Norway wealth fund excludes Caterpillar and five Israeli banks

Norway’s $2 trillion wealth fund, the world’s largest, said on Monday it has divested from U.S. construction equipment group Caterpillar (CAT.N), opens new tab and from five Israeli banking groups on ethics grounds.

The five banks are Hapoalim (POLI.TA), opens new tab, Bank Leumi (LUMI.TA), opens new tab, Mizrahi Tefahot Bank , First International Bank of Israel (FIBI.TA), opens new tab and FIBI Holdings (FIBIH.TA), opens new tab, the fund said in a statement.

The six groups were excluded “due to an unacceptable risk that the companies contribute to serious violations of the rights of individuals in situations of war and conflict,” said the fund, which is operated by Norway’s central bank.

Source: Rueters