Established Icelandic asset management company whose role is to manage clients’ assets with their best interests as the guiding principle.
Stefnir operates numerous UCITS and alternative investment funds marketed towards the public. The management of funds is governed by Act No. 116/2021, which implements European Union directives on undertakings for collective investment in transferable securities (UCITS).
Stefnir also offers a range of institutional investment funds which are not available to the general public.
UCITS and alternative investment funds marketed towards the public are licensed forms of fund for collective investments. Management companies are required to establish rules for funds which must be confirmed by the Financial Supervisory Authority (FME) before the funds can commence operations. Supervision of these funds is comprehensive and highly active, both in terms of the management company’s own supervisory procedures and official supervision by the FME.
All UCITS and alternative investment funds marketed towards the public are run as investment departments within the management company and are therefore not independent legal entities. Stefnir hf. represents the funds and manages their interests with the authorization of unit holders.
All trading with financial instruments, including unit shares in the fund, represents a risk. Returns on the fund’s unit shares can fluctuate significantly. The value of unit shares can decrease and investors may lose part or all of their investment.
Stefnir hf. has divided its funds into seven different categories depending on the standard deviation in weekly returns over the past 5 years. Category 1 is the least volatile, while category 7 is the most volatile. A fund can be moved into a different category if the volatility of the underlying financial instruments changes. The categorization is based on guidelines issued by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA, formerly CESR) on the calculation of the categories.
The and reward scale chart is solely based on the historical volatility of returns. Past returns are not a reliable indicator of future returns and do not take into account the various risks which UCITS and investment funds may have to deal with in their operations. The categorization of funds may therefore change without notice.
The risk and reward scale chart does not represent a general description of the risk inherent in investing in units in the funds. Instead it is a statistical, material description of one of the many risk factors which may be involved in investing in such financial instruments. Further information on the main risk factors can be found in the prospectus of each fund. Please note that historical volatility in the returns of a fund does not reflect future volatility in returns. Also note that funds in category 1 do not represent a risk-free investment and there is no guarantee that your original investment will generate a return or that you will get it back intact.
Risk class | Fund |
1 | Stefnir - Liquidity Fund |
2 | Stefnir - Fixed income opportunities fund |
3 | Stefnir - Green Selection |
4 | Stefnir - Dividend Fund |
5 | |
6 | |
7 |
The information above was correct on 31 March 2025.
Stefnir hf. has divided its funds into seven different categories depending on the standard deviation in weekly returns over the past 5 years. Category 1 is the least volatile, while category 7 is the most volatile. A fund can be moved into a different category if the volatility of the underlying financial instruments changes. The categorization is based on guidelines issued by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA, formerly CESR) on the calculation of the categories. For further information see SRRI.
Many factors can cause a decrease in the price of financial instruments in which the fund has invested, including the price of unit shares in the fund. These factors include unforeseen events and the general economic conditions. New or amended legislation can also affect the price of unit shares, e.g. changes to tax laws or on resource fees in the fisheries. There is also liquidity risk, i.e. the risk of not being able to sell the securities when wanted. This risk can materialize in two ways, either by the market not being able to cope with the volume intended for sale due to a lack of buyers, or a significant bid/offer spread may form which means the desired results are not achieved when the securities are sold. In general the more diversified the share portfolio, the smaller the risk involved.
Some funds are authorized to invest in derivatives in accordance with the conditions specified in Act No. 116/2021, particularly sub-paragraphs 5 and 6 of Article 64 and Article 66 of the Act. Trading with derivatives might reduce the risk associated with the fund, e.g. re-investment and interest rate risk.
The fund’s derivatives can be in the form of forward contracts. In the case of forward contracts, the fund undertakes to trade in financial instruments at a pre-determined price and time in the future. Future transactions of this nature create an obligation in the fund. The value of the forward contract fluctuates alongside changes in the price of underlying assets, thus affecting the intrinsic value of the fund.
Different laws and regulations apply to UCITS from those which apply to alternative investment funds marketed towards the public, e.g. with respect to investment authorizations and duty to effect redemption. The investment authorizations of UCITS are more restricted. Alternative investment funds marketed towards the public are considered to be higher risk investments than UCITS. The greater risk associated with alternative investment funds marketed towards the public is a result of its broader investment authorizations which could result in less risk distribution than in a UCITS. Please note that investing in unit shares of UCITS and alternative investment funds marketed towards the public generally involves a certain amount of risk. Investments can fall in value or lose all of their value. Past returns on alternative investment funds marketed towards the public are no indication of future returns.
Further information on the above can be obtained in the funds’ prospectus or key information sheet. It is important that investors read these documents before making an investment decision.
Please note that that funds in UCITS are not protected by the Icelandic Financial Institutions Guarantee Fund pursuant to Act No. 89/1999. Further information on the fund can be found on the website www.tvf.is.