Canadian defined benefit pension plans experienced an upsurge in the second quarter of 2020, posting a median return of 9.6 per cent, according to RBC Investor and Treasury Services’ universe of DB pension plans. After the first quarter’s median return of negative 7.1 per cent, the rally marked the highest single quarter return in the […]
During 2020’s second quarter rebound, U.S. equities saw stronger performance than other developed markets like the U.K. and the rest of Europe. However, during the coronavirus pandemic so far, factors have moved largely in tandem in those geographies, according to Philip Lawlor, managing director and head of global investment research at FTSE Russell, during a webinar […]
The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board is appointing Guillaume Pepy as senior advisor for Europe. In the new role, which started July 1, he’ll engage with multiple European investment teams, providing council on the portfolio for the region. “Guillaume’s deep expertise, understanding and network across the private and public sectors in France brings great value to […]
Jim Hall is stepping down as co-manager of Mawer Investment Management Ltd.’s Canadian and global equity strategies to focus his full attention on his responsibilities as chair of the firm’s board of directors, effective Jan 1. 2021. Paul Moroz, who currently co-manages the global equity strategy alongside Hall, in addition to his role as chief […]
Before physical distancing, pension plan sponsors typically held in-person meetings and site visits when allocating to new investment managers. “I like to look people in the eye when they’re telling me what they’re going to do,” says Blair Richards, chief executive officer of the Halifax Port ILA/HEA Pension Plan. “It’s very old school and it’s […]
The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board is building on its partnership with Lendlease Corp. with a further £85 million 50/50 co-investment in the U.K. residential real estate sector. The investment will go toward the building of 123 new build-to-rent homes in south London’s Elephant Park neighbourhood. It marks the second investment the organizations made together this year, […]
The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan is appointing Karen Frank as senior managing director of equities. Based in the pension fund’s London office, she’ll take on the new role in fall of 2020. “Equities is an integral part of Ontario Teachers’ asset mix, contributing significantly to our ability to deliver on the pension promise to our members,” said Ziad Hindo, […]
The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board are investing in WSP Global Inc., an engineering and design services firm, through a private placement of common shares. The Caisse is set to buy about $44 million of common shares in aggregate, while a subsidiary of the CPPIB is purchasing about […]
Will real estate help Canadian pension plans weather the coronavirus pandemic or will being a landlord prove to be a liability in an economic crisis? For several years, Canadian pension plans have been broadening the regional scope of their real estate holdings, diversifying portfolios in asset classes and geographic exposures. But with the coronavirus pandemic […]
Global institutional investors say they intend to gently reduce their average new capital commitments to real estate in 2020. According to a new report by Institutional Real Estate Inc. and Kingsley Associates, survey respondents said they’re reducing their new spend by an average of 11 per cent this year. Notably, the survey was conducted between Nov. 12, […]