During 2014, total return on equity amounted to 15.8 per cent. At the same time the market value of the Foundation’s equity increased by more than SEK 400 m, amounting to SEK 3,842 m at the end of 2014.
At their meeting earlier today, the Trustees of the Nobel Foundation approved the Foundation’s 2014 financial statements.
“These good earnings primarily reflect the general trend in financial markets. But during 2014, as in 2013, the Nobel Foundation also surpassed the asset managers we compare ourselves to,” says Lars Heikensten, Executive Director of the Nobel Foundation.
At the end of 2014, the market value of the Nobel Foundation’s portfolio capital – invested capital excluding administrative properties – amounted to SEK 3,684 m. Return on portfolio capital was 16.5 per cent, compared to 11.8 per cent for the Foundation’s benchmark indices. Year-end portfolio capital was allocated among 55 per cent equities, 12 per cent fixed income assets and 33 per cent alternative assets. Alternative assets, in turn, were apportioned among property and hedge funds.
“Most of the world’s stock markets rose during 2014. The value of the Nobel Foundation’s total equities portfolio rose by 26.6 per cent. This was better than its benchmark indices, which rose by 17.4 per cent. These better earnings were primarily due to the Foundation’s comparatively large percentage of American equities and larger currency exposure,” says Lars Heikensten.
The 2015 Nobel Prizes were set at SEK 8 m per prize by the Board of Directors of the Nobel Foundation – the same amount as last year.
At today’s meeting, the Trustees also appointed the Board of Directors of the Nobel Foundation. New Board members are Urban Lendahl, who succeeds Staffan Normark, and Sara Danius, who succeeds Peter Englund. Gunnar von Heijne succeeds Astrid Gräslund as deputy member of the Board. The new members and deputy member will assume their positions during the coming year.
The Board of Directors of the Nobel Foundation
Professor Carl-Henrik Heldin, Chairman
Professor Göran K. Hansson, Vice Chairman
Professor Staffan Normark, Secretary General of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Re-appointed until June 30, 2015, then stepping down at his own request. Professor Urban Lendahl, Secretary of the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet and of the Nobel Committee for Physiology or Medicine, is appointed as a new member as of July 1.
Professor Peter Englund, Permanent Secretary of the Swedish Academy
Re-appointed until November 30, 2015, then stepping down at his own request. Professor Sara Danius is appointed as a new member as of December 1.
Mr Tomas Nicolin, MSc
Kaci Kullmann Five, Deputy Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee
Dr Lars Heikensten, Executive Director of the Nobel Foundation
Deputy members
Professor Astrid Gräslund
Stepping down at her own request as of April 30, 2015. Professor Gunnar von Heijne, Secretary of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry is appointed as a new deputy member as of May 1.
Professor Lars Bergström, Secretary of the Nobel Committee for Physics
The Trustees of the Nobel Foundation
The Nobel Foundation’s Annual Report for 2014 and an Annual Review