Investment Returns Soar Amidst Market Shifts
Sampension achieved a total return of DKK 14.0 billion across all investments in 2024, equivalent to 6.1%. This is a decrease from DKK 17.8 billion in 2023, which represented an 8.6% return. The decline in overall return primarily affected traditional average rate products, where the majority of investments are placed. The fall in interest rates in 2024 was less pronounced than in 2023, resulting in smaller bond price increases. The investment strategy for 2024 remained largely unchanged from 2023. (Fiscal Year 2024, Source: Årsrapport 2024, page 13)
Market-Rate Products Lead the Way
Market-rate products, specifically ‘3 i 1 Livspension’, saw their share of total insurance provisions increase from 56% at the end of 2023 to 58% at the end of 2024. Provisions for market-rate products increased by nearly DKK 13 billion in 2024, driven by positive investment returns and premiums exceeding insurance benefits. (Fiscal Year 2024, Source: Årsrapport 2024, page 11)
Green Transition Investments on the Rise
As of December 31, 2024, Sampension Liv’s total investments incorporating climate and environmental considerations amounted to DKK 23 billion, representing 9.4% of total net investment assets. This includes investments contributing to an environmental objective as defined by the EU’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). (Fiscal Year 2024, Source: Årsrapport 2024, page 29)
Carbon Footprint Significantly Reduced
Sampension Liv reduced its CO2 footprint by 22.9% in 2024. Since 2020, the climate footprint from investments has been reduced by 50.5% towards the net-zero emissions target by 2050. The total calculated climate footprint for 2024, including forest investments, was 106,935 tons CO2e, with a carbon footprint of 0.7 tons CO2e per million DKK invested. (Fiscal Year 2024, Source: Årsrapport 2024, page 6, 28)
Active Ownership and Shareholder Engagement Intensified
Sampension Liv increased its voting activity in 2024, participating in 1,238 general meetings (99% of the listed portfolio) and voting on 16,819 individual agenda items. This represents an increase from previous periods. The focus of voting activity in 2024 was on large CO2 emitters, specifically their climate targets, transparency regarding climate-related lobbying activities, and climate reporting, as well as the assessment of climate-related shareholder proposals and employee rights. Sampension co-filed three shareholder proposals for the first time in 2024: two related to climate (Shell plc. and Equinor ASA) and one related to employee rights (Amazon.com, Inc.). (Fiscal Year 2024, Source: Årsrapport 2024, page 27, 32)
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