February 2022
14Feb

Ghana. GH¢10bn private pensions funds available for investment in GSE securities – Deputy MD

Abena Amoah, Deputy Managing Director (MD) of Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE), has said GH¢10 billion private pensions fund is available for investments in GSE listed equity and debt securities. She, therefore, called on specified entities, including State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), to take advantage of such financing and investment opportunities to enhance their operations and make them economically viable. Ms Amoah further urged specified entities to assess and raise Patient Long-term Capital by becoming issuers of equity or debt securities as a support...

February 14, 2022
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14Feb

US. A monumental year pushes assets up 17%

The 1,000 largest U.S. retirement plans had a banner year, propelled in large part by strong returns in public and private equity and other alternative investment strategies, as well as from higher contributions to defined benefit and defined contribution plans. In the year ended Sept. 30, aggregate assets of the 1,000 largest U.S. retirement funds rose 16.9% to $14.13 trillion, a big improvement from the previous year when assets managed to rise 6.6% amid the first year of the COVID-19...

February 14, 2022
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11Feb

US. New York’s public pension fund to divest from 21 companies over transition risk

New York’s public pension fund has announced it will divest from nearly two dozen stocks involved in shale oil and gas production. The New York State Common Retirement Fund, which manages around $280 bn on behalf of more than one million individuals, says the 21 companies have ‘failed to demonstrate they are prepared for the transition to a low-carbon economy’. ‘As market forces and new policies drive the energy transition, we must align our investments with a profitable and dynamic future,’...

February 11, 2022
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11Feb

UK. Force pension funds to align with net zero goal, says Richard Curtis

Pension funds should face legal obligations to bring their investments in line with the net zero greenhouse gas emissions goal, the film-maker Richard Curtis has said. Curtis, a co-founder of the Make My Money Matter campaigning group, urged ministers to follow up the UK’s legal commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050 by making it mandatory for pension schemes to align their portfolios with the target. He told the Guardian: “The moment has arrived. Why not invest in sustainable investments?...

February 11, 2022
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11Feb

Tunji Andrews is Building Awabah, a Pension Platform for Nigeria´s Informal Sector

The world’s population is expected to grow by 2 billion people from 7.7 billion in 2019 to 9.7 billion in 2050. The report suggested that nine countries would make up over half the projected growth of the global population, five of which are African countries – Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Tanzania and Egypt. In agreement, Cities Alliance reported that about 95 per cent of this growth will happen in low and middle-income countries globally. Africa is...

February 11, 2022
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10Feb

Mexico. Regulator calls on Afores to invest in local projects

The risk aversion of Mexico’s private pension fund administrators (Afores) is impeding growth, the head of pensions watchdog Consar told a webinar. “They have lots of resources, but local projects, which could be growth boosters, are lacking,” Iván Pliego Moreno said during a webinar organized by Nuevo León’s economists college. Read also US. New York’s public pension fund to divest from 21 companies over transition risk Pliego claimed Afores only choose 'AAA' investment projects as apparently 'BBB' ones “are not that attractive...

February 10, 2022
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10Feb

Latin America lags on decarbonization financing, report says

Decarbonization efforts in Latin America are being held back by lack of policy and private sector financing, according to a report released Wednesday by Janus Henderson Investors. Read also UK. Force pension funds to align with net zero goal, says Richard Curtis The Janus Henderson Latin America Decarbonization Report found that climate bond issuance in Latin America, at $45 billion in 12 countries at the end of 2021, is relatively small compared to the size of the region and to the...

February 10, 2022
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10Feb

Should Ghana raise compulsory retirement age to 65?

Authorities in Ghana are calling for a national dialogue for a review of the country’s pension regulation to increase compulsory retirement age from 60 to 65. Would this move worsen the employment situation or help the state meet its retirement obligations? Since 1992, the compulsory retirement age in Ghana has been pegged at 60. At the time, the average life expectancy was 57.4 years. 30 years down the line, life expectancy has increased to 64.4 years and the compulsory retirement...

February 10, 2022
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10Feb

Kenya. Pension-backed mortgages boost to affordable housing

For more than a decade, Kenyans have had the leeway to use up to 60 percent of their accrued retirement benefits as a guarantee for mortgage loans. However, a study by the Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA) shows that less than 0.1 percent of members of retirement benefits schemes have taken advantage of the provision. In a bid to further catalyse individuals to utilise their pension savings towards homeownership, the Retirement Benefits (Mortgage Loans) - (Amendment) Regulations was enacted in 2020 allowing...

February 10, 2022
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10Feb

Jamaica. Tourism pension fund likely to grow faster than traditional funds – Goffe

The Ministry of Tourism (MOT) indicates that, as at December 31, 2021, the value of assets managed by Sagicor Life Jamaica on behalf of the Tourism Workers Pension Scheme was approximately $506 million. At the launch of the scheme, Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett said he expected the fund to grow to $100 billion by 2023 and to reach $1 trillion in 10 years. The management of the assets of the scheme falls under Sagicor's managed pension portfolios which as at...

February 10, 2022
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