- The Government Pension Fund of Norway
-
The Government Pension Fund of Norway comprises two entirely separate sovereign wealth funds owned by the Government of Norway:
- The Government Pension Fund - Global (formerly The Government Petroleum Fund)
- The Government Pension Fund - Norway (formerly The National Insurance Scheme Fund)
Contents
The Government Pension Fund - Global
The Government Pension Fund - Global (Norwegian: Statens pensjonsfond - Utland, SPU) is a fund into which the surplus wealth produced by Norwegian petroleum income is deposited. The fund changed name in January 2006 from its previous name The Petroleum Fund of Norway. The fund is commonly referred to as The Oil Fund (Norwegian: Oljefondet). As of the valuation in June 2011, it was the largest pension fund in the world, although it is not actually a pension fund as it derives its financial backing from oil profits and not pension contributions. As of 31 December 2010 its total value is NOK 3,077 billion ($525 bn),[1] holding 1 per cent of global equity markets.[2] With 1.78 per cent of European stocks,[2] it is said to be the largest stock owner in Europe.[3]
The purpose of the petroleum fund is to invest parts of the large surplus generated by the Norwegian petroleum sector, generated mainly from taxes of companies, but also payment for license to explore as well as the State's Direct Financial Interest and dividends from partly state-owned Statoil. Current revenue from the petroleum sector is estimated to be at its peak period and to decline over the next decades. The Petroleum Fund was established in 1990 after a decision by the country's legislature to counter the effects of the forthcoming decline in income and to smooth out the disrupting effects of highly fluctuating oil prices.
Management and size
The fund is managed by Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM), a part of the Norwegian Central Bank on behalf of the Ministry of Finance. It is currently the largest pension fund in Europe and is larger than the California public-employees pension fund (CalPERS), the largest public pension fund in the United States. The Norwegian Ministry of Finance forecasts that the fund will reach NOK 4,334.3 billion ($717 bn) by the end of 2014 and NOK 6,065.7 billion ($1,003 bn) by the end of 2019[4]. In a parliamentary White Paper in April 2011 the Norwegian Ministry of Finance forecast that the 2030 value of the fund would be NOK 7,400 billion ($1263 bn). A worst case scenario for the fund value in 2030 was forecast at NOK 2,667 billion ($455 bn) and a best case scenario at NOK 19,556 billion ($3,337 bn)[5].
Since 1998 the fund has been allowed to invest up to 40 per cent of its portfolio in the international stock market. In 2007 the Ministry decided to raise the stock portion to 60 per cent. This was achieved in June 2009. The Norwegian Government has planned that up to 5 per cent of the fund should be invested in real estate, starting in 2010.[6] A specific policy for the real estate investments was suggested in a report the Swiss Partners Group wrote for the Norwegian Ministry of Finance.[7]
Debate
Due to the large size of the fund relative to the low number of people living in Norway (4.9 million people in 2010[8]), the Petroleum Fund has become a hot political issue, dominated by three main issues:
- Whether the country should use more of the petroleum revenues for the state budget instead of saving the funds for the future. The main matter of debate is to what degree increased government spending will increase inflation.
- Whether the high level of exposure (around 60 per cent in 2008) to the highly volatile, and therefore risky, stock market is financially safe. Others claim that the high differentiation and extreme long term of the investments will dilute the risk and that the state is losing considerable amounts of money due to the low investment percentage in the stock market.
- Whether the investment policy of the Petroleum Fund is ethical.
The Ethical Council
Part of the investment policy debate is related to the discovery of several cases of investment by The Petroleum Fund in highly controversial companies, involved in businesses such as arms production and tobacco. The Petroleum Fund’s Advisory Council on Ethics was established 19 November 2004 by royal decree. Accordingly, the Ministry of Finance issued a new regulation on the management of the Government Petroleum Fund which also includes ethical guidelines.
On 19 January 2010 the Ministry of Finance announced that 17 tobacco companies had been excluded from the fund.[9] The total divestement from these companies was USD 2bn (NOK 14.2bn), making it the largest divestment caused by ethical recommendations in the history of the fund.[10]
Excluded companies
The following companies have been excluded from the Government Pension Fund of Norway due to activities in breach of the Ethical Guidelines [11]
Company HQ Date of exclusion Reason Divestment (USD) Africa Israel Investments Israel 24 August 2010 Violation of the Geneva Convention in occupied Palestinian territory by being involved in developing settlements [12] 1.2m Alliance One International Inc. United States 19 Jan 2010 Production of tobacco.[9] 0.9m Alliant Techsystems Inc United States 30 Jun 2005 Production of components for cluster munitions.[13] N/A [nb 1] Altria Group Inc. United States 19 Jan 2010 Production of tobacco.[9] 131m Barrick Gold Corporation Canada 30 Jan 2009 Extensive environmental degradation related to the Porgera Gold Mine in Papua New Guinea [14] 245m BAE Systems Plc. United Kingdom 11 Oct 2005 Production of nuclear missiles for the French Air Force through the company MBDA.[15] N/A [nb 2] Boeing Company United States 11 Oct 2005 Maintenance of ICBMs for the U.S. Air Force.[15] N/A [nb 2] British American Tobacco BHD Malaysia 19 Jan 2010 Production of tobacco.[9] 9.4m British American Tobacco Plc. United Kingdom 19 Jan 2010 Production of tobacco.[9] 683m Danya Cebus Israel 24 August 2010 Violation of the Geneva Convention in occupied Palestinian territory by being involved in developing settlements[12] N/A European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS N.V. France
Germany
Netherlands30 Jun 2005 Production of nuclear missiles for the French Air Force through the company MBDA[16] [nb 3] N/A [nb 1] Elbit Systems Israel 3 Sep 2009 Supply of surveillance systems for the Israeli West Bank barrier [17][18][19] 5.0m Finmeccanica Sp.A. Italy 11 Oct 2005 Production of nuclear missiles for the French Air Force through the company MBDA.[15] N/A [nb 2] Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. United States 28 Mar 2006 Serious environmental damage.[20] 17.2m GenCorp Inc United States 15 Nov 2007 Production of nuclear weapons.[21] N/A General Dynamics Corporation United States 30 Jun 2005 Production of components for cluster munitions.[13] N/A [nb 1] Grupo Carso SAB de CV Mexico 15 Feb 2011 Production of tobacco.[22] N/A Gudang Garam tbk pt Indonesia 19 Jan 2010 Production of tobacco.[9] 0 Hanwha Corporation South Korea 15 May 2007 Production of cluster munitions.[21] 1.2m [23] Honeywell International Inc. United States 11 Oct 2005 Simulations of nuclear explosions.[15] N/A [nb 2] Imperial Tobacco Group Plc United Kingdom 19 Jan 2010 Production of tobacco.[9] 347m ITC Ltd. India 19 Jan 2010 Production of tobacco.[9] 48m Japan Tobacco Inc. Japan 19 Jan 2010 Production of tobacco.[9] 210m KT&G Corp. South Korea 19 Jan 2010 Production of tobacco.[9] 16m L3 Communications Holdings Inc United States 30 Jun 2005 Production of components for cluster munitions.[13] N/A [nb 1] Lockheed Martin Corp United States 30 Jun 2005 Production of components for cluster munitions.[13] N/A [nb 1] Lorillard Inc. United States 19 Jan 2010 Production of tobacco.[9] 42m Northrop Grumman Corp. United States 11 Oct 2005 Maintenance of ICBMs for the U.S. Air Force.[15] N/A [nb 2] Philip Morris Int. Inc. United States 19 Jan 2010 Production of tobacco.[9] 476m Philip Morris Cr AS Czech Republic 19 Jan 2010 Production of tobacco.[9] 2.7m Poongsan Corporation South Korea 30 Sep 2006 Production of cluster munition.[24] 1.2m Raytheon Company United States 30 Jun 2005 Production of components for cluster munitions.[13] N/A [nb 1] Reynolds American Inc. United States 19 Jan 2010 Production of tobacco.[9] 36m Rio Tinto Group Australia 28 Apr 2008 Severe environmental damage[25] 882m Samling Global Ltd. Malaysia 23 Aug 2010 "Illegal logging and severe environmental damage"[12] 1.4m SAFRAN SA France 11 Oct 2005 Production of nuclear missiles for the French Navy.[15] N/A [nb 2] Serco Group Plc United Kingdom 15 Nov 2007 Maintenance of British nuclear weapons through the Atomic Weapons Establishment.[21] N/A Souza Cruz SA Brazil 19 Jan 2010 Production of tobacco.[9] 7.4m Singapore Technologies Engineering Singapore 22 Mar 2002 Production of anti-personnel landmines.[26] N/A Swedish Match AB Sweden 19 Jan 2010 Production of tobacco.[9] 75m Textron Inc United States 30 Jan 2009 Production of components for cluster munitions.[27] 36m United Technologies Corp. United States 11 Oct 2005 Production of engines for ICBMs in the U.S. Air Force.[15] N/A [nb 2] Universal Corp VA United States 19 Jan 2010 Production of tobacco.[9] 3m Vector Group Ltd. United States 19 Jan 2010 Production of tobacco.[9] 2.1m Vedanta Resources Plc United Kingdom 28 Aug 2007 Environmental and human rights abuses.[28] 12m Wal-Mart Stores Inc. United States 28 Mar 2006 Breach of human rights and labour rights.[20] 372m The Fund does not announce exclusions until it has completed sales of its positions, so as not to affect the share price at the time of the transaction.[29]
Reinstated companies
Three previously excluded companies have later been reinstated to the fund, because the companies were no longer involved in the activities that led to their exclusion.
Company HQ Date of exclusion Reason Divestment (USD) Date of reinstatement DRD Gold Limited South Africa 29 Jan 2007 Serious environmental damage.[30] 0.6m 3 Sep 2009 [31][32] Kerr-McGee Corporation United States 29 Apr 2005 Petroleum surveying in occupied Western Sahara [33] 54m 30 Jun 2006 [34] Thales SA France 30 Jun 2005 Production of components for cluster munitions.[13] N/A [nb 1] 3 Sep 2009[31][35] Companies "under observation"
One company, Siemens AG, has been placed "under observation"; meaning that while it qualifies for exclusion, the Ministry of Finance has opted to keep it under scrutiny in order to help put pressure on the company to improve.[36] It has been proposed that one more company, Goldcorp, should be placed under similar observation.[37]
Company HQ Date of warning Reason Shares Siemens AG Berlin, Munich and Erlangen, Germany 13 Mar 2009 "Gross and systematic corruption" [36] 900m USD Currency portfolio
In October 2010 the fund spent 600 million kroner ($136.4 million as of October 2010) daily buying foreign currencies. That figure would be increased to 800 million kroner daily in November.[38] This practice was suspended in January 2011, and on January 31 it was announced that this would also be the case in February.[39]
The Government Pension Fund - Norway
The Government Pension Fund - Norway (Norwegian: Statens pensjonsfond Norge, SPN) was established by the National Insurance Act (Folketrygdloven) in 1967 under the name National Insurance Scheme Fund (Norwegian: Folketrygdfondet). The name was changed at the same time as the former Petroleum Fund on 1 January 2006. This fund continues to be managed by a separate board and separate government entity still named Folketrygdfondet. The Government Pension Fund - Norway had a value of NOK 106.9 billion at the end of 2006. Unlike the Global division, it is instructed to invest in domestic companies on the stock market, dominantly on Oslo Stock Exchange. Due to this, the Government Pension Fund - Norway is a key stock owner in many large Norwegian companies.
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g The total divestment from the seven companies Alliant Techsystems Inc, EADS Co (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company), General Dynamics Corporation, L3 Communications Holdings Inc, Lockheed Martin Corp, Raytheon Co and Thales SA was ca. 340m USD.[13]
- ^ a b c d e f g The total divestment from the seven companies BAE Systems Plc, Boeing Co., Finmeccanica Sp.A., Honeywell International Inc., Northrop Grumman Corp., Safran SA and United Technologies Corp was ca. 500m USD.[15]
- ^ EADS was initially excluded because it produced cluster munitions components, but the company later stopped such production. The exclusion was upheld due to the company's production of nuclear missiles.
See also
- The budgetary rule – concerning the usage of capital gains from The Government Pension Fund - Global
- Pensions in Norway
- Economy of Norway
- Sovereign wealth fund
- Energy Resources of Norway
- Ethical investing
References
- ^ "Fifth Best Year in the Fund’s History". Norges Bank Investment Management. 2011-03-18. http://www.nbim.no/en/press-and-publications/News-List/736/femte-beste-resultat-i-fondets-historie/. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
- ^ a b Government Pension Fund Global Annual Report 2009, Oslo: Norges Bank Investment Management, 2010-03-05, pp. 18–19, ISSN 1891-1323, http://www.nbim.no/Upload/78329/NBIM_annualreport09.pdf, retrieved 2010-03-08
- ^ Sindre Heyerdahl, E24. "OLJEFONDETS GIGANTTAP PÅ AKTIV FORVALTNING: Mener Gjedrem bløffer om investeringene" (in Norwegian). http://e24.no/makro-og-politikk/article2971889.ece.
- ^ (in Norwegian) (pdf) Stortingsmelding 1 (2010-2011): Nasjonalbudsjettet 2011 [The National Budget 2011]. Oslo: Royal Norwegian Ministry of Finance. 2010-10-01. p. 56. http://www.statsbudsjettet.no/upload/Statsbudsjett_2011/dokumenter/pdf/stm.pdf. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
- ^ (in Norwegian) (pdf) Meld. St. 15 (2010–2011): Forvaltningen av Statens pensjonsfond i 2010 117-119 [The Management of the Government Pension Fund 2010]. Oslo: Royal Norwegian Ministry of Finance. 2011-04-08. pp. 117–119. http://www.regjeringen.no/pages/16251809/PDFS/STM201020110015000DDDPDFS.pdf. Retrieved 2011-04-09.
- ^ "Stortingsmelding nr. 1 (2009–2010) - Nasjonalbudsjettet 2010" (in Norwegian) (pdf). Oslo: Norwegian Ministry of Finance. 2009-10-09. p. 145. http://www.regjeringen.no/pages/2249931/PDFS/STM200920100001000DDDPDFS.pdf.
- ^ "Investment Policy for Real Estate" (pdf). Baar, Switzerland: Partners Group. 2009-09-15. http://www.regjeringen.no/Upload/FIN/Statens%20pensjonsfond/rapporter/parteners_group_investment_policy_real_estate.pdf.
- ^ "http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/02/02/folkendrkv_en/". Statistics Norway. 2010-02-18.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Tobacco producers excluded from Government Pension Fund Global". The Norwegian Ministry of Finance. 2010-01-19. http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/fin/press-center/Press-releases/2010/Tobacco-producers-excluded-from-Government-Pension-Fund-Global.html.
- ^ The Ethical Council of The Government Pension Fund of Norway (2009-10-22). "Recommendation October 22nd, 2009". http://www.regjeringen.no/Upload/FIN/etikk/rec_tobacco_english.pdf.
- ^ Norges Bank. "NBIM Annual Report 2007". http://www.norges-bank.no/Upload/NBIM/Reports/2007%20Part4.pdf.
- ^ a b c "Three companies excluded from the Government Pension Fund Global". The Ministry of Finance. 2010-08-23. http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/fin/press-center/Press-releases/2010/three-companies-excluded-from-the-govern.html?id=612790. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
- ^ a b c d e f g Norwegian Ministry of Finance (2005-09-02). "Åtte nye selskaper utelukket fra Petroleumsfondet" (in Norwegian). http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dokumentarkiv/Regjeringen-Bondevik-II/Finansdepartementet/234231/234458/atte_nye_selskaper_utelukket_fra.html?id=256666&epslanguage=NO.
- ^ http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/fin/Selected-topics/andre/Ethical-Guidelines-for-the-Government-Pension-Fund---Global-/Recommendations-and-Letters-from-the-Advisory-Council-on-Ethics/recommendation-on-the-exclusion-of-the-c-3.html?id=544365
- ^ a b c d e f g h Norwegian Ministry of Finance (2006-01-05). "Uttrekk av selskaper fra Statens pensjonsfond - Utland" (in Norwegian). http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/fin/pressesenter/pressemeldinger/2006/Uttrekk-av-selskaper-fra-Statens-pensjonsfond---Utland.html?id=103778&epslanguage=NO.
- ^ The Ethical Council of the Government Pension Fund of Norway (2006-04-18). "Tilrådning 18. april 2006" (in Norwegian). http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/fin/tema/statens_pensjonsfond/etiske-retningslinjer/tilradninger-og-brev-fra-etikkradet/tilradning-18-april-2006.html?id=91821.
- ^ Norwegian Ministry of Finance (2009-09-04). "Supplier of surveillance equipment for the separation barrier in the West Bank excluded from the Government Pension Fund – Global". http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/fin/press-center/Press-releases/2009/supplier-of-surveillance-equipment-for-t.html?id=575444.
- ^ Ethical Council of the Government Pension Fund of Norway (2009-09-04). "Recommendation on the exclusion of the company Elbit Systems Ltd". http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/fin/Selected-topics/The-Government-Pension-Fund/Ethical-Guidelines-for-the-Government-Pension-Fund---Global-/Recommendations-and-Letters-from-the-Advisory-Council-on-Ethics/the-council-on-ethics-recommends-that-th.html?id=575451.
- ^ Herb Keinon and Yaakov Katz (2009-09-03). "Norway envoy summoned on divestment". Jerusalem Post. http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1251804480041.
- ^ a b Norwegian Ministry of Finance (2006-06-06). "To selskaper - Wal-Mart og Freeport - trekkes ut av Statens pensjonsfond - Utland" (in Norwegian). http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/fin/pressesenter/pressemeldinger/2006/To-selskaper---Wal-Mart-og-Freeport---trekkes-ut-av-Statens-pensjonsfond---Utland.html?id=104384&epslanguage=NO.
- ^ a b c Norwegian Ministry of Finance (2008-01-11). "One producer of cluster munitions and two producers of nuclear weapons excluded from the Government Pension Fund - Global". http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/fin/Press-Center/Press-releases/2008/One-producer-of-cluster-munitions-and-tw.html?id=496485.
- ^ The Council on Ethics (15 Feb 2011). "Error: no
|title=
specified when using {{Cite web}}" (in Norwegian). Norwegian Ministry of Finance. http://www.regjeringen.no/Upload/FIN/Statens%20pensjonsfond/2011/spu/carso2011.pdf. - ^ The Council on Ethics (2008-01-11). "Recommendation on exclusion of the companies Rheinmetall AG and Hanwha Corp". http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/fin/Selected-topics/andre/Ethical-Guidelines-for-the-Government-Pension-Fund---Global-/Recommendations-and-Letters-from-the-Advisory-Council-on-Ethics/Recommendation-on-exclusion-of-the-compa-2.html?id=496492.
- ^ Norwegian Ministry of Finance (2006-12-06). "Sørkoreansk klasevåpenprodusent utelukket fra Statens pensjonsfond - Utland" (in Norwegian). http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/fin/pressesenter/pressemeldinger/2006/Sorkoreansk-klasevapenprodusent-utelukket-fra-Statens-pensjonsfond-Utland.html?id=437728&epslanguage=NO.
- ^ Norwegian Ministry of Finance (2008-09-09). "The Government Pension Fund divests its holdings in mining company". http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/fin/Press-Center/Press-releases/2008/the-government-pension-fund-divests-its-.html?id=526030.
- ^ Norwegian Ministry of Finance (2002-03-22). "Petroleumfondets Folkerettsråd - Notat til Finansdepartementet" (in Norwegian). http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/fin/tema/andre/Etiske-retningslinjer/historikk/Notat-2-av-220302-Om-investeringer-i-Singapore-Technologies-Engineering-.html?id=413441&epslanguage=NO.
- ^ http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/fin/Selected-topics/andre/Ethical-Guidelines-for-the-Government-Pension-Fund---Global-/Recommendations-and-Letters-from-the-Advisory-Council-on-Ethics/recommendation-on-the-exclusion-of-the-c-2.html?id=544363
- ^ Norwegian Ministry of Finance (2007-11-06). "Metals and mining company excluded from the investment universe of the Norwegian Government Pension Fund - Global". http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/fin/Press-Center/Press-releases/2007/Metals-and-mining-company-excluded-from-.html?id=488626.
- ^ "Norway's Big Ethical Giant" Vidya Ram, Forbes Magazine, January 30th, 2009, http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/30/norway-mining-weapons-markets-equity-0130_markets15.html?partner=yahoobuzz
- ^ Norwegian Ministry of Finance (2007-04-11). "Mining company excluded from the investment universe of the Norwegian Government Pension Fund - Global". http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/fin/Press-Center/Press-releases/2007/Mining-company-excluded-from-the-investm.html?id=462551.
- ^ a b Norwegian Ministry of Finance (2009-09-03). "Thales SA and DRD Gold Limited to be reinstated in the Government Pension Fund – Global’s portfolio". http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/fin/press-center/Press-releases/2009/thales-sa-and-drd-gold-limited-to-be-rei.html?id=575442.
- ^ The Council on Ethics (2009-02-13). "Recommendation to reverse the exclusion of DRD Gold". http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/fin/Selected-topics/The-Government-Pension-Fund/Ethical-Guidelines-for-the-Government-Pension-Fund---Global-/Recommendations-and-Letters-from-the-Advisory-Council-on-Ethics/recommendation-to-reverse-a-decision-to-.html?id=575438.
- ^ Norwegian Ministry of Finance (2005-06-06). "Første selskap utelukket fra Petroleumsfondet" (in Norwegian). http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dokumentarkiv/Regjeringen-Bondevik-II/Finansdepartementet/234231/234458/forste_selskap_utelukket_fra_petroleumsfondet.html?id=256344&epslanguage=NO.
- ^ Norwegian Ministry of Finance (2006-09-01). "KerrMcGee Corporation tas inn igjen i Statens pensjonsfond - Utland" (in Norwegian). http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/fin/pressesenter/pressemeldinger/2006/KerrMcGee-Corporation-tas-inn-igjen-i-Statens-pensjonsfond---Utland.html?id=271732&epslanguage=NO.
- ^ The Council on Ethics (2009-02-13). "Recommendation to reverse the exclusion of Thales SA". http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/fin/Selected-topics/The-Government-Pension-Fund/Ethical-Guidelines-for-the-Government-Pension-Fund---Global-/Recommendations-and-Letters-from-the-Advisory-Council-on-Ethics/recommendation-to-reverse-the-exclusion-.html?id=575446.
- ^ a b "Siemens under observation in corruption case". The Norwegian Ministry of Finance. 13 Mar 2009. http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/fin/press-center/Press-releases/2009/siemens-under-observation-in-corruption-.html?id=549155.
- ^ Kristoffer Rønneberg (20 Feb 2010). "Ønsker "gult kort" for gruveselskap". Aftenposten. http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/uriks/article3527171.ece. Retrieved 20 Feb 2010.
- ^ "Norway c.bank to sell NOK 800 mln daily in Nov". Reuters. October 29, 2010. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSOSN00479420101029. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
- ^ "Norway fund to refrain from fx buying in Feb". Reuters. January 31, 2011. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/01/31/norway-oilfund-idUSOSB01706920110131. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
External links
Categories:- 1967 establishments in Norway
- 1990 establishments in Norway
- Sovereign wealth funds
- Government and pension funds
- Public finance of Norway
- Retirement in Norway
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