Fact Check: Norway's KLP Pension Fund Divests from Oshkosh Corporation
What We Know
Norway's largest pension fund, KLP, has officially divested from two companies, Oshkosh Corporation and ThyssenKrupp, due to their involvement in supplying equipment to the Israeli military, which is reportedly being used in Gaza. KLP's decision was influenced by a report from the United Nations that identified companies providing military equipment to Israel, which KLP concluded was being used in ways that contravene their responsible investment guidelines (Al Jazeera, Bloomberg). KLP had approximately $1.8 million invested in Oshkosh and about $1 million in ThyssenKrupp prior to the divestment (Business & Human Rights, Times of Israel).
Kiran Aziz, head of responsible investments at KLP, stated that both companies failed to demonstrate adequate due diligence regarding their potential complicity in violations of humanitarian law (Al Jazeera). This decision is part of a broader trend among investment funds in Europe distancing themselves from companies linked to military operations in Gaza and illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank (Bloomberg, IPE).
Analysis
The claim that KLP has divested from Oshkosh Corporation due to its sales of military equipment to the Israeli army is substantiated by multiple credible sources. The reports consistently highlight that KLP's decision was based on findings from a UN report indicating that the equipment supplied by these companies was being used in Gaza, which raises concerns about compliance with international humanitarian law (Al Jazeera, Business & Human Rights).
KLP's investment guidelines explicitly prevent investments in companies involved in the sale of weapons to states engaged in armed conflicts that may violate international law (Bloomberg). The reliability of the sources reporting this divestment is high, as they include reputable news organizations and official statements from KLP itself. However, it is important to note that the context surrounding these divestments is politically charged, which may influence the framing of the narrative in some reports (Times of Israel, Quds News Network).
Conclusion
The claim that Norway's largest pension fund, KLP, has divested from Oshkosh Corporation due to its sale of military equipment to the Israeli army in Gaza is True. The evidence from multiple credible sources confirms that KLP made this decision based on concerns regarding the companies' compliance with international humanitarian law and their potential complicity in human rights violations.
Sources
- Norwegian pension fund divests from companies selling to ...
- Norwegian pension fund drops US, German defense firms ...
- KLP divests from Oshkosh & ThyssenKrupp over alleged ties to ...
- Norway Pension Fund Blacklists Firms Supplying Israeli Army
- KLP divests US, German firms for supplying IDF in Gaza | ...
- Norway’s Largest Pension Fund Divests from Companies Selling ...
- KLP excludes two weapons manufacturers
- Norway pension fund blacklists firms supplying Israeli military