Stockholm (NordSIP) – AP Pension, Lærernes Pension, and Sampension have collectively committed over €150 million (approximately DKK 1.1 billion) to the American fund Ecosystem Investment Partners V (EIP). Their respective contributions are approximately $60 million (€55.5m), $50 million (€46.3m), and $52 million (€48m), totalling nearly a quarter of the fund’s expected size of around $650 million (€600m). 
EIP focuses on environmental restoration in the U.S., particularly wetlands, streams, and habitats for endangered species. This investment aligns with U.S. environmental legislation from the 1970s, which mandates mitigation of environmental impacts from new infrastructure, industrial, or property developments. 
“At AP Pension, we view this investment as an exciting opportunity to generate good returns for our customers while actively contributing to the restoration of nature and increased biodiversity. We are very keen to make more of these types of investments—and preferably in Europe or Denmark—so it is our hope that frameworks can be established here as well, making nature and biodiversity an investment case,” remarked Helle Ærendahl Heldbo, Head of Alternative Investments at AP Pension, in Danish. 
The U.S. has developed a market for environmental credits, known as mitigation banking, due to its environmental laws. EIP undertakes projects that restore wetlands previously drained for agriculture or livestock and works to return streams to their natural courses, improving water quality and supporting biodiversity. In 2019, the U.S. environmental restoration industry had a turnover exceeding $3.5 billion, supporting about 53,000 jobs and generating nearly $10 billion when including related sectors, making it the world’s largest market for environmental credits. 
This investment represents AP Pension’s first involvement with EIP’s funds, while Lærernes Pension and Sampension have prior experience investing with EIP, a leader in this niche market. 
