Sustainability at Ferd

"Creating enduring value involves creating ownership environments, companies, organisations and system changes that contribute to societal development - and that stand the test of time. Leaving clear footprints means making an impact through bold and early initiatives, where the effect can be felt or measured, and of which we are proud."

– Johan H. Andresen
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Our vision and motivation for working with sustainability

Since 2001, Ferd has been guided by a vision of creating enduring value and leaving clear footprints. Our broad perspective on what constitutes value creation has been a cornerstone for the group and is the foundation of our work on sustainability. Over time, the connection between our vision and sustainability has become clearer, leading to a more systematic and targeted approach.

Our focus on sustainability has a dual motivation.

Financial:
Social and environmental challenges present both financial risks and opportunities for us as investors and active owners.

Impact:
We aim to create enduring value for a broad range of stakeholders, leaving positive footprints on society and the environment.

Furthermore, our ability to work holistically with sustainability is a competitive parameter that is important for attracting the right employees, partners and investment opportunities. All these factors are necessary to achieve our vision.

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Our sustainability journey

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Establishment of Ferd and our vision

Ferd is established with the vision of creating enduring values and leaving clear footprints.

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First social entrepreneur

John H. Andresen finds and supports his first social entrepreneur.

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AblerNordic

AblerNordic (formerly NMI) is established to strengthen financial inclusion in developing countries, with Ferd as the initiator.

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Ferd Social Entrepreneurs

Ferd Social Entrepreneurs is established to develop innovative solutions to social problems.

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BREEAM certification

Ferd Real Estate develops the first office building in Norway to receive BREEAM certification (“Very Good” rating). The building is Hagaløkkveien 28 in Asker, where Aibel is the tenant.

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The Council on Ethics

John H. Andresen becomes Chair of the Council on Ethics for the Government Pension Fund Global.

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First offshore platform

Aibel delivers DolWin beta, its first offshore power conversion platform for wind power, which is installed in the German sector. This is the first physical delivery Aibel makes in wind power, marking an important milestone in the company’s transition to renewable energy. Ferd has owned the company since 2007.

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Compliance programme

Ferd introduces a compliance programme across the business areas and portfolio companies, with heightened requirements around the companies’ internal guidelines, procedures and ethical standards.

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Group-wide sustainability project

We initiate a project to strengthen the way Ferd works with sustainability. The focus is on opportunities and risks relating to sustainability, as well as helping individual business areas and the portfolio companies find an approach adapted to their business.

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Science Based Targets

Elopak decides to use the Science Based Targets initiative’s (SBTi) framework to reduce the business’ greenhouse gas emissions in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement. In 2022, Elopak becomes one of the world’s first companies to have its updated targets approved in line with SBTi’s new net-zero standard.

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Ferd Impact Investing

Ferd Impact Investing is established to invest in companies and funds that tackle climate and environmental challenges.

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“The green transition”

Ferd External Managers expands its thematic focus to include a dedicated portfolio for fund investments that contribute to, and are positioned to benefit from, the transition to a greener society.

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The Ferd factor

Immediately after the pandemic breaks out, Ferd employees are given the opportunity to provide financial support to sports teams and organisations particularly close to their heart.

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End of production and sale of fluorinated ski wax

Swix ceases all production and commercial sales of fluorinated ski wax. It also actively promotes a ban on fluorinated ski wax in elite international cross-country skiing.

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The Oslo Initiative

The Oslo Initiative is established to work with school dropout, living conditions challenges and exclusion.

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Sustainability strategy project at Ferd Capital

Ferd Capital carries out its first materiality analysis for the entire business area, selecting focus areas across the portfolio and setting new requirements for sustainability reporting and strategy initiatives for its privately owned portfolio companies.

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Ferd's Sustainability Network established

Ferd's Sustainability Network is a forum for sharing knowledge and best practices across portfolio companies.

Our portfolio approach

We use three main approaches to influence and develop our portfolio in a sustainable direction:

Velg områder:

Active ownership

We promote sustainable value creation in our
portfolio companies and properties.

We take the initiative for new solutions
for sustainable development.

We prioritise investments that make
positive contributions to sustainability.

We use these approaches in different ways across our business areas. Overall, active ownership is a fundamental element of our strategy and part of our DNA. We believe that our greatest contribution to sustainable development occurs when we, as active owners, drive sustainable value creation and when we pioneer the development and financing of new solutions for social and environmental challenges.

Our five business areas have diverse mandates, each balancing differing objectives in relation to financial risk/return and societal and environmental impacts. In terms of impact, our largest business areas (Ferd Capital, Ferd External Managers and Ferd Real Estate) are mandated to avoid negative impacts and strive to create positive impacts. The other two business areas (Ferd Impact Investing and Ferd Social Entrepreneurs) are assigned impact mandates with a clear aim of delivering a positive impact on people and the environment.

While each business area balances different sustainability objectives, some fundamental expectations apply across all our business areas. These include the integration of sustainability considerations into the investment process, the management of sustainability risks and opportunities, and measurement, reporting, and transparency.