Idaho lawmakers are calling for a ban on investments in environmental, social and governance compliant companies by its state pension funds. Proposed by Republican State Senator Steve Vick, the bill would bar the state’s public sector pension plans from investing in companies that have made any ESG commitments. In its second reading, the bill received […]
Zillennial employees’ needs are going beyond traditional benefits to include a greater interest in an employer’s stance on environmental and ethical issues (45 per cent), as well as diversity, equity and inclusion (40 per cent), according to a new survey by MetLife Inc. The survey, which defined zillennials as a micro-generation born between 1993 and […]
The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board is expanding the number of countries in which it will apply its most stringent board gender diversity proxy voting rules. “We have enhanced our gender diversity voting practice by expanding the countries where our 30 per threshold for female representation applies to include South Africa and New Zealand,” said […]
Canada’s pension plans are weathering the coronavirus pandemic, with many plans currently in their best financial shape in several years. The early days of the pandemic painted a bleak picture for institutional investors. Between Feb. 19 and March 23, 2020, the S&P/TSX composite index dropped by 37 per cent — the latter date marking the index’s lowest point […]
Almost half (46 per cent) of employers say their organizations currently lack clear benefits, recognition and rewards strategies, according to a new survey by Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. The survey — which polled more than 1,300 employers globally, including almost 600 in North America and around 100 in Canada — found, while 54 per cent said they […]
The University Pension Plan is integrating diversity, equity and inclusion measures into its investment strategy. The pension plan sponsor’s responsible investing policy considers environmental, social and governance factors — including DEI — as essential to sound long-term investing, said Aaron Bennett, chief investment officer at the UPP, in an emailed statement to Benefits Canada. The approach […]
Nearly two years after the declaration of the global coronavirus pandemic and its subsequent impact on the worldwide economy, institutional investors are looking to the future with cautious optimism. Amid a recovering economy and rising inflation, pension plan sponsors are taking a long-term investment view and staying the course in the year ahead, while incorporating […]
Trans-Canada Capital Inc., an investment manager that was spun out of Air Canada’s defined benefit pension plans in 2019, is a signatory of the United Nations-backed principles for responsible investment. The PRI is a set of principles that reflect the view that environmental, social and corporate governance issues need to be appropriately considered in the […]
Morningstar Inc. is appointing Tom Kuh as its first global head of environmental, social and governance strategy. In the newly created role, Kuh will be responsible for advancing the Chicago-based financial services firm’s strategy to accelerate growth while harnessing its broad ESG strengths. He’ll report to Rolf Agather, head of research and product. Read: Mark Carney […]
As the financialization of the real estate sector comes under increased scrutiny from the general public, institutional investors must mitigate the systemic risks posed by housing inequality issues, says Tamara Herman, program manager of capital strategies at the Shareholder Association of Research and Education. “There’s a lot of discussion about the role of institutional investors […]