The world’s 500 largest asset managers’ assets under management increased by 12.5 per cent to US$128 trillion in 2023, compared to $113.7 trillion at the end of 2022, according to a new report by WTW’s Thinking Ahead Institute. It noted the annual growth rate represents a significant recovery from the major correction seen in 2022, […]
It’s important for institutional investors to view risk mitigation as a way to improve the risk-return proposition and not as a way to express a bearish view on markets, said Rémi Tétreault, associate vice-president at Trans-Canada Capital Inc., during the Canadian Investment Review‘s 2024 Global Investment Conference in April. “It’s about performing well in a […]
The Mastercard Foundation is launching an asset management company to build and manage a diversified portfolio to help fund its philanthropic mission. The Mastercard Foundation Asset Management Corp. will be overseen by John Barker, who will serve as its chief investment officer. He previously served as CIO at Mass General Brigham and as managing director […]
A new study looking at the implications of scale in defined benefit pension plans found size is key for several trends over time, including investment mandates, asset allocation and cost in returns. The research, ‘Scale Economies, Bargaining Power and Investment Performance: Evidence from Pension Plans‘ was recently awarded first prize in the International Centre for […]
More than four-fifths (84 per cent) of asset managers expect their firms will grow over the next 18 months, according to a new survey by Northern Trust Corp. in partnership with Coalition Greenwich. The survey, which polled based 150 asset managers in the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and North America, found European respondents were most optimistic […]
“If it’s in private equity or an alternative asset allocation, it’s a long-term investment strategy,” said Simon Oak, principal at Lexington Partners, during the Canadian Investment Review’s 2023 Global Investment Conference. “Typically, it’s a five-year investment period followed by five years of harvest. Only then can investors measure their returns.” This causes a problem for […]
Institutional investors are entering a golden period ripe with opportunities in current global and emerging markets, said Karl Dasher, president of Polen Capital, during the Canadian Investment Review‘s 2023 Global Investment Conference. From early 2020 to the end of 2021, the market was flooded with liquidity from the unprecedented combination of fiscal stimulus, U.S. Federal Reserve […]
When investing in external asset managers, pension funds are really investing in teams of people, according to Brandon Gill New, director and head of multi-strategy investing and digital assets at the OPSEU Pension Trust, speaking during the Canadian Investment Review‘s 2023 Global Investment Conference. “It’s not like buying a stock or a bond,” she said, […]
Franklin Templeton is entering into a definitive agreement to acquire Putnam Investments from Great-West Lifeco Inc. for about US$925 million. As part of the agreement, Great-West will become a long-term strategic shareholder in Franklin Resources Inc. — Franklin Templeton’s parent company — with a 6.2 per cent stake. In addition, Great-West will will provide an initial long-term […]
Large and small, pension plan sponsors are adopting in-house tools, partnering with technology research institutes or relying on investment managers for technological support with asset allocation, risk management and other aspects of investment management. The growing interest coincides with an increasingly complex investment, demographic and regulatory landscape. A 2020 Deloitte report on the importance of […]