Sustainability is an important part of our work as a long-term owner

For Karnell, a long-term and responsible strategy is an important part of the investment process and is an integral part of the business plan in the portfolio companies. This means that we actively work with sustainability in all from evaluation of potential investments to the development of the business.

We continuously evaluate acquisition opportunities where sustainability plays a central role from the start of the process. To successfully achieve our strategy of investing in companies that either conduct a sustainable business or possess an inherent potential to do so in the near future, potential acquisition opportunities are evaluated not only based on our investment criteria but also our restrictions. The restrictions include, among other things, that we ignore acquisition opportunities that risk violating international conventions and guidelines, such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. In addition to this, an assessment is also made of both sector-specific and general risks and opportunities with sustainability in mind. Furthermore, we have chosen not to pursue opportunities with sales stemming from weapons, gambling, tobacco, alcohol and other drugs, fossil fuels, as well as activities with illegal economic activities or questionable moral activities.

We continuously strive to develop our companies from a sustainability perspective and in 2021 we specified our expectations for each company’s integration of sustainability. We also developed an ESG policy for the portfolio companies, including mandatory guidelines that each company must follow. Our policies and guidelines aim to clarify our approach and guidelines in sustainability that will affect all our employees in both the parent company and in the subsidiaries.