While the majority (80 per cent) of U.S. retirement plan sponsors rate their record keeper as excellent or very good, they’re also seeking more support for plan members’ financial wellness, according to a new survey by Greenwich Associates. The survey, which polled 145 U.S. retirement plan sponsors and 15 U.S. consultants, found among plan sponsors, […]
Large U.S. companies are increasingly linking executive compensation to some form of environmental, social and governance performance, growing from 66 per cent in 2020 to 73 per cent in 2021, according to a new report by the Conference Board, Semler Brossy Consulting Group and ESG data analytics firm ESGAUGE. Between 2020 and 2021, the amount […]
The number of global indexes increased 4.43 per cent this year, led by environmental, social and governance indexes, which grew to new records, according to a new survey by the Index Industry Association. Although overall growth for 2022 slightly trailed 2021’s pace of nearly five per cent for the industry, the number of ESG indexes […]
The Association of Canadian Pension Management is advising the Canadian Association of Pension Supervisory Authorities to take a less prescriptive approach in its proposed guidelines on risks related to environmental, social and governance factors, cybersecurity and leverage. In an open letter to the CAPSA, the ACPM said a one-size-fits-all approach to ESG regulation could potentially […]
While defined contribution pension plans currently outnumber defined benefit pension plans, this wasn’t always the case, recalls Bita Jenab, a principal at RetirementWorks Services Inc. DC plans began to gain popularity in the mid-1980s, due to a combination of legislative and economic changes, she adds. “This period marks the introduction of pension accounting rules under […]
As a fresh-faced elementary school student in 1977, Aaron Bennett wasn’t quite in the target demographic for the freshly launched Benefits Canada magazine. Still, Bennett — now the chief investment officer at Ontario’s University Pension Plan — has a pretty firm grasp on the concerns that would have occupied the minds of his predecessors as […]
Renewable energy assets can offer a lot to institutional investors’ portfolios, serving to lower risk opportunities over the long term compared to traditional energy assets while providing similar returns, said Saad Qais, head of U.S. asset management at Greencoat Capital, during a session at the Canadian Investment Review’s 2022 Risk Management Conference. This is true […]
The Ontario Municipal Employees’ Retirement System is investing in an Arizona-based solar energy business. In a deal reached with Clairvest Group Inc., the institutional investor secured a minority stake in NovaSource Power Services, which provides solar panel servicing for industrial and residential customers and manages 20 gigawatts of solar assets. Following the transaction, Clairvest will […]
While institutional investors are no strangers to established markets such as Europe and the U.S., the world’s emerging and frontier markets can provide diversification and opportunities for lucrative returns. Not surprisingly, events such as the coronavirus pandemic and a shifting geopolitical landscape are influencing these decisions in 2022 and beyond. In recent months, Russia’s invasion […]
The Pension Investment Association of Canada is providing feedback on the International Sustainability Standard Board’s exposure drafts on disclosure of financial information pertaining to sustainability and climate change. In an open letter responding to a consultation by the ISSB, the PIAC said while it supports the ISSB’s decision to build upon existing reporting frameworks — […]