Stockholm (HedgeNordic) – Storebrand Asset Management, Norway’s largest private asset manager, is planning to roll out new real estate and infrastructure funds in the first half of next year. “We have sustainable funds within the alternative space in the pipeline that we think will attract institutional investors,” Storebrand’s CEO, Jan Erik Saugestad (pictured), tells AMWatch.

“Alternative investments in general, including real estate and infrastructure, will continue to evolve in the market, allowing for a broader diversification of portfolios,” Saugestad tells AMWatch. “Clients increasingly demand that their assets are managed sustainably across all asset classes, so this is a space where we are aiming to maintain leadership.” Storebrand Asset Management is one of the largest asset managers in the Nordics with about €84 billion under management across actively- and passively-managed UCITS funds, as well as alternative strategies.

“Alternative investments in general, including real estate and infrastructure, will continue to evolve in the market, allowing for a broader diversification of portfolios.”

On Friday last week, Storebrand Asset Management announced that the membership request for its alternatives arm, Storebrand Alternative Investments S.A. SICAV-RAIF, has been approved by the Board of Directors of the Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry (ALFI). Storebrand Alternative Investments S.A. SICAV-RAIF was constituted in mid-November 2019 and will consist of three alternative strategies: private equity, Nordic real estate and infrastructure. The decision to accept Storebrand’s alternatives arm as a member was adopted at the ALFI board meeting on December 3.

“By adding alternatives to our ALFI membership we once again show our commitment to international clients with interest in sustainable investment strategies,” Saugestad said in a press release. “As of today, only forty percent of the global $14tn in alternatives industry AUM is managed by ESG-committed firms. A number we wish to contribute to increasing by providing cutting edge alternative solutions to the European market.”

“By joining ALFI and being part of the Luxembourg market, our sustainable strategies will not only have a pan-European reach but will also open up our offering to certain global markets with interests in sustainable funds and strategies.”

According to Saugestad, “the membership gives us the opportunity to represent our core sustainability values on a European stage as well as to share our experiences with colleagues and to participate in shaping the future of the industry.” The CEO of Storebrand goes on to say that “by joining ALFI and being part of the Luxembourg market, our sustainable strategies will not only have a pan-European reach but will also open up our offering to certain global markets with interests in sustainable funds and strategies.”

Picture © Lise Eide Risanger / Storebrand