In a challenging year for global equity markets, with fixed income returns below average, the University of Toronto Asset Management Corp.’s pension portfolio returned a negative 1.6 per cent, while it’s endowment portfolio returned a negative 1.5 per cent, net of investment fees and expenses. The UTAM manages funds for the university’s pension, endowment and […]
The large majority of global investors in alternative asset classes believe the United Nation’s sustainable development goals are tools that can help the investment industry address urgent environmental and social issues, according to new research by LGT Capital Partners. In a survey of more than 200 institutional investors, including pensions, endowments and insurers from 28 countries, 91 per […]
Amid the growing popularity of incorporating environmental, social and governance factors in investing, a Dutch pension fund is partnering with index-provider FTSE Russell to design a custom passive index that incorporates some of the United Nations’ sustainable development goals. Pensioenfonds Detailhandel has been incorporating ESG principles for almost five years, says Henk Groot, head of investments […]
As pension plans are engaging more often as active shareholders, some companies are beginning to chafe. One instance of pushback came after the the New York State Common Retirement Fund co-sponsored a proposal with the Church of England’s endowment fund requesting that Exxon Mobil Corp. include short-, medium- and long-term greenhouse gas reduction targets aligned with […]
After exceeding its target for low-carbon assets in 2018, the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec is now aiming to boost its low-carbon holdings to $32 billion by 2020, according to its second annual stewardship investing report. In 2017, the pension fund started with $18 billion in low-carbon assets in its portfolio and raised that to […]
While Canada’s public and private pension plans are a vital player in the transition to a lower carbon economy, they’re only one component, with other financial market participants, such as banks, insurers and asset managers, must also play a role, according to the Pension Investment Association of Canada. In a letter commenting on a report by an […]
The vast majority (97 per cent) of institutional investors said they conduct an evaluation of their target companies’ non-financial disclosures, representing close to a 20 per cent increase since 2017, according to a global survey by EY. “Investors have a more sophisticated understanding of the positive link between a business’ environmental, social and governance impact and […]
The name of the game is engagement, according to a new report by NEI Investments. In 2018, engagement with investee companies on environmental, social and governance factors was a major undertaking for the firm. It actively engaged with 118 companies on these topics, comprising 40 per cent of its overall equity holdings. “We are committed to helping […]
“Climate change is a weapon of mass destruction,” said Sandra Carlisle, head of responsible investment at HSBC Global Asset Management, at a panel hosted by the Responsible Investment Association on Thursday. It’s critical that investors, who are thinking about how the impacts of climate change present a genuine risk, broaden their perspective to include the multifaceted […]
Sun Life Financial Inc. is among the most sustainable companies globally for the tenth consecutive year. The 2019 ranking, published by media company Corporate Knights, is based on sustainability performance criteria in areas such as financial and employee management, clean revenue and supplier performance. Sun Life’s commitment to sustainability focuses on making progress in four key areas: organizational resilience, environmental responsibility, […]