Interview with Hussein Hasan, International Distribution at Storebrand AM / Skagen Funds — Paris Wealth Day 2025
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At Paris Wealth Day 2025, Hubfinance had the opportunity to speak with Hussein Hasan, who represents International Distribution for Storebrand Asset Management and Skagen Funds. Both companies, based in the heart of the Norwegian fjords, embody dual financial expertise: value equity management and a long-standing leadership in ESG.
Hussein Hasan first introduced Skagen Funds, a value equity fund boutique with a history spanning approximately 30 years, known for funds such as Skagen Kon-Tiki, which enjoy a strong reputation in the French market. The company was acquired a few years ago by Storebrand Asset Management.
A long-standing ESG commitment
Storebrand AM is a multi-boutique firm that has brought together several sector experts, including Skagen Funds. However, its distinctive expertise lies in being a pioneer and expert in ESG in Norway and the Nordic countries. This expertise is nothing new: Storebrand’s first ESG team was established in 1995, giving the firm over 30 years of experience in this constantly evolving field.
This longevity has enabled the firm to test, refine, and effectively integrate ESG strategies. The goal is not merely to be committed, but to transform these commitments into genuine drivers of performance, without the exclusion of “non-ESG” stocks costing in terms of pure returns.
To achieve this, Storebrand has developed sophisticated tools, notably the “Bara One” optimization method.
This method is integrated into one of their funds, the Global Index, an Article 8 index fund. The Bara One method is designed to reintegrate securities with performance characteristics similar to those that would have been excluded for ESG reasons (such as tobacco or polluting energy sources). These securities are then diluted within a broad portfolio to neutralize the hedging effect, thereby offering an ESG portfolio without compromising on performance.
Furthermore, in line with long-standing Scandinavian demand, management fees are extremely competitive. Funds such as the Global Index are offered at a very attractive rate, starting at 9 basis points (from the first million euros).
This approach demonstrates that responsible investing, combined with advanced financial engineering and cost pressure, can be both ethical and high-performing, opening up, according to Hussein Hasan, solid future prospects for these funds in the French market.
About Storebrand Asset Management and Skagen Funds
Storebrand Asset Management is a Norwegian multi-boutique recognized as a leader in responsible investing (ESG) in the Nordic countries, with ESG expertise dating back to 1995. It is the leading ESG asset manager in Norway. Skagen Funds, a subsidiary of Storebrand AM, is a Norwegian boutique specializing in the management of value-oriented equity funds, renowned for its counter-cyclical investment approach.
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