Global investment body Ircantec designates a manager for an €800 million global equity assignment
Ircantec Announces New Sustainable Investment Strategy
Ircantec, a French pension scheme for non-permanent government employees, has revealed a detailed investment strategy aimed at achieving a 7% annual reduction in CO2 emissions. The strategy, which also includes a pledge to invest 15% of its assets in the transition and divest from fossil fuel assets by 2030, is a multi-faceted approach focused on sustainable and responsible investments.
The strategy involves several key elements. In early 2025, Ircantec allocated €250 million to a sustainable fund managed by Nomura, classified under Article 9 of the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosures Regulation. This fund, which is set to be scaled to reach €1.8bn, is structured within a French-domiciled fund hosted by ODDO BHF AM.
Ircantec has also invested €800 million in a customized active global equity mandate based on Nordea Asset Management’s (NAM) BetaPlus Responsible Enhanced Equities Strategies. This strategy emphasizes environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria, including carbon footprint considerations.
The focus on decarbonisation is further highlighted by the commitment to divest from fossil fuels and invest in the transition. While specific instruments and sectors targeted are not detailed in available data, this likely involves increased exposure to renewable energy, green technologies, and other transition-aligned sectors consistent with EU sustainable investment regulations.
The 7% annual CO2 reduction goal is presumably embedded in Ircantec’s portfolio construction and active management via integration of carbon metrics, exclusion policies, and favoring companies and funds demonstrating measurable emissions reductions or low carbon footprints.
Broader market trends and Ircantec’s asset manager partnerships suggest a focus on private equity segments such as venture capital and growth capital, which can support innovative low-carbon technologies and sustainable business models, contributing to transition objectives.
NAM’s Responsible Investments Team will also play a key role in evaluating companies based on their sustainability contributions. The strategies incorporate proprietary decarbonisation tools to track progress towards net zero.
Ircantec’s new mandate was launched in January 2025 and will be managed by NAM’s Multi Assets Team, which has over 15 years of experience with BetaPlus strategies and €60bn in assets under management. This team will oversee a customised active global equity strategy in partnership with ODDO BHF Asset Management.
With this new strategy, Ircantec aims to align its investments with the EU sustainable finance frameworks, contributing to a more sustainable future for its beneficiaries and the planet.
[1] Source: Ircantec press release, January 2025.
- Ircantec's strategic investment plans delve into environmental-science as it takes steps to invest €250 million in a sustainable fund that prioritizes carbon footprint considerations, conforming to Article 9 of the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosures Regulation.
- As a responsible business entity, Ircantec's strategic initiatives include allocating funds for investing in climate-change solutions, with a focus on transition-aligned sectors such as renewable energy and green technologies.
- Within their new investment strategy, Ircantec's decision to work with asset managers like Nomura and Nordea Asset Management underscores an emphasis on sustainability, science, and climate-change concerns, with a focus on finance and investing to create a sustainable future for both their beneficiaries and the planet.
