Global investment body Ircantec designates a new manager to handle a €800 million international stock portfolio
In a significant move towards sustainable investing, French pension plan Ircantec has appointed Nordea Asset Management (NAM) to manage an €800m global equity mandate. The new mandate, launched in January 2025, is focused on decarbonisation and is part of Ircantec's commitment to transition its investments towards sustainability.
The mandate will be managed by NAM's Multi Assets Team, which has over 15 years of experience with BetaPlus strategies and manages €60bn in assets. This partnership also sees the involvement of NAM's Responsible Investments Team, which will evaluate companies based on their sustainability contributions. These strategies incorporate proprietary decarbonisation tools to track progress towards net zero.
In addition to the partnership with NAM, Ircantec has also invested €250m in a sustainable fund from Nomura, classified as 'Article 9' under the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). This investment further emphasises Ircantec's commitment to sustainability.
Ircantec's commitment to sustainability extends beyond these investments. The pension plan has pledged to invest 15% of its assets in the transition and divest from fossil fuel assets by 2030. While the specifics of this divestment have not been made explicit, it aligns with broader regulatory and investor trends in France and Europe to divest from fossil fuels by 2030.
The mandate is structured within a French-domiciled fund hosted by ODDO BHF AM. This partnership marks a significant step for Ircantec in its journey towards sustainable investing, and it is expected that more such partnerships will be announced in the future.
[1] Source: Ircantec press release, 2025 [2] Source: French Ministry of Finance, Greenfin label guidelines [3] Source: European Commission, SFDR classification guidelines [4] Source: Nordea Asset Management, BetaPlus Responsible Enhanced Equities Strategies overview
- Ircantec's investment in a global equity mandate with Nordea Asset Management focuses on decarbonisation, aligning with the growing trend in environmental-science and climate-change mitigation efforts.
- With its investment in a sustainable fund from Nomura and a pledge to invest 15% of its assets in transition sectors while divesting from fossil fuels, Ircantec demonstrates its commitment to sustainability in both the business and finance sectors.
- As Ircantec continues to partner with asset managers like Nordea and invest in sustainable funds, it illustrates a shift in the finance industry towards investing in businesses that contribute positively to the environment.
