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 […]
Institutional investors are driving efforts to improve gender diversity within the alternative investments space, but there are still major challenges in recruiting, retaining and advancing women within such organizations, according to a report by KPMG. From a pool of nearly 900 participants in the alternative investments sector, most men (76 per cent) and women (84 per […]
If institutional investors are looking to divest completely from an industry, tobacco would be ripe to pluck out of their portfolio, according to a new report by Genus Capital Management Inc. The report found that divesting entirely from tobacco wouldn’t have had a significant negative impact on returns over the past 20 years. “Though individual investors may […]
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 […]
As 2019 kicks off, what themes around environment, social and governance factors should investors be watching? According to a new MSCI Inc. report, plastic waste is one issue to keep an eye on. Plastic, one of the most produced manmade products in the world, is accumulating in landfills or other natural environments, the report noted, […]
“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 […]
It’s too early in the rise of populism to determine whether it will turn out to be a secular or a cyclical trend, according to John Denham, chief investment officer at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. As a result, populism has yet to have a firm affect on overall investment strategies, he noted during a panel at Benefits Canada‘s and […]
The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board is issuing its first Euro-denominated green bond. The one billion Euro sale of 10-year fixed-rate notes aims to help the CPPIB invest in relevant, environmentally conscious assets, including renewable energy projects in wind and solar, water and wastewater management and certified green real estate. It’s also a way for the CPPIB to […]
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, […]
The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and the government of Quebec are adding to their previous investment in electric vehicle charging company AddEnergie Technologies Inc. The Quebec-based company manufactures charging stations and develops network management software for other organizations. The Caisse and the provincial government initially invested in the business in 2016 to help it expand across Canada. […]