The majority of global institutional investors anticipate 2018 will be a year of increasing volatility in both the bond (70 per cent) and stock (78 per cent) markets, according to Natixis Investment Managers. Its latest survey, which polled 500 institutional investors in North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, found that 72 per cent of […]
Despite the political noise around the globe, underlying economies are in pretty good shape and virtually every asset class is seeing high prices, according to the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board’s president and chief executive officer. “I’m worried that everything is expensive. That’s the main thing,” said Mark Machin, speaking at an Economic Club of Canada event […]
The new Canada Infrastructure Bank appointed its inaugural board of directors Thursday, as the Toronto-based Crown corporation takes shape. The bank aims to draw interest from institutional investors, particularly pension funds, to team up with the government to help create new infrastructure that will generate revenue. Read: Government appoints inaugural chair of infrastructure bank The board will […]
The median solvency ratio for Canadian defined benefit plans rose to 100.7 per cent in October as equity markets continued to rally, according to Aon Hewitt’s monthly median solvency ratio survey. The figure is 1.4 percentage points higher than the beginning of October and the highest level since the survey recorded 102 per cent in 2002. Of surveyed plans, […]
The infrastructure arm of the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System is increasing its investment in Britain’s largest water company. OMERS Infrastructure is purchasing an additional 4.36 per cent interest in Kemble Water Holdings Ltd., the holding company of Thames Water Utilities Ltd., from Hermes Investment Management. Read: OMERS’ infrastructure arm invests in Thames Water In March 2017, OMERS Infrastructure […]
The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan is selling part of its stakes in Britain’s Birmingham and Bristol airports to two Australian entities, the New South Wales Treasury Corp. and Sunsuper superannuation fund. TCorp and Sunsuper will each buy 15 per cent of Bristol Airport with Ontario Teachers’ retaining a 70 per cent stake. As for Birmingham Airport, Ontario Teachers’ will retain […]
Aviva Investors has appointed Frank Vihant as head of infrastructure debt for Canada. In the new role, Vihant will be based in Toronto and will oversee the origination, structuring and execution of infrastructure debt transactions in Canada. Read: OMERS infrastructure arm undergoes name change With more than 20 years of industry experience, Vihant was most recently an […]
Infrastructure investments don’t always offer the diversification benefits investors expect, especially when they’re publicly traded. “For listed infrastructure to have a chance at fulfilling the goal of providing a unique experience within a broader portfolio, a tight definition of infrastructure is needed,” says David Wong, managing director of investment management research at CIBC Asset Management Inc. […]
Pension plans have developed an appetite for real assets in recent years, but what does the term actually include? In response to demands from asset managers for more information about real assets, the S&P Dow Jones Indices created a benchmark index for the area in 2015, said Jodie Gunzberg, the organization’s managing director of product management. “We […]
Four years ago, some investors were hesitant to invest in India due to poor economic fundamentals, currency depreciation and government bureaucracy. But while many hit pause on making investments, long-term institutional investors like the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board ignored the pessimism and started putting plans in motion for future ventures. “Before [Prime Minister Narendra] […]