The asset management of Mistra should reflect the mission of the foundation, to contribute to the solution of environmental problems and to work for a sustainable development. This should be done with a reasonable balancing between the requirement of the statutes of high return and limited risk.In the industry there are a number of different variations of asset management for sustainable development. Mistra uses the expression SRI - Socially Responsible Investment - in a broad context. For Mistra, SRI includes three dimensions - financial, ecological and cultural/social aspects. The expression SRI, though, can be interpreted differently depending in who uses it and what background one has.
Mistra initially chose to work with negative screening critera based on UN resolutions and international agreements signed by the Swedish government, ILO, environmental and child conventions etc. Presently, the focus has changed to put the emphasis on a positive screening applying a “best in class" model. Mistra´s asset managers have different methodologies and degree of environmental and ethical information in their mandates. Mistra closely follows the work of the external managers in order to learn more about the processes and also influence the future asset management.
When Mistra was founded on January 1, 1994, the foundation started with a capital of SEK 2.5 billion. The funds came from the former wage earners' funds.
Starting capital January 1994: SEK 2.5 billion
Capital September 2009: SEK 2,9 billion
Accumulated payments to research September 2009: SEK 2.7 billion
As of April 2007, 100% of Mistra's portfolio is invested in accordance with environmental and ethical criteria.
