Man Group Plc, the UK-based hedge fund giant, is capitalising on rising client interest in sustainable investing after securing a $13.2bn mandate from Dutch pension fund PFZW in September, according to a report by Bloomberg citing unnamed sources.

The mandate, part of PFZW’s broader €54bn ($62bn) reshuffle of external equity managers, was awarded with sustainability as a key criterion.

Jason Mitchell, Man Group’s head of responsible investment research, said the win signals a turning point for the firm’s ESG-focused strategies, which had historically underperformed in adoption due to their complexity.

The move comes as sustainable investing rebounds after challenging years, with clean-tech stocks particularly strong. Man Group, which manages over $200bn in assets, reports that responsible investment-integrated assets already account for more than $60bn. Portfolio manager Albert Chu noted that the current green rally, supported by AI-driven data centre demand, is “fundamentally driven,” but emphasised selective stock-picking remains essential.

Industry experts say the European market is benefiting from regulatory frameworks and long-term investor mandates that prioritise ESG outcomes. Rob Genieser of ETF Partners indicated Man Group is planning a fifth environmental technology fund in 2026, while Eurazeo’s Sophie Flak highlighted clients’ need for investment horizons that exceed political cycles.

Mitchell added that firms that maintained ESG expertise are now seeing rewards as investors increasingly focus on sustainability-aligned returns.