Manulife IM Ranks Second in Natural Capital AUM, Eyes Timberland Expansion
Event summary
- Manulife Investment Management (Manulife IM) ranked second in natural capital AUM (€13.8B) in IPE Real Assets' Top 50 list.
- The firm is the largest global manager of equity investments in timberland.
- Manulife IM deployed 56% of its $480M Forest Climate Fund in U.S. and Australian timberland assets, targeting 3.6M+ carbon credits.
- The Manulife Permanent Cropland Plus Fund closed at $289M, focusing on U.S. permanent crop farmland and agribusiness investments.
The big picture
Manulife IM's recognition underscores the growing institutional appetite for natural capital investments, particularly timberland and agriculture, as climate-aligned portfolio components. The firm's vertically integrated platform and focus on sustainable stewardship position it to capitalize on regulatory tailwinds favoring carbon-intensive asset classes. With €13.8B in AUM, Manulife IM is among the largest players in this niche, competing with specialized managers like GMO Renewable Resources and Hancock Natural Resource Group.
What we're watching
- Carbon Credit Monetization
- How Manulife IM will leverage its timberland acquisitions to generate and monetize carbon credits.
- Agriculture Diversification
- Whether the Permanent Cropland Plus Fund's inclusion of row crops will enhance portfolio resilience.
- Natural Capital Demand
- The pace at which institutional investors allocate capital to timberland and agriculture amid ESG mandates.