From AMPs to SIPPs: Why plan sponsors have a lot on the regulatory plate in 2018.
Politically motivated investments in environmental, social and governance ventures are a key factor in the underperformance of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, according to a new report by the American Council for Capital Formation. “The ESG principles that have helped shaped CalPERS’ portfolio over the last four years are truly jeopardizing the retirement fund,” says […]
Some of the world’s largest institutional investors are throwing their weight around on behalf of mother earth. A group called Climate Action 100+, which is comprised of 225 institutional investors with more than US$26 trillion in assets under management, has launched a program to engage with the world’s largest corporate greenhouse gas emitters, encouraging the companies to step up […]
Canada is the eighth-largest investor in new coal projects around the world, according to a new report by German non-profit organization Urgewald. Of the top 100 investors in companies developing new coal plants listed in the organization’s report, the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec ranked No. 72, with $433 million invested. The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board just […]
Quebec-based pension fund Bâtirente is investing $15 million towards the creation of a green bond fund to be set up and managed by its partner AlphaFixe Capital Inc. The deal, which puts five per cent of Bâtirente’s total assets in energy transition, is its second major investment in this field. In 2016, it gave a mandate to AGF Management […]
The Desjardins Group is going carbon neutral as part of several actions the company plans to address climate change. In a release, the company pointed to its aim of supporting the transition to cleaner energy as well as pushing for the businesses it invests in to adopt ideal environmental, social and governance practices. “As a financial co-operative, […]
Safe tobacco consumption not possible says CEO O'Reilly
The OPSEU Pension Trust is divesting from all equity and fixed-income investments in public companies that derive a majority of their revenue from the production or manufacture of tobacco products beginning in 2018. “At OPTrust, we prefer to use corporate engagement — the promotion of better business practices — in our investment and ownership practices,” said Hugh O’Reilly, […]
The Financial Services Commission of Ontario has clarified its guidance note on how environmental, social and governance factors should be incorporated into a plan sponsor’s statement of investment policies and procedures. In the previous version of the note, FSCO stated plan sponsors should include the information described in each of the three following paragraphs: Either a broad statement that it incorporates all ESG factors, […]
Challenges and opportunities in the Age of Trump