A third (34 per cent) of global institutional investors say they’ve already incorporated or plan to add digital assets to their investment portfolios in the near future, according to a new survey by Northern Trust. The survey, which polled more than 100 institutional investors, found two-thirds (66 per cent) said private assets will benefit the […]
The median solvency ratio of Canadian defined benefit pension plans increased to 122 per cent in the third quarter of 2024, up slightly from 121 per cent in the previous quarter, according to a new report by Mercer. The report, which tracked 450 DB pension plans, attributed this increase to declines in global interest rates, […]
The union representing more than 1,300 employees at General Motors’ assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ont. has ratified a two-year collective agreement that includes pension and benefits gains. On Aug. 3, 2025, employees hired on or after Sept. 17, 2013, and currently participating in the defined contribution pension plan will be enrolled in the Colleges of […]
A recent Quebec Superior Court decision has unleashed uncertainty over the liabilities of companies and their directors when a pension deficit appears in the context of a reorganization. The court authorized a group of defined benefit pension plan members to proceed with a $65 million class action against companies involved in a 2011 reorganization. The […]
The International Centre for Pension Management is celebrating 20 years of promoting strong pension governance practices by regularly engaging plan sponsor members, says Sebastien Betermier, the organization’s executive director. “It’s a milestone and it speaks to the value of having candid and quality exchanges among the pension funds . . . it’s a safe space for them […]
The total portfolio approach is gaining interest as a new investing strategy for pension funds and other asset owners, but its novel status may be deceiving. Indeed, the concept behind this approach has been at the core foundation of modern portfolio theory since the days when Nobel Prize winner Harry Markowitz showed that maximizing the […]
An article on International Business Machines Corp.’s latest pension risk transfer was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the last week: 1. IBM transferring US$6 billion in pension liabilities via group annuity buyout 2. How employers can encourage employees to take guilt-free sick days […]
An increase in the frequency of digital breaches among financial organizations is pushing institutional investors to take the necessary steps to prevent cyberattacks, says Sebastien Betermier, executive director at the International Centre for Pension Management. The complexity of the industry as well as the investment patterns of Canadian pension funds can create increased risk in […]
Roughly 200 employees of the Ontario Native Women’s Association are joining the Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology’s DBplus pension plan. The ONWA is a not-for-profit organization that works to empower and support Indigenous women and their families across Ontario, according to a press release. Previously, the employees were enrolled in a group registered retirement […]
The median projected solvency ratio for Ontario defined benefit pension plans was 123 per cent as at June 30, 2024, up slightly from 122 per cent as at March 31, according to a new report by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario. It found this increase was attributable to a rise in solvency discount […]