The median solvency ratio for Canadian defined benefit pension plans dropped slightly in February as equity markets stalled, falling to 99.8 per cent from 101.3 per cent in January, according to Aon’s monthly survey. January’s solvency ratio was the highest since 2002, noted the survey. However, nearly half (49.6 per cent) of plans were more than fully funded […]
The market value of assets held by Canadian trusteed pension funds fell to $1.77 trillion in the third quarter of 2017, down from $1.8 trillion in the second quarter, according to new data from Statistics Canada. While the figure was down 0.6 per cent compared to the previous quarter, it was up three per cent from the […]
The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec is leading a group of investors in the acquisition of New Jersey-based school bus company Student Transportation Inc. The pension fund, along with U.S.-based insurance and investment company Ullico Inc., will purchase all of Student Transportation’s outstanding common shares. Current shareholders will receive US$7.50 per share, which accounts for […]
The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec returned 9.3 per cent in 2017, an increase on its return of 7.6 per cent in 2016. While announcing the annual results on Wednesday, Michael Sabia, president and chief executive officer of the Caisse, said the portfolio reacted almost exactly as forecasted. He also highlighted the important transition period […]
The infrastructure arm of the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System is making a further investment in the company that owns Britain’s largest water and wastewater services provider. The transaction, for an additional four per cent in Kemble Water Holdings Ltd., the holding company of Thames Water Utilities Ltd., is to close later in 2018. When it closes, OMERS will have […]
The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board saw a net increase of $8.9 billion in assets during the final quarter of 2017, bringing its total to $337.1 billion. “Exceptional performance across public equity markets internationally during the third quarter helped bring the CPP fund to a new high in line with our dual focus on total, as […]
Canada and the world enjoyed a particularly strong economic performance last year. In Canada, the unemployment rate fell to just 5.7 per cent at the end of December, while the World Bank estimates the global economy grew by three per cent last year. So with those positive results in mind, what should institutional investors keep […]
Global defined contribution plan assets are growing faster than defined benefit pension assets, according to a new report by the Thinking Ahead Institute and Willis Towers Watson. Over the past 20 years in the seven largest pension markets (Australia, Britain, Canada, Japan, Netherlands, Switzerland and the United States), defined contribution plan assets grew at a rate of […]
The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and French private investment firm Adrian are acquiring a significant stake in a global developer, producer and distributor of airport ground support equipment. Headquartered in Paris, Alvest International’s customers include passenger and cargo airlines, ground handlers and airport authorities. The investment will contribute to the company’s efforts in building […]
A group of investors led by the British Columbia Investment Management Corp. has confirmed a cash public offer to acquire European beverage company Refreshco Group. The Canadian pension fund and French private equity group PAI Partners agreed on the offer in October 2017, but on Tuesday the consortium, which also includes Cubalibre Holdings Inc., said in a news release that […]