May 2025
15May

Mexico. Afore Assets Surpass $350 Billion for the First Time

During the first quarter of the year, Mexican Afores surpassed $350 billion in assets under management for the first time in history, according to final figures from the regulatory agency. The Afores ended the first three months of the year with a total balance of MXN 7.194 trillion, equivalent to $359.7 billion, based on an average exchange rate of 20 pesos per dollar—the rate at which the Mexican currency was traded during the first quarter. The accumulation phase for Mexican Afores is nearing its end, and according to industry...

May 15, 2025
News, Slider,
Read more...
15May

Despite Turbulence, Colombian Pension Funds Grow by 11%

Although global markets have been marked by turbulence this year, Colombian pension funds posted double-digit returns during the first quarter. That is the picture reflected in figures recently published by the pension fund managers’ trade association, Asofondos. In a statement, the organization—which represents the AFPs Colfondos, Porvenir, Protección, and Skandia—reported that pension fund assets closed March 2025 with a total value of 467.7 trillion Colombian pesos (about USD 109.89 billion). This represents 11% growth compared to the 421.3 trillion pesos (USD 99 billion) reported in March 2024. “This growth reflects not only returns (which totaled 38 trillion pesos over...

May 15, 2025
News, Slider, ,
Read more...
15May

Jamaica. Pension assets climb to record $811b

The Financial Services Commission (FSC) is advising pension fund managers to be cautious in their investment decisions so as to safeguard the retirement savings they administer. It comes against the backdrop of changing trade and immigration policies in the United States that the pension regulator said could impact the local economy, given the trade relationship between the two countries and Jamaica’s reliance on foreign aid for development purposes. Jamaica’s private pension market reached a record $810.97 billion in assets under management...

May 15, 2025
News, Slider,
Read more...
09May

Beyond the Bottom Line: How ESG Engagement Reshapes Pension Fund Strategy

By Allen Mendenhall & Daniel Sutter The study suggests that pension funds have developed methods to advance ESG objectives without significantly changing their investment portfolios. This approach enables them to influence corporate behavior while maintaining financial positions. However, all pensions and investors may suffer reduced returns when activism undermines value-creating investment. Pension systems that merely engage, rather than divest, may not underperform compared to other funds, but their tactics allow government-backed entities to exert extraordinary influence without sufficient accountability or...

May 9, 2025
Articles, Investment, , , ,
Read more...
08May

Nigeria. PenCom DG laments negative growth in pension industry

The Director-General of the National Pension Commission, Omolola Oloworaran, has lamented the negative growth recorded in the pension industry since 2021. Oloworaran expressed this concern on Thursday at the 2025 Pension Industry Leadership Retreat organised under the theme, ‘Sustainable Retirement – Strategic Blueprint for Economic Development and Inclusion.’ The Pension Reform Act 2004 empowers PenCom to regulate, supervise and ensure the effective administration of pension matters in Nigeria. The functions of the Commission include: Regulation and supervision of the Contributory Pension...

May 8, 2025
News, Slider, ,
Read more...
07May

Largest 100 Corporate Pension Plans See Strong Increases in Funding Surplus

The largest U.S. corporate pension funds had a collective funding surplus last year for the first time since 2007, according to Milliman’s 2025 Corporate Pension Funding Study. Funding ratios of the Milliman 100 rose to 101.1% in fiscal year 2024, up from 98.5% in 2023. This is the first time these companies have had an average funding surplus since 2007, when that figure stood at 106%, before falling to 79% during the financial crisis of 2008 and 2009. In fiscal 24,...

May 7, 2025
News, Slider, , ,
Read more...
07May

New buyout strategy for pension funds?

There is a wrinkle developing in the overall theme of depressed buyout markets, and especially difficult exit conditions. And it’s hardly a positive one. According to news reports, leading pension funds which used to be stalwart independent executors of buyout transactions are now pulling back from direct investment and pursuing more partnership deals with buyout firms. Higher borrowing costs have also reduced the allure of direct investment deals. Canada’s Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec has already launched a strategic...

May 7, 2025
News, Slider, ,
Read more...
06May

UK. DB pension schemes pulling ahead of sponsors on ESG progress

Defined benefit (DB) pension schemes are pulling ahead of scheme sponsors when it comes to making progress on environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations, research from LawDeb has revealed. The survey showed that both DB pension schemes and the sponsoring businesses behind them are relatively aligned in some key areas, as just over a third (34 per cent) of finance leaders surveyed think both the scheme and business are leaders in diversity ambitions. However, around the same number (32 per cent)...

May 6, 2025
News, Slider, ,
Read more...
06May

Ghanaian PE, securities, pensions industry leaders sign compact to mobilise domestic capital

The Ghana Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (GVCA), one of Africa’s foremost VC industry associations, has launched an industry-wide “Compact” that champions local institutional asset allocations to venture capital and private equity. Founded in 2021, the Ghana Venture Capital Association (GVCA) acts as a key connector within Ghana’s private investment ecosystem, linking asset allocators, institutional investors, fund managers, portfolio companies, advisors, and service providers. Its growing membership consists of firms, including venture capital and private equity companies, institutional investors, and...

May 6, 2025
News, Slider, ,
Read more...
06May

US. Congress reintroduces ‘portable’ federally-run retirement plan bill for private sector workers

The Retirement Savings for Americans Act, which would offer a federally-run program for uncovered low- and middle-income workers, was reintroduced in the Senate last week by Senator John Hickenlooper (D-CO), after being reintroduced in the House April 7 by Representative Lloyd Smucker (R-PA). The RSAAlegislation to help private sectors workers without access to 401(k)s build wealth and save for retirement. Recommended For You “Too many hard-working Americans are not able to prepare financially for retirement. Over half of working employees lack access to...

May 6, 2025
News, Slider, ,
Read more...