French government pension fund allocates $1.8 billion toward sustainable equity investments
The French public sector pension fund, Ircantec, has committed just under 20% of its portfolio to investments in the energy transition. As part of this commitment, Ircantec has signed a $1.8bn sustainable equity mandate, managed by Caisse des Dépôts.
The mandate, launched in December 2024, is a customised version of Nomura's existing Global Sustainable Equity Fund. Alex Rowe, Nomura's lead portfolio manager, emphasized that customization of the mandate was key to winning the deal.
Caisse des Dépôts, also known as La Caisse, focuses heavily on sustainable investing and supporting climate action. Their general investment priorities include sustainable investing, alongside economic development and optimal long-term returns. They demonstrate commitments to investment strategies consistent with climate goals, such as the Paris Agreement, by targeting companies committed to decarbonizing their operations and investing in climate solutions.
The mandate is managed by Caisse des Dépôts, but it was not specified if this is a new arrangement or an extension of the existing one. The strategy of Nomura's Global Sustainable Equity Fund was tailored for the client to support individual goals and viewpoints.
The mandate is tasked with managing a tailored sustainable equity fund that will invest in companies with a high positive total stakeholder impact. It includes options for both an environmentally enhanced and a Sharia-compliant version, as was the case with the original Global Sustainable Equity Fund.
Ircantec, based in Angers, western France, has pledged to reduce its emissions by 7% per annum, encompassing Scope 3 emissions. The pension fund has committed to aligning its portfolio with the targets set out in the Paris Agreement.
While detailed breakdown information on the composition, focus areas, customizations, or explicit Paris Agreement alignment of the $1.8bn sustainable equity mandate with Nomura Asset Management was not found in the provided sources, it is clear that both Caisse des Dépôts and Nomura Asset Management are committed to sustainable investing and supporting climate action. For more specific information, it might be necessary to consult direct press releases from Caisse des Dépôts or Nomura Asset Management, official investment reports, or specialized financial disclosures not captured in the current search results.
- Caisse des Dépôts, known for sustainable investing and climate action, has managed a tailored version of Nomura's Global Sustainable Equity Fund as part of Ircantec's commitment to the energy transition and reducing emissions.
- Ircantec's sustainable equity mandate by Caisse des Dépôts focuses on investment strategies consistent with climate goals, such as the Paris Agreement, and supports decarbonization and climate solutions.
- The strategic partnership between Ircantec and Caisse des Dépôts in managing a sustainable equity fund showcases their shared interests in environmental-science and technology, as well as financial investment in climate-change mitigation.
