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Top Stories in Investments

Expert panel: History’s lessons for DB pension plans during turbulent times

At the best of times, selecting an optimal asset mix for a defined benefit pension plan is challenging. The times of today are downright turbulent.…

Top 5 HR, benefits, pension and investment stories of the week

An article on how defined benefit pension plan sponsors can use a surplus was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com over the last week. Here are…

  • By: Staff
  • May 19, 2023 May 26, 2023
  • 09:00

Lack of disclosure from REITs about evictions, building maintenance a risk to institutional investors: SHARE

As Canada’s largest residential real estate investment trusts drive up the country’s rental property prices through evictions and renovations, these moves highlight institutional investors’ human…

  • By: Staff
  • May 18, 2023 May 18, 2023
  • 12:30

Caisse supporting Uni-Select acquisition, Ontario Teachers’ participating in construction company buy back

The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec is selling its stake in a Quebec-based automotive aftermarket equipment manufacturer. Last week, Uni-Select Inc., which manufactures…

  • By: Staff
  • May 18, 2023 May 18, 2023
  • 12:30

Wells Fargo agrees to pay $1BN to public retirement plan members to settle class action lawsuit

Wells Fargo has agreed to a pay US$1 billion to settle a lawsuit filed by its two public sector pension plans who alleged the bank…

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Expert panel: How DB pension plan sponsors can use surplus

In 2022, the typical defined benefit pension plan achieved an investment return of roughly negative 12 per cent. However, due to dramatic increases in bond…

2022 Pension Leadership Awards winners announced

The Canadian Investment Review is proud to announce the winners of the third annual Pension Leadership Awards. The winners are: Investment Officer of the Year Award: Duncan…

  • By: Staff
  • May 16, 2023 May 16, 2023
  • 08:00
Caisse, CPPIB, Ontario Teachers’ invest in insurance company

UPP appointing Karen Rowe as chief financial officer

The University Pension Plan is appointing Karen Rowe as its chief financial officer. In the new role, she’ll oversee the teams responsible for the UPP’s…

  • By: Staff
  • May 15, 2023 May 15, 2023
  • 15:00
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Median solvency ratio of Ontario DB pensions rose to 115% in Q1 2023: report

The median solvency ratio of Ontario defined benefit pension plans rose during the first quarter of 2023, from 112 per cent at the beginning of the…

  • By: Staff
  • May 15, 2023 May 12, 2023
  • 09:00
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Top 5 HR, benefits, pension and investment stories of the week

A pair of surveys on the state of Canadian workers’ mental health were among the most-read stories on BenefitsCanada.com over the last week. Here are…

  • By: Staff
  • May 12, 2023 May 11, 2023
  • 09:00

2023 Top 40 Money Managers Report: Using tools, technology to improve asset allocation, risk management

Large and small, pension plan sponsors are adopting in-house tools, partnering with technology research institutes or relying on investment managers for technological support with asset…

Canada’s lasting influence on Arizona’s public sector pension investor

There’s something about the Arizona State Retirement System — a US$49.3-billion defined benefit-like hybrid pension plan for the state’s 600,000 current and former public sector…

Coverage of the 2023 DC Plan Summit

At the 2023 Defined Contribution Plan Summit, which was hosted in Montebello, Que. on Feb. 21-23, delegates learned from employer case studies and expert thought…

Franklin Templeton to acquire Putnam Investments

Franklin Templeton is entering into a definitive agreement to acquire Putnam Investments from Great-West Lifeco Inc. for about US$925 million. As part of the agreement,…

  • By: Staff
  • June 1, 2023 June 1, 2023
  • 15:00

ACPM urging Retraite Québec to increase flexibility in funding municipal, university DB pension plans

The Association of Canadian Pension Management is urging Retraite Québec to provide additional flexibility in the funding of municipal and university defined benefit pension plans. In…

  • By: Staff
  • May 29, 2023 May 29, 2023
  • 09:00

U.S. DB pension plan assets rise 4.47% in Q1 2023

U.S. defined benefit pension plans posted net returns of 4.47 per cent in the first quarter of 2023, according to a report from Investment Metrics…

  • By: Staff
  • May 23, 2023 May 23, 2023
  • 12:30

2023 DC Plan Summit: Helping DC plan members mind the manageable risk gap

With group retirement plans aimed at helping members avoid risks and achieve their savings goals, defined contribution plan sponsors are uniquely positioned to step up…

2023 DC Plan Summit: How Australia, the U.S. are tackling decumulation challenges

While a third of Canadians are very or extremely confident they’ll be able to retire at the age they want to, around 40 per cent…

2023 DC Plan Summit: Demystifying what ESG means for DC pension plans

While there’s a lot of noise and confusion around environmental, social and governance factors, it comes down to delivering value for investors in terms of…

Parliamentary subcommittee investigating Canadian public sector pension allocations to China

Representatives from six of Canada’s largest public sector pension investment organizations addressed a special parliamentary committee on Monday. The special committee on the Canada–People’s Republic…

  • By: Staff
  • May 11, 2023 May 11, 2023
  • 12:30

Vestcor posts 3.63% loss for 2022

Vestcor Investment Management Corp., an organization that manages the investment and administration of 11 public sector pension plans in New Brunswick, saw its investment decline…

  • By: Staff
  • May 11, 2023 May 11, 2023
  • 12:30

IMCO investing in digital infrastructure fund; Caisse, Ontario Teachers’ co-owned insurer acquiring Chilean annuity portfolio

The Investment Management Corp. of Ontario is entering into a new fund that owns a British fibre optic business. The fund was launched as part…

  • By: Staff
  • May 11, 2023 May 11, 2023
  • 12:30

OMERS backing oncology network, Caisse and Bâtirente supporting ESG investment fund

The Ontario Municipal Employees’ Retirement System’s private equity arm is backing the series B investment round for a U.S. medical company specializing in surgical and cancer…

  • By: Staff
  • June 1, 2023 May 31, 2023
  • 12:30

IMCO energy storage business secures U.K. credit facility, Caisse’s Indian warehouse network receives solar upgrade

A renewable energy company owned by the Investment Management Corp. of Ontario is securing a £175 million credit facility. Pulse Clean Energy, which was formerly…

  • By: Staff
  • May 30, 2023 May 30, 2023
  • 12:30

Top 5 HR, benefits, pension and investment stories of the week

An article on American Express Canada’s onsite counselling service was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com over the last week. Here are the five most popular news…

  • By: Staff
  • May 26, 2023 May 25, 2023
  • 09:00

CPPIB’s annual report greenwashing investment strategies, says watchdog

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board’s latest annual report greenwashes its investment strategies, according to Shift Action for Pension Wealth and Planet Health. “[A close…

  • June 1, 2023 May 31, 2023
  • 12:30

CAAT appointing Karen Lockridge as director of responsible investing

The Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology pension plan is appointing Karen Lockridge as director of responsible investing. In the new role, she’ll be responsible…

  • By: Staff
  • May 29, 2023 May 29, 2023
  • 15:00

2023 DC Plan Summit: Eight billion reasons why capital investment matters again

With eight billion people consuming the planet’s resources, assets such as clean energy and sustainable agriculture are becoming increasingly important to institutional investors, said John…

CPPIB returns 1.3% in fiscal 2023, bracing for headwinds ahead

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board is bracing for headwinds in the event of a recession, but says a wide range of investments makes it well-positioned for…

Canadian DB pension plan assets rise 1.9% in April: report

A typical Canadian defined benefit pension plan’s funded position improved on a solvency basis and decreased on an accounting basis in April as a result…

  • By: Staff
  • May 11, 2023 May 11, 2023
  • 12:00

Majority of global institutional investors expecting to increase ETF exposure: report

The majority (61 per cent) of global institutional investors are considering increasing their allocations to exchange-traded funds in the next year, down significantly from 82…

  • By: Staff
  • May 2, 2023 April 28, 2023
  • 12:30

MVF supporting employees’ financial wellness needs through new cost-of-living benefit

MVF is supporting its multinational workforce amid rising inflation with a new cost-of-living benefit. The U.K.-based marketing company introduced the new benefit last October, after…

Canadian DB pension plan solvency ratios up 10% in 2022: report

The average solvency ratio of Canadian defined benefit pension plans grew by 10 per cent in 2022, according to a new report by Mercer Canada.…

  • By: Staff
  • January 3, 2023 January 3, 2023
  • 13:00

Gallagher acquiring Buck for US$660 million

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. is acquiring BCHR Holdings — also known as Buck — for US$660 million. Through the agreement, Gallagher will expand its…

  • By: Staff
  • December 21, 2022 December 20, 2022
  • 09:00

AIMCo appointing Kevin Bong as chief investment strategist, head of Singapore

The Alberta Investment Management Corp. is appointing Kevin Bong as chief investment strategist and head of Singapore, effective Aug. 14. In the new role, he’ll…

  • By: Staff
  • May 31, 2023 May 31, 2023
  • 15:00

Understanding the role of adaptive reuse in real estate investing

In recent years, adaptive reuse strategies — which transform an existing structure to allow it to serve a new purpose — have become popular in…

Canadian DB pension plans generated strong returns in Q1: report

The median Canadian defined benefit pension plan’s investments returned 4.2 per cent during the first quarter of 2022, according to a new report by Northern Trust…

  • By: Staff
  • May 4, 2023 May 4, 2023
  • 09:00

2022 IIC coverage: How the pandemic kickstarted an automation revolution

The robots of the near-future won’t replace people, but will free them to focus on what they do best — empathizing, communicating and innovating, said…

2022 IIC coverage: Navigating the complexities of ESG in fixed income

Climate change presents an ongoing challenge to institutional investors’ allocations to domestic corporate bond, according to Soami Kohly, fixed income portfolio manager at MFS Investment…

2022 IIC coverage: Finding differentiated sources of growth and alpha in emerging markets

Emerging market economies with strong domestic structural growth stories are likely to thrive in the next 10 years, said Alexis Freyeisen, investment strategist for emerging…