Quebec-based pension fund Bâtirente reached $764.3 million in assets under management as of Dec. 31, 2019, an increase of 15.6 per cent on the previous year, according to its latest annual report.
The fund also boasted 22,861 plan members in 2019 — a growth of 4.9 per cent over 2018 — from 318 organizations across the province.
“2020 is a year where our resilience, our solidarity and our distinctive model are put to the test,” said Daniel Simard, the pension fund’s chief executive officer, in a press release. “By taking stock of 2019, we see that this year was remarkable and allows us to face the many challenges brought by 2020 on extremely solid foundations.”
Read: How Bâtirente takes ESG reporting to the next level
As an early signatory to the United Nations’ principles for responsible investment, Bâtirente is continuing its commitment to responsible investment around four axes: investing — 13 per cent of its assets are in impact investments; engaging — the year saw positive conversations with Enbridge Inc. and Suncor Energy Corp. on their commitment to the climate and an energy transition; measuring — its carbon footprint is 12 per cent below the market; and collaborating — its participation in the PRI.
In 2019, Bâtirente was one of 47 global asset holders — and the only Canadian — to be appointed to the PRI leaders’ group. The group brings together PRI signatories that demonstrate their excellence in responsible investment in general and, in particular, in the selection, appointment and monitoring of external managers.
“The value of our impact investments is increasing and reaches almost 13 per cent of our total assets,” said Pierre Patry, the organization’s president. “And 100 per cent of our assets are entrusted to PRI signatory companies that integrate [environmental, social and governance] criteria into their management process.”
Read: Bâtirente raises assets in energy transition with $15M investment in green bond fund