Pension funds

Pensioenfonds Detailhandel said it will increase its impact portfolio from around €300m to as much as €1.5bn after a strong push from members. The fund said it is considering allocating the capital in areas such as affordable housing and clean energy.

Panellists debated the complex issue of maintaining fiduciary duty while including natural, social and human capital when building resilience in institutional impact portfolios at this year’s Impact Investor Conference in The Hague.

Pension fund board member Evalinde Eeelens spoke at the at last week’s Impact Investor Conference about how pension funds can navigate geopolitical uncertainty and fiduciary duty while staying aligned to impact.

The Social Impact Investment Advisory Group’s recommendations aim to strengthen the partnership between government and impact investors. 

The fund hopes to attract further commitments from local government pension funds, as the sector is encouraged to direct more investment into local communities.

A new investor-led partnership brings together 20 of the UK’s largest pension providers and insurers to collectively invest in regional economic development and support long-term, sustainable growth across communities.

The world’s largest pension fund, with €1.5trn in assets under management, is researching how best to implement its impact strategy, considering aspects such as impact measurement and monitoring.

Ecosystem Investment Partners, which invests in large-scale wetland, stream and habitat restoration projects across the US, has announced the final close of its fifth fund with commitments from both local and European investors.

With natural capital at a crossroads, institutional investors looking to gain exposure to land, agriculture and forestry should strike now or risk being left behind, a new report says.

The guidance highlights some of the barriers to scaling blended finance and provides strategic advice and practical insights to help policymakers and practitioners use it more effectively.