that do not operate sustainably. To us, responsible investment means taking responsibility matters into account, when striving to achieve the best possible return on the chosen risk level. When we speak of responsible investment activities, we refer to every action that considers environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors.

We have been promoting responsible investment in a long-term manner. We have had our own principles for responsible investment since 2006. Central international agreements and norms, such as the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and corresponding UN conventions, UN Sustainable Development Goals, ILO conventions and OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, create a value system for responsible investment in Aktia’s investment activities. Aktia is a signatory of the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), which provide an internationally recognized framework for responsible investment practices. Through PRI, Aktia commits to considering environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in its asset management. Aktia is also committed to regularly reporting to PRI on the implementation and progress of the principles of responsible investment.

Our method of responsible investment is based on exclusion, ESG integration, norm-based screening, active ownership, and engagement. We also strive to form a comprehensive picture of the investment objects’ impact on society. Responsibility is an integral part of our investment activities, and the principles of responsible investment are complied with in all the funds we manage. Moreover, as an integrated part of the investment process, we consider the economic impact ESG factors have on the investment objects. We also take into consideration the principal adverse impacts on sustainability and most of the funds we manage and provide are aligned with SFDR Article 8 or Article 9.

Active and impactful partnerships

Aktia has signed the UN supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) and Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB). We are a member of FIBS (Finnish Business & Society), the largest Nordic corporate responsibility network, and FINSIF (Finland’s Sustainable Investment Forum), a Finnish organisation that promotes responsible investment.

We participate in investor initiatives on topics such as climate change mitigation and adaptation as well as safeguarding and promoting biodiversity, such as Net Zero Asset Managers (NZAM), Climate Action 100+ and Nature Action 100 and PRI Spring. Aktia is committed to setting climate targets in line with the Science Based Targets initiative. We report on the climate impacts of our operations to CDP (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project) and encourage companies to start climate reporting through CDP campaigns. We are also a public supporter of the Transition Pathway Initiative (TPI) and the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations. In addition, Aktia is a member of AIMA (Alternative Investment Management Association), SBAI (Standards Board for Alternative Investments), and Green Building Council Finland.

Climate strategy

Aktia launched its climate strategy in 2021. Our climate objectives, which extend to 2050, guide our activities across the Group. In investing, our goal is carbon neutrality in the investment portfolios by 2050, and in lending, the goal is to reduce carbon emissions and exposure. When it comes to Aktia Group’s own activities, the goal is to achieve net carbon neutrality in energy consumption of all rented premises by 2030 and in Aktia’s own operations by 2050. For 2030, we have set an interim target to reduce the carbon footprints of our equity and credit funds by 50% compared to 2019 levels. Aktia is committed to setting science-based climate targets under the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and will update its own medium-term climate targets during 2026.