Much debate remains as to whether private equity is an appropriate option for members of capital accumulation plans. Canada’s neighbours to the south have been examining the potential legal pitfalls of these allocations. A recent information letter from the U.S. department of labor set forth a framework plan sponsors can use to consider the prudence […]
US equities have dominated their global peers over the past decade. As of 30 June, the S&P 500 had returned 14.5 per cent per annum since hitting bottom during the global financial crisis in March 2009 compared to only 7.6 per cent for the MSCI All-Country World ex-USA Index. The outperformance of US shares isn’t […]
In the second quarter of 2020, the funded positions of defined benefit plans recovered almost half of the losses incurred during the coronavirus crash of the first quarter, according to Mercer’s pension health index. The index, which represents the solvency ratio of a hypothetical DB pension plan, increased to 101 per cent at the end […]
The Principles for Responsible Investment has released a framework for investors to help focus on aligning their activities with the UN’s sustainable development goals. “Issues such as human rights abuses, climate change and inequitable social structures seriously threaten the longterm performance of economies, investors’ portfolios and the world in which beneficiaries live,” the report said. […]
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. is supporting its U.S. staff during the coronavirus pandemic with a series of programs they can tune into remotely, from fitness classes to story time for kids. The firm scheduled the programming over two weeks, with a plan to update it on a rolling basis. To help employees connect, Goldman is offering […]
The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec posted a 10.4 per cent return for 2019, well surpassing its 2018 annual return of 4.2 per cent. The jump represents $31.1 billion in gains for the fund, putting its net assets at $340.1 billion. “The portfolio delivered the returns we were expecting in a context where the market really took […]
As private equity becomes a more sizeable part of Canadian pension portfolios, the British Columbia Investment Management Corp.’s resources and staffing are growing with it. In April 2016, when Jim Pittman joined the BCI as its senior vice-president of private equity, his group comprised six or seven people. Three and a half years later, the […]
H2O Power, in which the Public Sector Pension Investment Board is a shareholder, is selling its Canadian hydroelectric generation assets to TCorp. Through the transaction, the investment and financial management partner of the New South Wales public sector will hold a 49 per cent interest in H2O Power’s eight Canadian assets. Read: PSP Investments sells […]
Download PDF(1.22 MB) In the late stages of the economic cycle, with public market volatility, trade uncertainty and persistently low interest rates, pension plan sponsors have their work cut out for them. How can Canadian pension plans position their fixed income portfolios for the future? For those that stayed close to home, is now the […]
The guiding document outlining best practices for fiduciaries practicing corporate engagement is in for a major update. As of January 2020, the U.K. Stewardship Code will include new expectations on how those investing on behalf of savers and pensioners integrate the activities of investment and stewardship, including on environmental, social and governance issues. The code, as […]