May 2023

US. Divesting fossil fuels looms larger for more funds

As the race toward renewable energy and away from fossil fuels to address climate change heats up, more pension funds may look at divestment, willingly or otherwise. According to a divestment commitment database maintained by Stand.earth, a climate action advocacy group, 1,591 organizations worldwide with a collective $40.51 trillion in assets have publicly committed to some level of fossil fuel divestment. Pension funds represent 11.7% of those commitments, compared with 35.8% from faith-based organizations, 15.7% from educational institutions and 11.9%...

Canadian public pension fund investments in China draw heightened scrutiny

Investments in China by Canada's largest public pension funds are facing increased scrutiny amid worsening relations between the two countries and allegations that some of those investments are funding the oppression of China's Uyghur minority. Recently, representatives of the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and the British Columbia Investment Management Corporation, which manages the pensions of B.C. public sector workers, told a parliamentary committee studying Canada-China relations that they had paused new direct investment in China because of the increasing risks...

The Future of AI and Older Adults

By Laurie M. Orlov  Advances in AI got the full attention of the technology industry, which is undergoing its first major disruption since the arrival of smart speakers and voice in 2014. Multiple industries see compelling opportunities, including healthcare providers, senior living, customer service providers, training and remote monitoring service offerings. Government organizations are investing in AI and aging startups and programs. Although there are a number of barriers to adoption, in the not-so-distant future, machine learning, chatbots, and AI in the home...

UK. DC funds adoption of ESG investments accelerates

How defined contribution (DC) schemes invest has been a topic of much debate with various government consultations threatening change and offering opportunity in equal measure. The master trust sector clearly wishes to be seen to be driving forward the debate, aiming to set the investment agenda and also offer more sophisticated investments to members. With the news that there is a 66% chance we will pass the 1.5ºC global warming threshold between now and 2027 it is clear we need...

Africa’s vast potential lures U.S. investors in search of returns, impact

Africa for years has struggled to attract the notice of — and money from — American pension funds. But in the past two years, U.S. pension fund trustees and other billion-dollar asset owners appear more open to investing in some of Africa's 50-plus countries, particularly in infrastructure. Institutional investors are encouraged by a U.S. government-led geopolitical charm offensive in Africa, and are wagering on higher-risk returns amid inflation, Fed rate hikes and uneven portfolio performance at home. And pension funds may one...

Canada. British Columbia Investment Management hits pause on China deals

British Columbia's public pension manager has paused direct investments in China, the latest institutional investor to rethink its exposure to the world's second-largest economy due to geopolitical risks. A senior executive from British Columbia Investment Management revealed the policy during testimony this week to a Canadian parliamentary committee. Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan has made a similar move, suspending new investments in private assets in China, Bloomberg reported in January. BCI still has Chinese investments, mostly through public markets and index funds,...

Impact investments meeting financial expectations, exit study finds

The majority of impact investments are meeting or exceeding financial performance expectations, according to a study released Wednesday by ICM Institute, a non-profit research arm of the Impact Capital Managers, an association of private capital funds, and global law firm Morrison Foerster. The report, "Alpha in Impact: Strengthening Outcomes: Impact and Financial Value at Exit," covers a sample of 230 exits from ICM members managing market-rate impact funds. It found that 65% of impact exits met or exceeded financial performance...

Swedish watchdog to scrutinize Alecta over U.S. bank investments

Sweden's financial watchdog will investigate Stockholm-based pension fund Alecta's risk management in the wake of its investments in collapsed U.S. banks. Finansinspektionen, the Financial Supervisory Authority of Sweden, will in particular investigate how Alecta measures risks in various investments, the watchdog said in a notice Thursday. The starting point for its investigation is the 1.12 trillion Swedish kronor ($108.4 billion) pension fund's investments in Silicon Valley Bank, First Republic Bank and Signature Bank. The pension fund had a total 12 billion...

U.K. Pension funds plan more infrastructure investments

A majority of U.K. pension funds (62%) expect to increase investment in British infrastructure over the next 12 months and prioritize it over overseas markets, according to a survey conducted for alternative investment fund GLIL Infrastructure. GLIL is a partnership of U.K. pension funds managed by Local Pensions Partnership Investments. The survey of executives at 300 pension funds, including private and local government funds, was conducted by Censuswide for GLIL Infrastructure in February. It found that for 36% of respondents, the...

US. DeSantis signs anti-ESG bill one day after state clean-energy investment

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a likely 2024 Republican presidential candidate, signed a bill Tuesday he touted as the latest salvo in his war against ESG investing, one day after the state's investment office announced a significant investment in clean energy. The law requires the Florida State Board of Administration, Tallahassee, to make investment decisions based "solely on pecuniary factors" and not include environmental, social and governance considerations. The board, which consists of Mr. DeSantis, Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, and...