November 2020

10Nov

Ghana. SSNIT saves ¢200m after value for money audit, renegotiation of legacy investment-related costs

The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has saved some ¢200 million on legacy investment-related costs. This was achieved through value for money audit and renegotiations of such costs. According to the Director-General, Dr. John Ofori-Tenkorang the measure taken was relevant for the sustainability of the trust. “The cost-saving measures implemented by the leadership of the Trust have helped to improve the financial health and long-term sustainability of the Trust”, he said in a speech delivered at the...

November 10, 2020
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09Nov

75% of Aussies support 12% superannuation guarantee increase

An overwhelming majority of Australians support lifting the superannuation guarantee to 12% despite Reserve Bank modelling revealing that doing so will shrink wages growth. Three in four Australians say they support increasing the super guarantee to 12%, according to a nationwide survey conducted by the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA). Only 12% of the 1,375 people surveyed said they think the super guarantee rate should remain unchanged at 9.5%. The superannuation guarantee is the minimum amount your...

November 9, 2020
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05Nov

Pension Superpowers and Financial Markets in the Sino-American Century

By M. Nicolas J. Firzli In this primer published in the Feb. 2020 issue of Private Debt Investor (PDI), Nicolas J. Firzli, World Pensions Council, looks at how institutional asset owners will come to the fore in the new geo-economic context defined by renewed Sino-American "coopetition" across ASEAN countries, Australia, Eastern Europe and the MENA area, Brexit and the resurgence of one-nation conservatism in Britain, the slow, relative decline of the European Union and the secular rise of "Pension...

November 5, 2020
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03Nov

South Africa. Improving pension fund outcomes: a case for hedge funds

The much-debated “Regulation 28” restrictions imposed on retirement funds have made investors feel increasingly uncomfortable with having large exposure to either the local economy or the local stock market, despite its large exposure to rand-hedge stocks. Read also The savings and domestic investment paradox in Namibia Investors who are able to have greater direct offshore exposure in their investment portfolio may choose to exploit this flexibility in what is a very different state of affairs compared to many other points...

November 3, 2020
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03Nov

Australian pension fund settles landmark climate lawsuit

One of Australia’s largest pension funds on Monday agreed to settle a landmark climate risk litigation filed by a 25-year-old member who alleged it was failing to protect his retirement savings against climate change. REST acknowledged in a statement that climate change would lead to catastrophic economic and social consequences and that the phenomenon was a “material, direct and current financial risk” to the superannuation fund. The closely watched case could influence how global funds manage such risks in...

November 3, 2020
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October 2020

30Oct

How are Japanese corporate funds adapting to global economic challenges

Since 2016, a Japanese publication for institutional investors, AL-IN, has periodical surveyed Japanese corporate pension funds to determine what products best serve them as they confront structural and market changes. The 2018 edition of the survey found pension funds preparing for a domestic economic downturn. Income gains were already slack and pension funds sought bond-related and low-liquidity assets to cover the shortfall. Since then, investment and financial markets have been defined by the U.S. Federal Reserve’s shift in monetary...

October 30, 2020
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30Oct

Equity returns fuel Q3 Canadian pension fund returns

Strong global equity markets continue to augment pension plan returns with Canadian defined benefit plans returning 3.2 percent for the third quarter, according to the Northern Trust Canada Universe. The Northern Trust Canada Universe tracks the performance of Canadian institutional investment plans that subscribe to performance measurement services as part of Northern Trust’s asset service offerings. Overall, equity markets navigated pockets of volatility, closing the quarter in positive territory, while financial markets appeared to shrug off fears perpetuated by...

October 30, 2020
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27Oct

US. Apollo Clients Await Inquiry’s Findings on Chief and Jeffrey Epstein

Leon Black helped start Apollo Global Management three decades ago out of the ashes of a junk-bond scandal and built a $400 billion private-equity powerhouse, handling the investments of institutions around the globe, from public pension systems in California to sovereign wealth funds controlled by foreign governments. But now some of his clients are asking pointed questions about his judgment, as his association with a notorious sex offender threatens to cloud his future. In the past two weeks —...

October 27, 2020
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27Oct

South Korea pension fund to oppose LG Chem’s battery split-off plan

It cited concerns about damage to shareholder value, including the possibility of diluting the equity value. LG Chem said in a statement that it very much regrets that NPS opposes the plan when most domestic and foreign proxy advisers including Institutional Shareholder Services back it, adding it will actively communicate with shareholders. "Although NPS is the second-largest shareholder of LG Chem...it is likely that dissenting votes would have little impact as most proxy advisers have recommended endorsement of...

October 27, 2020
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23Oct

Annual survey of investment regulation of pension funds and other pension providers 2020

By The OECD This report describes the main quantitative investment regulations that pension funds are subject to in OECD and a selection of non-OECD countries (most of which are IOPS Member countries). This report also covers the investment rules for other pension providers (such as life insurance companies) for some countries, such as Denmark, France, Ireland, Korea, Latvia and Sweden among OECD countries and Jordan among non-OECD jurisdictions. The information reflects the rules in force at the end of...

October 23, 2020
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