income is deposited. The fund changed name in January 2006 from its previous name
. The fund is commonly referred to as
). 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
3,077 billion ($525 bn), holding 1 per cent of global equity markets. With 1.78 per cent of European stocks, it is said to be the largest stock owner in Europe.
The purpose of the petroleum fund is to invest parts of the large surplus generated by the Norwegian
, generated mainly from taxes of companies, but also payment for license to explore as well as the
. 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
to counter the effects of the forthcoming decline in income and to smooth out the disrupting effects of highly fluctuating oil prices.
(NBIM), a part of the Norwegian Central Bank on behalf of the Ministry of Finance. It is currently the largest pension fund in
. 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. 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).
Since 1998 the fund has been allowed to invest up to 40 per cent of its portfolio in the international
. 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. A specific policy for the real estate investments was suggested in a report the Swiss
Due to the large size of the fund relative to the low number of people living in Norway (4.9 million people in 2010), the
Part of the investment policy debate is related to the discovery of several cases of investment by
. The Petroleum Fund’s Advisory Council on Ethics was established 19 November 2004 by royal
. 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. 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.
The following companies have been excluded from the Government Pension Fund of Norway due to activities in breach of the Ethical Guidelines
| Company |
HQ |
Date of exclusion |
Reason |
Divestment (USD) |
Africa Israel InvestmentsAfrica Israel Investments Ltd. - AFI GROUP - is an international holding and investment company based in Yehud, Israel.AFI Group consists of several private and public companies active in areas such as real estate, construction, infrastructure, manufacturing, tourism and leisure.The company’s...
|
|
24 August 2010 |
Violation of the Geneva Convention in occupied Palestinian territory by being involved in developing settlements |
1.2m |
| Alliance One International Inc. |
|
19 Jan 2010 |
Production of tobacco. |
0.9m |
| Alliant Techsystems Inc Alliant Techsystems Inc., most commonly known by its ticker symbol, ', is one of the largest aerospace and defense companies in the United States with more than 18,000 employees in 22 states, Puerto Rico and internationally, and 2010 revenues in excess of an estimated...
|
|
30 Jun 2005 |
Production of components for cluster munitions. |
N/A |
| Altria Group Inc. |
|
19 Jan 2010 |
Production of tobacco. |
131m |
Barrick Gold CorporationBarrick Gold Corporation is the largest pure gold mining company in the world, with its headquarters in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and four regional business units located in Australia, Africa, North America and South America...
|
|
30 Jan 2009 |
Extensive environmental degradation related to the Porgera Gold MineThe Porgera Gold Mine is a large gold and silver mining operation in Enga province, Papua New Guinea , located at the head of the Porgera Valley. The mine is situated in the rain forest covered highlands at an altitude of 2,200 to 2,700 m, in a region of high rainfall, landslides, and frequent... in Papua New GuineaPapua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands... |
245m |
| BAE Systems Plc. BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
|
|
11 Oct 2005 |
Production of nuclear missiles for the French Air Force through the company MBDAMBDA is a missile developer and manufacturer with operations in France, Britain, Germany, Italy, and the United States. It was formed by a merger of Aérospatiale-Matra Missiles , Finmeccanica and Matra BAe Dynamics in December 2001. In 2003 the company had 10,000 employees... . |
N/A |
Boeing CompanyThe Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
|
|
11 Oct 2005 |
Maintenance of ICBMs for the U.S. Air Force. |
N/A |
British American Tobacco BHDBritish American Tobacco p.l.c. is a global tobacco company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s second largest quoted tobacco company by global market share , with a leading position in more than 50 countries and a presence in more than 180 countries...
|
|
19 Jan 2010 |
Production of tobacco. |
9.4m |
British American Tobacco Plc.British American Tobacco p.l.c. is a global tobacco company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s second largest quoted tobacco company by global market share , with a leading position in more than 50 countries and a presence in more than 180 countries...
|
|
19 Jan 2010 |
Production of tobacco. |
683m |
| Danya Cebus |
|
24 August 2010 |
Violation of the Geneva Convention in occupied Palestinian territory by being involved in developing settlements |
N/A |
European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS N.V.The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company N.V. is a global pan-European aerospace and defence corporation and a leading defence and military contractor worldwide...
|
|
30 Jun 2005 |
Production of nuclear missiles for the French Air Force through the company MBDAMBDA is a missile developer and manufacturer with operations in France, Britain, Germany, Italy, and the United States. It was formed by a merger of Aérospatiale-Matra Missiles , Finmeccanica and Matra BAe Dynamics in December 2001. In 2003 the company had 10,000 employees... [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.] |
N/A |
Elbit SystemsElbit Systems Ltd. is one of the world's largest defense electronics manufacturers and integrators. Established in 1967, and based in Haifa, Israel, Elbit employs 11,000 people worldwide....
|
|
3 Sep 2009 |
Supply of surveillance systems for the Israeli West Bank barrierThe Israeli West Bank barrier is a separation barrier being constructed by the State of Israel along and within the West Bank. Upon completion, the barrier’s total length will be approximately... |
5.0m |
Finmeccanica Sp.A.Finmeccanica S.p.A. is an Italian conglomerate. Finmeccanica is the second largest industrial group and the largest of the hi-tech industrial groups based in Italy. It works in the fields of defence, aerospace, security, automation, transport and energy...
|
|
11 Oct 2005 |
Production of nuclear missiles for the French Air Force through the company MBDAMBDA is a missile developer and manufacturer with operations in France, Britain, Germany, Italy, and the United States. It was formed by a merger of Aérospatiale-Matra Missiles , Finmeccanica and Matra BAe Dynamics in December 2001. In 2003 the company had 10,000 employees... . |
N/A |
Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., often called simply Freeport, is the world's lowest-cost copper producer and one of the world's largest producers of gold...
|
|
28 Mar 2006 |
Serious environmental damage. |
17.2m |
GenCorp IncGenCorp is an American technology-based manufacturer based in Rancho Cordova, California. Established in 1915, GenCorp was formerly the General Tire and Rubber Company....
|
|
15 Nov 2007 |
Production of nuclear weapons. |
N/A |
General Dynamics CorporationGeneral Dynamics Corporation is a U.S. defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures, and as of 2008 it is the fifth largest defense contractor in the world. Its headquarters are in West Falls Church , unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, in the Falls Church area.The company has...
|
|
30 Jun 2005 |
Production of components for cluster munitions. |
N/A |
| Grupo Carso SAB de CV |
MexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
|
15 Feb 2011 |
Production of tobacco. |
N/A |
| Gudang Garam tbk pt |
|
19 Jan 2010 |
Production of tobacco. |
0 |
Hanwha CorporationHanwha Group is one of the largest business conglomerate in South Korea. Founded in 1952 as Korea Explosives Inc. , the group has grown into a large multi-profile business conglomerate, with diversified holdings stretching from explosives, their original business, to retail to financial...
|
|
15 May 2007 |
Production of cluster munitions. |
1.2m |
Honeywell International Inc.Honeywell International, Inc. is a major conglomerate company that produces a variety of consumer products, engineering services, and aerospace systems for a wide variety of customers, from private consumers to major corporations and governments....
|
|
11 Oct 2005 |
Simulations of nuclear explosions. |
N/A |
Imperial Tobacco Group PlcImperial Tobacco is a global tobacco company headquartered in Bristol, United Kingdom. It is the world’s fourth-largest cigarette company measured by market share , and the world's largest producer of cigars, fine-cut tobacco and tobacco papers...
|
|
19 Jan 2010 |
Production of tobacco. |
347m |
| ITC Ltd. |
|
19 Jan 2010 |
Production of tobacco. |
48m |
Japan Tobacco Inc., abbreviated JT, is a cigarette manufacturing company. It is part of the Nikkei 225 index. In 2009 the company was listed at number 312 on the Fortune 500 list. The company is headquartered in Toranomon, Minato, Tokyo. The international headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland.-History:The company...
|
|
19 Jan 2010 |
Production of tobacco. |
210m |
| KT&G Corp. KT&G is the leading tobacco company in South Korea with annual sales over $2 billion USD...
|
|
19 Jan 2010 |
Production of tobacco. |
16m |
L3 Communications Holdings IncL-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. is a company that supplies command and control, communications, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems and products, avionics, ocean products, training devices and services, instrumentation, space, and navigation products. Its customers include...
|
|
30 Jun 2005 |
Production of components for cluster munitions. |
N/A |
Lockheed Martin CorpLockheed Martin is an American global aerospace, defense, security, and advanced technology company with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta in March 1995. It is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, in the Washington Metropolitan Area....
|
|
30 Jun 2005 |
Production of components for cluster munitions. |
N/A |
| Lorillard Inc. Lorillard Tobacco Company is an American tobacco company marketing cigarettes under the brand names Newport, Maverick, Old Gold, Kent, True, Satin, and Max. Lorillard is a member of the National Black Chamber of Commerce.- History :...
|
|
19 Jan 2010 |
Production of tobacco. |
42m |
Northrop Grumman Corp.Northrop Grumman Corporation is an American global aerospace and defense technology company formed by the 1994 purchase of Grumman by Northrop. The company was the fourth-largest defense contractor in the world as of 2010, and the largest builder of naval vessels. Northrop Grumman employs over...
|
|
11 Oct 2005 |
Maintenance of ICBMs for the U.S. Air Force. |
N/A |
Philip Morris Int. Inc.Philip Morris International is an international tobacco company, with products sold in over 160 countries. In 2007, it held a 15.6% share of the international cigarette market outside of the USA and reported revenues net of excise taxes of $22.8 billion and operating income of $8.9 billion.Until...
|
|
19 Jan 2010 |
Production of tobacco. |
476m |
Philip Morris Cr ASPhilip Morris International is an international tobacco company, with products sold in over 160 countries. In 2007, it held a 15.6% share of the international cigarette market outside of the USA and reported revenues net of excise taxes of $22.8 billion and operating income of $8.9 billion.Until...
|
|
19 Jan 2010 |
Production of tobacco. |
2.7m |
| Poongsan Corporation |
|
30 Sep 2006 |
Production of cluster munition. |
1.2m |
Raytheon CompanyRaytheon Company is a major American defense contractor and industrial corporation with core manufacturing concentrations in weapons and military and commercial electronics. It was previously involved in corporate and special-mission aircraft until early 2007...
|
|
30 Jun 2005 |
Production of components for cluster munitions. |
N/A |
Reynolds American Inc.Reynolds American, Inc. is the second-largest tobacco company in the United States. Its holdings include R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, American Snuff Company , Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company and Niconovum AB...
|
|
19 Jan 2010 |
Production of tobacco. |
36m |
| Rio Tinto Group The Rio Tinto Group is a diversified, British-Australian, multinational mining and resources group with headquarters in London and Melbourne. The company was founded in 1873, when a multinational consortium of investors purchased a mine complex on the Rio Tinto river, in Huelva, Spain from the...
|
|
28 Apr 2008 |
Severe environmental damage |
882m |
| Samling Global Ltd. |
Malaysia |
23 Aug 2010 |
"Illegal logging and severe environmental damage" |
1.4m |
SAFRAN SASafran is a French conglomerate involved in defense, aerospace propulsion and equipment, and security. It is the result of a merger between the propulsion and aerospace equipment group SNECMA and the defense conglomerate SAGEM. Its headquarters are located in Paris.The name Safran, literally...
|
|
11 Oct 2005 |
Production of nuclear missiles for the French Navy. |
N/A |
Serco Group PlcSerco Group plc is a government services company based in Hook, North Hampshire in the United Kingdom. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.-History:...
|
|
15 Nov 2007 |
Maintenance of British nuclear weapons through the Atomic Weapons Establishment The Atomic Weapons Establishment is responsible for the design, manufacture and support of warheads for the United Kingdom's nuclear deterrent. AWE plc is responsible for the day-to-day operations of AWE... . |
N/A |
| Souza Cruz SA Souza Cruz is a Brazilian tobacco company, subsidiary of British American Tobacco. The company was founded in 1903 by the Portuguese immigrant Albino Souza Cruz....
|
|
19 Jan 2010 |
Production of tobacco. |
7.4m |
| Singapore Technologies Engineering |
|
22 Mar 2002 |
Production of anti-personnel landmines. |
N/A |
| Swedish Match AB Swedish Match is a Swedish company based in Stockholm that makes snus, tobacco, cigars , Red Man Chewing Tobacco, dipping tobacco, matches and lighters. It was founded as Svenska Tändsticksaktiebolaget by Ivar Kreuger in 1917 in Jönköping...
|
|
19 Jan 2010 |
Production of tobacco. |
75m |
Textron IncTextron is a conglomerate that includes Bell Helicopter, E-Z-GO, Cessna Aircraft Company, and Greenlee, among others. It was founded by Royal Little in 1923 as the Special Yarns Company, and is headquartered at the Textron Tower in Providence, Rhode Island, United States.With total revenues of...
|
|
30 Jan 2009 |
Production of components for cluster munitions. |
36m |
United Technologies Corp.United Technologies Corporation is an American multinational conglomerate headquartered in the United Technologies Building in Hartford, Connecticut...
|
|
11 Oct 2005 |
Production of engines for ICBMs in the U.S. Air Force. |
N/A |
| Universal Corp VA Universal Corporation is one of the world's leading tobacco merchants. Incorporated in 1918, Universal has headquarters in Richmond, Virginia, in the United States.-Current operations:...
|
|
19 Jan 2010 |
Production of tobacco. |
3m |
Vector Group Ltd.Vector Group Ltd. is a Miami, Florida-based, publicly traded holding company founded by its Chairman, Bennett S. LeBow. Howard Lorber serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Vector Group Ltd.. The company is headquartered in the Miami Tower in Downtown Miami.The company's holdings...
|
|
19 Jan 2010 |
Production of tobacco. |
2.1m |
| Vedanta Resources Plc Vedanta Resources plc is a global mining and metals company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the largest mining and non-ferrous metals company in India and also has mining operations in Australia and Zambia. Its main products are copper, zinc, aluminium, lead and iron ore...
|
|
28 Aug 2007 |
Environmental and human rights abuses. |
12m |
Wal-Mart Stores Inc.Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
|
|
28 Mar 2006 |
Breach of human rights and labour rights. |
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.
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.
, 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. It has been proposed that one more company,
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. This practice was suspended in January 2011, and on January 31 it was announced that this would also be the case in February.
). 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
. 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
. Due to this, the Government Pension Fund - Norway is a key stock owner in many large Norwegian companies.