Nest has appointed BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group to invest in timberland on its behalf.

As part of the agreement, Nest has initially committed £550m to BTG Pactual TIG, one of the world’s largest timberland managers, to implement a strategy that provides exposure to sustainably managed timberland across key geographies in the Americas. Nest argued that timberland is already a well-established asset class for institutional investors, helping to promote sustainable forestry practices and providing critical ecosystem services. This appointment is the second timberland mandate awarded by Nest after a procurement process initiated in 2023. Commenting on the appointment, Nest head of infrastructure and natural capital, Stephen O’Neill, said: “Nest and BTG Pactual TIG share the belief that investing in a sustainable manner can achieve strong risk-adjusted returns...With two timberland fund managers now in place, this will help further diversify Nest’s portfolio, supporting our broader goal of delivering strong, risk-adjusted returns to our 13 million members.”

People's Partnership and Good Things Foundation have joined forces on a new platform to tackle digital and financial exclusion.

The collaboration is intended to help low-income and digitally excluded adults build the skills and confidence they need to manage their money online, with People's Partnership supporting Good Things Foundation’s free online learning platform, Learn My Way, by co-developing a new module. The collaboration also includes a digital journey audit and a series of webinars delivered through the National Digital Inclusion Network. People's Partnership highlighted the news as a "significant step" as it looks to bring its financial expertise into the social sector to reach those often excluded from both digital access and financial planning. “This partnership is about breaking down the barriers that stop people from confidently engaging with their financial future,” Good Things Foundation group chief executive, Helen Milner, said. “By combining our skills in digital inclusion with People’s Partnership’s pensions expertise, we’re empowering low-income and vulnerable adults – many of whom are digitally excluded – to take control of their financial future.”

Railpen has awarded a securitised credit mandate to Neuberger Berman.

The appointment is expected to build on an existing strategic partnership between the two firms and will provide Railpen with additional exposure to liquid securitised credit. The mandate, structured as a Qualifying Investor Alternative Investment Fund (QIAIF) within the Neuberger Berman Investment Funds II plc umbrella, primarily invests in securitised debt securities – including collateralised loan obligations (CLOs), asset-backed securities (ABS) commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) and mortgage-backed securities (RMBS). The portfolio will be co-managed by senior portfolio manager for multisector fixed income, Joe Lynch, senior portfolio manager for structured credit, Pim van Schie, and portfolio manager for securitised products, Jose Pluto.

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