Publicly traded Canadian businesses in large part lacking when it comes to reporting their relations with indigenous people, revealed a new report by the Shareholder Association for Research and Education. After reviewing the public disclosures of publicly traded companies from eight different sectors, the organization found that while many businesses produced reports on their policies, practices or […]
Look to the emerging world for change going forward.
A group of global institutional investors are urging companies to disclose how they manage their global workforces in order to increase shareholder transparency. The coalition of investors, including OPSEU Pension Trust and the United Church of Canada pension plan, signed the initiative, which is a collaborative project between the Shareholder Association for Research and Education […]
The Public Sector Pension Investment Board is moving to become the largest shareholder in U.S.-based Pattern Energy Group Inc. as part of a series of transactions aimed at supporting a major expansion of the renewable energy company. According to the details announced yesterday, the pension fund will purchase about 10 per cent of Pattern Energy stock and will […]
There’s plenty of evidence that sustainable investing is gaining traction as an important consideration in institutional investors’ strategies and portfolios. Take, for example, the fact that the number of signatories to the United Nations’ principles for responsible investment has steadily increased; regulators in many jurisdictions have mandated that institutional investors explicitly consider their environmental, social […]
Asset owners increase exposure to factors.
Desjardins Global Asset Management has become a signatory to the Principles for Responsible Investment, a group of international asset holders and managers committed to investing with environmental, social and governance factors in mind. The group has about 1,700 signatories, representing US$62 trillion in assets under management. Read: Pension fund assets make up 75% of responsible investing in […]
The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec will provide $107 million in debt financing to a Canadian rooftop solar power producer. Potentia Renewables Inc., which produces solar equipment for the rooftops of schools, as well as commercial and industrial buildings, will use the funds to develop more renewable power projects. The Caisse previously invested in […]
With Poland issuing the world’s first sovereign green bond totalling 750 million euros in December and France following suit with an even larger issuance of 7 billion euros earlier this year, investment managers expect the market for green bonds will continue to grow. “Based on trends, 2017 will probably be the year where we’re going […]
On Jan. 1, 2016, an amendment to Ontario’s Pension Benefits Act came into effect requiring pension plans to disclose whether they incorporate environmental, social and governance factors in their statement of investment policies and procedures. Although such requirements are new in Canada, they’ve long existed in Europe: in 2000 for British and Swedish pension funds; […]