November 2024

CPPIB Leads Global Pension Funds With $144B Allocated to Private Equity

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board made the largest allocation to private equity of any pension fund during the first 10 months of the year, with $143.86 billion—which made up 24.6% of its portfolio—allocated to the asset class, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence data. The 20 pension funds with the largest allocations have committed a combined $707.6 billion to private equity, through the end of October The California Public Employees’ Retirement System was a distant second with $83.5 billion—16% of...

Canadian pension risk transfer sales decrease to $2.1BN in Q3 2024: report

The market volume of annuity purchases by Canadian defined benefit pension plan sponsors reached an estimated $2.1 billion in the third quarter of 2024, a small decline from $2.5 billion in the previous quarter, according to a new report by Telus Health. It noted some insurers are showing a show a strong appetite and offer competitive pricing on a broad spectrum of deals, while others that are nearing their capacity limits are adopting a more selective approach in allocating their...

October 2024

How many Canadians are gig workers?

More than one in five (22%) Canadians are participating in gig work of various kinds across the country. That equates to about 7.3 million adults finding work outside of regular employment. And they are doing it for a variety of reasons, reports Securian Canada, with more than half (57%) — or roughly four million people — relying on this type of work to supplement their primary income. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of all gig workers are either employed full-time or part-time outside...

What strategies are working to increase pension coverage?

It’s no surprise that people are living longer and retiring later. Last week’s Association of Canadian Pension Management (ACPM)’s annual national two-day conference held in Kelowna, BC offered Canadian pension plan sponsors, administrators, trustees, asset managers and other retirement income system leaders a look into the organizations in Canada and around the world who are employing a range of strategies to increase pension coverage and improve retirement outcomes for Canadians. Global Pension Index David Knox, senior partner and senior actuary for Mercer...

Canadian defined benefit pension plans show decreased funded levels in Q3: Aon

- Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, announced today that the aggregate funded ratio for Canadian pension plans in the S&P/TSX Composite Index percent compared to 106.9 percent at the end of the second quarter, according to the Aon Pension Risk Tracker. The Aon Pension Risk Tracker calculates the aggregate funded position on an accounting basis for companies in the S&P/TSX Composite Index with defined benefit plans. To access Aon's interactive tracker, which dates to 2013, click here. Key findings for the quarter...

September 2024

Canada. PSP Investments’ green assets increased to $64.9BN in fiscal 2024: report

The Public Sector Pension Investment Board has $64.9 billion invested in green assets, compared to $48.9 billion in fiscal 2023, according to the investment organization’s latest sustainability report. It found in addition to green assets, PSP Investments has roughly $11.5 billion in transition assets, defined as investments that have committed to make a substantial contribution to the low-carbon transition through the establishment of public targets and disclosure. Among PSP Investments’ portfolio companies, reported Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions data...

August 2024

Canadian pension funds recognized for governance, sustainability practices: report

Four of Canada’s largest pension funds have been ranked among the top 10 global pension funds for demonstrating best practices in governance, sustainability and resilience, according to a new report by data platform Global SWF. The assessment tool, which reviews the practices and efforts of state-owned sovereign wealth funds and public pension funds, gave the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and the British Columbia Investment Corp. perfect scores across the board alongside the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, Singapore-based...

Canadian pension plans facing unexpected taxes in EU countries: PIAC

Canadian pension plans are facing unforeseen taxation of dividends in European Union countries like Germany and the Netherlands, said the Pension Investment Association of Canada. In an open letter, the PIAC said its members have endured a discriminatory dividend taxation relative to settled European tax law and the free movement of capital within the EU over the last decade. “Canadian pension plans are seeing discriminatory and distortive taxation, resulting in penalties from broad applications of the ‘free movement of capital provision’...

July 2024

The decumulation challenge

As people continue to live and work longer, the challenge of longevity – running out of money too soon into retirement - is hanging over many Canadians’ retirement plans. According to research from CCP Investments, only 45% of Canadians actually have some sort of plan in place for their retirement, with 53% admitting they don’t know how much money they’ll need to retire. Part of this anxiety stems from a change in the last decades in the retirement plan landscape, as...

Group of Canadian pension fund giants urges CSSB to reconsider exemptions from sustainability reporting

Canadian pension funds question CSSB's proposed exemptions and call for global standards. Investors highlight the importance of consistent sustainability reporting. Pension funds warn that exemptions could undermine global alignment and investor confidence. A coalition of major Canadian pension funds has submitted a letter to the Canadian Sustainability Standards Board (CSSB), urging it to reconsider proposed exemptions for sustainability reporting. This initiative underscores the critical need for global consistency and alignment in sustainability disclosures. The letter is signed by representatives of the following...