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News Archives - February / March 2008

Monday, March 31, 2008

Money Moves To SRI

One in every nine investment dollars managed by fund managers or institutional investors in the U.S. is now following socially responsible principles, says the US Social Investment Forum (SIF). Its report on Socially Responsible Investing Trends in the United States says 11 per cent, or $2.71 trillion, of the $25.1 trillion in total assets under management tracked in Nelson Information’s Directory of Investment Managers, are now in SRI strategies. Over two years, SRI assets in the U.S. market have increased more than 18 per cent, while total institutional assets under management have grown by less than three per cent. New growth areas include SRI ETFs and private equity and hedge funds based on social and environmental criteria.  

Demise Of Hedge Funds Unfounded

Warnings about the demise of the hedge fund industry are unfounded, says Riskdata, a French data provider. Responding to a report that questioned the future of hedge funds, it said its research shows massive outperformance by hedge funds for more than 15 years. Even after payment of all management and performance fees to the fund managers, they still outperform most asset classes.

Asset Allocation Options Offered

Almost 60 per cent of U.S. retirement plan participants have an asset allocation investment option in their plan, says a Spectrem Group research report. Participant Asset Allocation Trends: Target Date and Lifestyle Funds shows of the 59 per cent who could choose these funds, 14 per cent had access to lifestyle options, nine per cent could opt for target date portfolios, and 36 per cent had both as options. Of participants with asset allocation option access, 39 per cent have no money in them and 22 per cent have invested a portion of their accounts in those choices.

Systemic Concerns Dog U.S. Market

Recent policy moves in the U.S. have helped narrow some credit market spreads, but systemic concerns continue to dog financial markets, says BCA Research. It calls the list of monetary and fiscal actions taken in support of credit markets in recent weeks “impressive.” However, it says, in a research note, that even though certain spreads have narrowed, solvency issues remain. More significant directed fiscal policy action is required to deal with the underlying problem: falling house prices. As foreclosures climb, subprime-related asset write-downs will continue to erode bank capital and keep upward pressure on inter-bank lending spreads. As a result, banks will have to rebuild their capital bases over time, which means that deleveraging and forced selling will continue in credit markets for the foreseeable future.

Shepherd Launches Managers Global

David Shepherd has launched Managers Global to assist asset managers in accessing foreign markets. It provides institutional marketing capabilities to traditional and alternative asset managers outside their domestic markets. It expects to work with four to six clients in 2008 and to target institutional investment markets in Canada, Europe, and South Africa. Previously, Shepherd was a principal at Marvin & Palmer Associates, a large cap growth manager.

Aon Announces Promotions

Alex Diemer has been promoted to vice-president in the health and benefits practice of Aon Consulting. Yun Suk Kang and Rick Tessier, in Toronto, ON, and Cathy Perron in Montreal, QC, have been promoted to senior consultant. As well, in Toronto, Noelle Hamersley, Carol O'Leary, and Linda Shishis and, in Montreal, Martine Simard have been promoted to consultant. In the retirement practice, Bita Jenab has been promoted to senior vice-president while Thierry Chamberland and Rosalind (Roz) Gilbert are now vice-presidents. Alasdair Rew, in Toronto, and Guillaume Turcotte, in Montreal, are senior consultants and Philippe Laplante, Mathieu Laurendeau, and François-Gabriel Lord, in Montreal, and Lisa Virio, in Toronto, are consultants. Mike Leslie is a vice-president in the investment consulting practice. Jeremy Bell, in Vancouver, BC, and Claudia Gagné, in Montreal, have both been promoted to senior consultant and Mathieu Boivin, in Montreal, has been promoted to consultant.

Auditor General Speaks On Healthcare Fraud

Jim McCarter, auditor general of Ontario, will speak on Preventing Healthcare Fraud: An Auditor General's Perspective as part of the Canadian Health Care Anti-fraud Association Education Series 2008. He will outline the role of his office in auditing both Ministry of Health and long-term care programs as well as organizations in the broader public sector, with a focus on those areas where the potential risk of healthcare fraud is the greatest. It takes place April 22 in Toronto, ON. For more information, visit http://www.chcaa.org/seminars/register

Asset Allocation Trends And Patterns Discussed

Janet Rabovsky, practice leader of Watson Wyatt, will moderate a panel on institutional investor asset allocation trends and patterns at the Seventh Annual Canada Cup of Investment Management. The ‘Canada Cup’ is designed for institutional and retail investors and is expected to attract more than 350 participants. It takes place June 5 and 6 in Toronto, ON. For more information, visit http://www.imn.org/etm1102/e2

Panel Looks At Investment Innovations

Leon Bitton, of the Montreal Exchange; John Poos, of Nortel; Brendan George, of Aon Consulting; and Corey P. Case, of JPMorgan Alternative Asset Management; will look at innovations in pension fund investing at CPBI’s FORUM 2008. It will look at alternative investment schemes being utilized by Canadian pension plan sponsors, including portable alpha, unconstrained benchmarks, climate and carbon contracts, and 130/30 funds. It takes place May 12 to 14 in Toronto, ON. For more information, visit http://forum2008.cpbi-icra.ca/Invite/investment.html

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Friday, March 28, 2008

BCE Takeover Approved

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has approved the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan takeover of BCE Inc. However, the commission is requiring Teachers’ to make several corporate governance changes, most of which the fund and its U.S. partners had already proposed. One new change is a requirement that it appoint six of the 13 directors on the company's board. This is to ensure control remains in Canadian hands.

The key to implementing a cost-effective flex plan is to engage employees, says Marg French, of Mercer. Speaking at a CPBI seminar, she said “Nobody spends someone else’s money as carefully as they spend their own,” so it’s important to understand the data behind what employees are claiming and what non-traditional benefits are of value to them. Mercer has found, however, that excessive life insurance, health, and dental choices may, in fact, deter and overwhelm employees. Offering modular flex plans, perhaps with “flex credit” options, is an effective approach.

Growth Of Assets Slows

Growth rates for retirement assets began slowing worldwide in 2007, says Watson Wyatt Worldwide. Its 2008 Global Pensions Asset Study found in the 11 countries with the largest workplace retirement systems, the estimated growth rate for retirement assets was only two per cent in 2007. This was a significant drop from the 10.5 per cent growth rate for the five-year period ending in 2007 and from the 7.4 per cent per annum growth of the last 10 years.

More Funds Consider Legal Moves

Several large U.S. public pension funds are reportedly considering taking legal action against Bear Stearns. The Massachusetts Pension Reserves Investment Management Board would consider action if any evidence of securities fraud is found. The $51 billion state pension fund has lost an estimated at $24 million. The $127.9 billion New York City Retirement Systems is considering a federal lawsuit against the company. It owns 274,000 shares of Bear Stearns stock. The $164.4 billion New York State Common Retirement Fund, Albany, also is exploring options to protect assets in the fund. It holds 427,785 shares of Bear Stearns stock. The $1.8 billion Wayne County Employees’ Retirement System, Detroit, and the $4.3 billion Police and Fire Retirement System of the City of Detroit have filed an injunction to stop Bear Stearns from selling JPMorgan new shares to boost JPMorgan’s ownership.

Tremblay Vice-president Investments

Michel Tremblay is executive vice-president, investments, at Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc. In the last 20 years, he has held various management positions in investments and wealth management and has worked for several major financial institutions including Optimum Group, ING, and the National Bank. In his new duties, he will be in charge of its investment activities for securities, mortgage loans and real estate investments, segregated funds, and mutual funds.

Empire Picks President

Les Herr will succeed Doug Hogeboom as president and chief executive officer at the Empire Life Insurance Company. Lee takes over April 1. He joined the firm in 1999 and was, most recently, executive vice-president and senior vice-president, individual products. Hogeboom is retiring after a 34-year career with the company.

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Thursday, March 27, 2008

Cost Increases Slow Down, But Double-Digit Trend Continues

Canadian private healthcare plans continue to face double-digit cost increases in 2008, says a nationwide survey of insurers and Blue Cross agencies by Buck Consultants. Its 2008 Canadian Healthcare Trend Survey shows that while the overall trend has dipped slightly from 2007, cost increases expected this year for combined prescription drugs, medical plans, and hospital coverage are still in the 13 per cent to 14 per cent range. For dental care, increased utilization combined with provincially-set fee guides mean cost increases are in the seven per cent to 11 per cent range, depending on the plan members’ province of residence. Combined total health and dental care cost increases are expected to continue at double-digit rates.

Budget Harmonizes Retirement Account Rules

The 2008 Ontario budget will harmonize the rules for life income funds with the rules for locked-in retirement accounts. Life income funds, which came into effect January 1, allow enhanced annual withdrawals and a one-time 25 per cent unlocking provision when the fund is first set up. Now, those who transfer retirement funds to life income funds can take advantage of the same rules.

1X0/X0 More Than Marketing Fad

Short extension hedge fund Strategies are not simply a marketing fad is the decision of AIMA Canada members. They voted overwhelmingly against the premise that they are a marketing fad after hearing the topic debated by David E. Gold, asset class head, hedge funds, with Watson Wyatt; and Jean D. Masson, managing director, head of quantitative research for TD Asset Management. Gold, speaking in favour of the motion that they are a marketing fad, argued that while they look like a trend, they act like a fad as they are outperformed by pure hedge funds and will not perform well in uncertain markets, such as those that exist today. Masson, the debate winner, noted that while Gold called them mutual funds on steroids, steroids have positive uses too, not just the negative connotations from professional baseball. However, for those who believe in active management and who have skill managing long and short strategies, 1X0/X0 strategies have to be used.

Creation Of TMX Best Option

Given the global trend towards consolidation in the stock market sector, Desjardins Group believes that the agreement to merge the two Canadian exchanges is necessary to ensure long-term continuity in their respective markets, as well as to strengthen their positioning both nationally and internationally. This is the conclusion it submitted to the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) as part of the consultations on the consolidation of the Montréal and Toronto exchanges. "The creation of the TMX Group is the best option to ensure the greatest reach for the expertise developed in Montréal in this leading-edge, high-growth sector," says Alban D'Amours, Desjardins Group president and CEO. While it does endorse the amalgamation project, Desjardins would like to see the agreement texts better reflect the intentions and the spirit behind the work leading up to the development of the stock market consolidation project.

Fixing Credit Crunch Requires More

Fixing the U.S. credit crunch is going to take more than just monetary actions, says a Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc. research note. And it says even government intervention won't be enough to prevent a recession. The note says the Federal Reserve’s liquidity provisions are not a substitute for capital, and do not remove the financial institution’s balance sheet constraints, which are at the epicenter of the financial credit crunch. Fiscal action may be needed to loosen the tight credit market conditions and the deeper and more prolonged the crisis, the bolder the initiatives will likely become. To alleviate credit market paralysis, the outright purchase of illiquid mortgage-backed securities is probably required.

CWT Enhances Online Tool

Canadian Western Trust Company (CWT) has launched its enhanced CWeb online query tool. CWeb is an Internet-based service platform that allows CWT to communicate account details and other critical information to clients and their partners. New CWeb features include a listing of intra-day and pending account transactions, visual representation of an account portfolio, consolidated reports for agent and compliance users, data sorting capabilities, and the option to export information.

Banking Committee Probing Bear Stearns Deal

The U.S. Senate Banking Committee wants chief executives from JPMorgan Chase and Bear Stearns to explain the transaction which kept Bear Stearns from entering bankruptcy. As well, it has invited Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, and Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Christopher Cox to testify at an April 3 hearing about their roles in the transaction. The committee says the deal would not have attracted its interest if it involved only the two companies. However, it says actions by the Federal Reserve, Department of the Treasury, and others merit a full and public examination by the committee. It wants a "thorough accounting" of the securities assets the Fed is guaranteeing with public funds.

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Two U.S. pension funds have asked a Delaware court for an emergency order to stall the Bear Stearns takeover by JPMorgan Chase. The Police and Fire Retirement System of the City of Detroit and the Wayne County Employees' Retirement System claim the $10-a-share offer remains inadequate.

Cass Joins CPPIB

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Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Ontario Hurt Most

Ontario will be the province that is most affected by the downturn in U.S. activity, say Desjardins Group economists. "Its economy is at the mercy of the manufacturing industry, especially the automotive sector, which is going through a period of major restructuring. It is more dependent on international exports than Québec is and will not be able to avoid a drop in production in the first two quarters of 2008. Technically, therefore, Ontario will be in a recession in the early part of the year. Québec will barely escape it, thanks to tax cuts and public spending on infrastructure," says Yves St-Maurice, director and deputy chief economist. He estimates real GDP growth in Ontario and Québec will be 0.5 per cent and 1.2 per cent respectively in 2008, compared with 2.1 per cent and 2.4 per cent in 2007.

Emerging Economies Create Challenges

Long-term growth prospects for emerging economies create both challenges and opportunities for Canada, says a report from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). The World in 2050: Beyond the BRIC suggests that China could overtake the U.S. by 2025 to become the world’s largest economy and will continue to grow to 130 per cent of the size of the U.S. economy by 2050. The Indian economy could grow to almost 90 per cent of the size of the U.S. economy by 2050. As the economies of emerging nations grow, Canada’s share of the global economy is projected to diminish. To maintain its competitive position, Canadian businesses will have to differentiate through innovation and technological progress. This will require greater investments in education and capital equipment to promote the productivity gains necessary for economic growth.

Employers Use Cost Sharing

U.S. employers have been using cost sharing and tiered copayment structures to decrease pharmacy benefit costs. However, Mercer has found employers are looking to other cost-reduction strategies such as more actively encouraging members to use generic drugs and mail-order plans to further reduce costs. To encourage the use of generics, some employers require members to pay the difference in cost between a brand-name and a generic drug, in addition to the generic copay, if they request a brand drug when a generic equivalent is available.

BNY Mellon Offers Alternative Services

BNY Mellon Asset Servicing now has a suite of alternative investment services for plan sponsors and not-for-profit institutional investors. The new services enable clients to better process, manage, account for, and analyze alternative investments. Services include data administration, reconciliation, document management, and ‘as of’ performance measurement, as well as integrated reporting and analysis through the company's Workbench information delivery system.

Relationships Grow Business

Advisers with 401(k) plan clients who make it a point to develop and maintain strong relationships can grow their 401(k) practice – and their revenue – by an estimated 40 per cent over 10 years compared with those who do not, says a Fidelity Investments report. As well, plan sponsors are more focused on the level of their adviser's support and knowledge than on fees as a cause for breaking an existing relationship. Plan sponsors say services – including employee communications, group investment meetings, proactive check-ins, and industry updates – are important, but also as areas where they are less than satisfied with their adviser's help.

Companies Not Fully Tapping Into Onsite Health Centre Potential

High health costs and a renewed focus on worker productivity have led an increasing number of U.S. companies to open onsite health centres in recent years. However, few companies fully tap the potential of these centres, says Watson Wyatt. Nearly one-third of companies (29 per cent) have or plan to have an onsite health centre by 2009, up from 27 per cent in 2006. Reducing medical costs was the chief reason 70 per cent of companies have opened a centre since 2000. Only 49 per cent of companies that adopted health centres before 2000 did so due to cost.

Current Trends Challenge Insurance Companies

Insurance companies need a strong grasp of current trends to successfully manage risk, optimize performance, and increase operational effectiveness, says Ernst & Young. While climate change is the greatest strategic threat facing the insurance industry, it says the baby boomer generation is causing a demographic shift with huge ramifications for the insurance industry. As this group reaches retirement age, their financial needs change and they need new products to fill the gap. Because current generations may not have sufficient funds for retirement, insurance companies are stepping into a role traditionally played by governments. That means insurers are facing intense pressure in cases of failure, intensified public scrutiny, and greater regulatory pressures.

Benefit Professionals Speak

CPBI Manitoba Region will present a six-part lecture series – featuring some of Manitoba’s most prominent benefit professionals – April 22, April 29, and May 6. The sessions April 22 will look at the basics of employee benefit plans and benefit plan cost management. April 29, the focus shifts to claims and disability management. The series concludes May 6 with sessions on benefits communication and emerging benefit issues. For more information, email daled@mts.net

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Tuesday, March 25, 2008

ABCP Worth About 60 Per Cent

Canada's $32 billion asset backed commercial paper (ABCP) market has lost more than 40 per cent of its value, says an analyst at RBC Capital Markets. Andre-Philippe Hardy’s estimate is based on court documents. The estimate shows $17.2 billion of leveraged super senior swap transactions were worth about 30 per cent as of March 4. Another $3 billion portion tied to U.S. subprime is worth about 20 per cent. If other assets underlying the paper are worth their full face value, it leaves a valuation of 56 per cent for the ABCP. This may be higher, however, because investment grade debt spreads have tightened since March 4. A committee led by Toronto lawyer Purdy Crawford hopes to fix the ABCP market by trading the commercial paper for longer-term notes.

More than half of U.S. companies on the brink of default have been involved in private equity transactions, says Standard & Poor’s. The study suggests that private equity firms appear to beef up their exposure in the lowest-rated companies, citing private equity presence of more than 60 per cent among CCC+ companies, but just 40 per cent at the B- level. The rating agency found that companies which it rates at B- or less with a negative outlook have been increasing in number since the middle of last year. There were 114 as of earlier this month, compared with 77 in December and 62 last June.

Co-operators Studies Climate, Social Trends

Environmental and demographic changes could greatly affect the way insurance companies provide products and services in the years and decades ahead, says a study for The Co-operators. The Future of Sustainable Insurance: A Thought Leaders Study outlines the opportunities and threats the insurance industry will face over the next 10 years and the approaches that responsible insurance companies should take to contribute to the betterment of society, the economy, and the planet itself. Ten thought leaders in sustainable insurance from Europe, North America, and Australia shared insights about best practices, anticipated trends in sustainability, threats to the insurance industry, and opportunities for new products and services.

Saskatchewan Introduces Public Sector Plan Amendments

Two pension-related bills have been introduced on first reading in the Saskatchewan legislature, says the Hewitt Monitor. Bill 9 amends The Superannuation (Supplemental Provisions) Act so that an annuity paid to a "new spouse" must be equivalent in value to the total of the commuted value of the allowance otherwise payable to the superannuate and the commuted value of the entitlement to an allowance on the death of the superannuate of the person who would otherwise be a spouse. In addition, the act is amended to provide that a payment, allowance, entitlement, or amount standing to the credit of any person in a fund may be retained as a set-off for the purpose of recovering an overpayment of an allowance or benefit paid pursuant to a superannuation act. Bill 10 amends various acts to accommodate phased retirement as introduced through recent amendments to the federal Income Tax Act.

Funds Should Explore Sustainable Beliefs

Pension fund officials are being encouraged to explore their sustainable investment beliefs in a bid to prevent uncertainty about the potential performance of their portfolios, says a Watson Wyatt briefing note. Investing for the future suggests the uncertainty of how companies’ returns and long-term growth will be affected by, for example, the arrival of regulations tracking their impact on the environment, means pension funds. Investors “should seek to understand which companies are best placed to minimize costs, increase efficiency, and exploit value opportunities” as it will “become impossible to take a long-term investment view without considering the impact of sustainability issues on investments.” Jane Goodland, author of the report and part of of sustainable investment research team at Watson Wyatt, says the overriding issue for pension funds should be to consider environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters as creating value and managing risk, as their fiduciary responsibility is to deliver the best possible returns for the benefit of members. Complicating matters, however, is there is no set formula for establishing the needs of pension funds concerning ESG.

DC Assets Concentrated

Assets in employment-based Defined Contribution plans (typically 401(k) plans), individual retirement accounts (IRAs), and Keogh plans in the U.S. are concentrated in families with high family income and higher net worth, says a study by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI). The March 2008 EBRI Notes reports individual account retirement plans assets totaled $6.8 trillion in 2004. More than 63 per cent of assets in individual account retirement plans were held by individuals with a family income of $100,000 or more in 2004. More than 25 per cent of assets were held by individuals with a family income between $50,000 and $99,999, and around 11 per cent of assets were held by individuals with family incomes below that.

Can CAPs Meet Objectives?

Capital Accumulation Plans – Can they meet your objectives? will be the topic of an ACPM half-day session on the special challenges associated with these plans. It takes place May 7 in Toronto, ON. Registration and full program information will be available later this month.

Seminars Offer Overview Of Benefits

The Toronto Area Chapter of the International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists (ISCEBS) will hold two full-day primary seminars designed for those looking for a quick overview of employee benefits. Topics to be covered include health and dental and life insurance in the group benefits session and setting up a pension plan and DC plans from accumulation to payout in the pension benefits session. It takes place May 8 and 9 in Toronto, ON. For more information, eMail :wayne_murphy@pbas.ca or call Wayne Murphy at (416) 674-2407 X 237

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Monday, March 24, 2008

OTC Drugs May Be Restricted

The recent federal budget may force corporate drug plans to stop covering over-the-counter medications, says Watson Wyatt. It says benefits and insurance companies have asked the Canada Revenue Agency how a measure to tighten up the medical-expense tax credit by removing over-the-counter drugs from the program will affect employee benefit plans. Many company drug plans provide coverage for non-prescription medications if ordered by a doctor which is permitted by Canada Revenue Agency. With rules becoming tighter, drug plans may amend coverage to match them.

Gold Price Will Surprise

Gold is a commodity people try to relate to in supply and demand terms, but it is really a currency issue, says Andrew Marchese, portfolio manager and Canadian director of research for Pyramis Global Advisors. Speaking at its Global Market Update Conference, he said with real rates flat or negative, and likely to become more negative, he is extremely bullish for gold. He said everybody will be surprised to see the price of gold going forward and it will happen in relatively short order. However, “if you think moves have been parabolic now, wait a few years and they’ll surprise you even more.”

TFSAs Let Canadians Accumulate Big Retirement Nest Eggs

TFSAs will allow anyone to accumulate significant tax-free nest eggs, say Jon Kesselman, a professor in the graduate public policy program at Simon Fraser University, and Finn Poschmann, director of research at the C.D. Howe Institute. Responding to criticism that the $5,000 annual limit is too low, they say taxpayers can make contributions to any family members' accounts and, better yet, TFSA contributions do not reduce contribution room for tax-deferred savings accounts. As well, because tax has already been paid on funds in a TFSA, a dollar in a TFSA will typically be worth about 180 per cent of a dollar in an RRSP.

Barclays Launches Frontier Fund

Barclays Global Investors has launched the Frontier Markets Fund, which offers exposure to pre-emerging market economies. The fund will invest in 16 frontier market countries and will be benchmarked to the MSCI Frontier Markets Index.

States Consider Subprime

Retirement systems in South Carolina and Pennsylvania are considering buying mortgage-related investments, believing that the subprime mortgage crisis means the ones with good credit ratings could yield strong returns later. The subprime mortgage crisis was brought on by the lenders in the U.S. mortgage industry taking greater risks by lending to people who had poor credit histories. They were betting that home values would continue to rise and that these borrowers would be able to refinance before their monthly payments moved higher. When that didn’t happen and home prices fell, people began defaulting on their loans and securities tied to mortgages dropped in value. Now, some see bargains as investors realize the underlying assets the securities represent are far from worthless.

JPMorgan May Up Offer

JPMorgan Chase & Co. may quintuple its offer to buy Bear Stearns Cos. to $10 per share in an effort to pacify angry Bear Stearns shareholders, says a New York Times report. Its original agreement was to pay $2 per share, considered a fire-sale price for the 85-year-old Wall Street investment bank which collapsed in a liquidity crisis after suffering large subprime mortgage losses. While the original agreement was supported by federal regulators, the U.S. Federal Reserve is now balking at the new price and, as a result, the renegotiated merger might be postponed or collapse.

Employer-sponsored Care Increases Loyalty

Employers looking to boost the commitment levels of their employees would do well to consider offering them access to a backup child and elder care program, says a poll by LifeCare, Inc. It found 88 per cent of all respondents said that having access to an employer-sponsored backup care program would make them much more/more loyal.

FASB Wants Detailed Breakout

FASB has issued a proposal to require a more detailed breakout of corporate pension fund asset allocations to obtain a better assessment of risk. Assets which would be identified include hedge funds, private equity, foreign exchange contracts, and asset-based and structured debt as well as negative positions in derivatives or other instruments. Disclosure would include fair value measurements of assets, ranging from market-based pricing to less transparent pricing.

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Thursday, March 20, 2008

Investors Exit Emerging Market Bonds

Investors are now exiting emerging markets bonds, says Samarjit Shankar, director of global strategy at the Bank of New York Mellon. Speaking at a CIBC Mellon breakfast seminar, he said until 2006 investors had been moving into the sector. Now they are being much more selective, “picking and choosing by country.” With the U.S. domestic economy in a “tailspin” right now, Shankar says capital has flocked to the shorter end of the curve with investors seeking safety and liquidity. “The one underlying theme in markets right now is that you’re going to see continued weakness in the U.S. dollar,” he said.

RCMP Plan Investigation Adequate

The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) investigation of the RCMP pension plan was adequate, says an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) review. The OPP review concluded that although there was lack of independence, it did not ultimately affect or obstruct the final outcome of the investigation. It also found there were no deliberate or intentional acts by any RCMP or investigation team members to derail or jeopardize the investigation and no evidence that information was deliberately withheld from the investigation or that outside influences were a major stumbling block. However, it does recommend that a further investigation be undertaken to determine if criminal misconduct was involved in the outsourcing of the RCMP insurance plan. The commissioner of the RCMP has requested that the OPP conduct an investigation into this matter and the OPP has accepted this request.

Bank Works Out ABCP Deal

Cash Levels Reach New High

Cash levels have reached a new high, says a survey of fund managers from Merrill Lynch. However, fund managers continue to see value in equities. Cash positions reached 42 per cent this month, an increase from February’s 41 per cent. The survey found that 25 per cent take the view that equities are undervalued on absolute terms and relative to bonds. While this combination does not guarantee a rally, Merrill says that it has, in the past, been a prerequisite for a comeback.

Sponsors Need To Understand Financial Literacy

Capital Accumulation Plan sponsors need to understand the financial literacy of their members, says Peter Arnold, national practice leader, investment consulting, Buck Consultants, an ACS Company. Speaking at a session on CAPs and Communication Gaps, he said its 2008 Capital Accumulation Plans Survey found almost 75 per cent of sponsors believe their members are confused over the investment options offered and more than two-thirds do not believe they are getting enough investment education. Understanding the financial literacy of members can enable the sponsor to decide if, for example, its membership cannot deal with investments and the sponsor then must find a way to help them find investment advice. It also enables the sponsor to gauge the level of investment education and communications planning needed. Sponsors must deal with both investment education for members and communication to members as one strategy.

U.S. To Drag Canada Down

Canada will not escape the economic malaise that is underway in the United States, says the March issue of the TD Quarterly Economic Forecast. The American contraction will also widen regional divides in Canada with the west in the best shape to weather the downtown with Ontario in the worst position. The U.S. troubles will contribute to modest 1.1 per cent economic growth for Canada in 2008. Two direct linkages will harm the domestic economy. The current tightness in the credit cycle will raise the cost of funding, restricting investment for Canadian companies. As well, the combination of a high Canadian dollar and weak U.S. demand will continue to drag export growth. The 2009 outlook is more promising. The adjustment underway in the U.S. will allow lenders and homeowners to work through oversupply, stagnating home prices, and the excesses of past lax lending standards. This will lead to fewer restraints in consumer spending and lending behaviour, allowing consumer spending to sustain a convincing recovery by the fall of the year.

Moriarity Heads Up UTAM

William Moriarity is president and CEO of the University of Toronto Asset Management Corporation (UTAM). He was with Royal Bank and RBC Capital Markets, most recently as head of the global research division. He takes over his new position in April.

RDSPs Examined

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Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Bear Stearns Maple Bonds Safe

A Canadian money manager holding Maple bonds issued in Canada by U.S. investment bank Bears Stearns Cos. Inc. believes JPMorgan will assume them. Phillips Hager & North Investment Management Ltd. holds a total of $2.65 billion in Maple bonds, including some issued by Bear Stearns. Scott Lamont, a vice-president at PH&N, says they are not worried about their status. He cites a Moody's Investors Service report that indicated JPMorgan will assume all debt obligations of Bear Stearns upon close of the transaction.

Transparency and risk management are just as important to investors as performance when deciding whether to retain their managers of alternative investments, says a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Its global survey of 226 institutional investors and alternative investment providers found that flattening returns have contributed to investor pressure for more and better governance. The quality of compliance and risk management process and transparency were rated higher than performance among the criteria for deselecting investment providers. The findings back up the belief that when returns start to moderate, investors focus more intently on operational infrastructure.

Canadians Plan To Keep Working

Almost half of Canadians aged 45 to 54 do not plan to fully retire, and will work to remain active or earn money to survive. A national survey by Secor Consulting and Leger Marketing shows that as Canadians become older, maintaining their current lifestyle becomes more important. Over time, the worry that this will not be possible also increases. Eighty-six per cent of respondents highlighted maintaining their current lifestyle as very important.

Northern Trust Enhances Compliance Monitoring

Northern Trust has enhanced its investment compliance monitoring capabilities for institutional asset servicing clients globally by expanding its range of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors. Screening capabilities now cover issues including prohibited nations – companies with business or other ties to nations identified as supporting terrorism or human rights violations and sanctioned nations; and Shari’ah law – companies with connections to activities that violate Islamic law including prohibitions on predatory lending.

Retirement Needs A Guess

While two out of three people think about how much they'll need for retirement, half say calculating that number isn’t easy and they don’t know where to start, says an ING survey. More than half have calculated the money needed for retirement, but more than a third say all they could do is guess. When asked what they should consider to calculate the amount they’ll need for retirement, over a third mentioned living expenses. No other factor – including life expectancy, healthcare costs, and age of retirement – was considered by more than seven per cent of respondents.

Funds Pulled From Asian Markets

Global investors withdrew more than $700 million from funds focused on Asian markets up to mid-March, says Emerging Portfolio Fund Research (EPFR). The emerging market fund-tracking firm cites the current state of global stock markets and existing volatility as reasons for the withdrawals. There was also a capital outflow of as much as $2 billion from emerging market equity funds. Investors showed little confidence in the view that growth in key emerging markets has decoupled from the U.S. economic cycle.

De Pompa Joins E*TRADE

John De Pompa and Sid Brougham have joined the executive team at E*TRADE Canada Securities Corporation. De Pompa joins the firm as director, chief compliance officer. He was previously with UBS Investment Management Canada. Sid Brougham is director, chief operating officer. He was formerly at RBC Dexia Investor Services.

Newman Speaks At FPL Conference

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Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Chill Sent Through Financial System

The collapse of Bear Stearns and its acquisition by JP Morgan has sent another chill through the global financial system, says RBC DS The Harbour Group: Harbour Notes. It calls it the “biggest casualty” of the credit crisis that started with the bursting of the U.S. housing bubble. As well, it raises fears that it may be the first of several large-scale firms to fail and raises concerns about a major financial problem that could push the economy into a deep and prolonged downturn. The worst case scenario is that this could turn into something similar to the U.S. experience in the 1930s or the Japanese situation that has prevailed since the equity and property bubbles burst in 1989. However, it does say the odds of this turning into a system-wide issue that causes a deep equity market and economic downturn are very low given the actions by central banks since the crisis began last July.

Financial Stocks Have Further Downside

Financial stocks have further downside of as much as 50 per cent, based on multiples of tangible book value as a result of the Bear Stearns buyout. Meredith Whitney, an Oppenheimer & Co. analyst, says JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s buyout of Bear Stearns for $2 a share, or only two per cent of the stated book value at the end of the fourth quarter could result in a major negative revaluation of financials. Based on tangible book value, banks look expensive. However, as goodwill writedowns start to take place, investors will focus more on tangible book value and stocks will revalue to lower levels. Canadian banks are responding by tightening their credit as a result of the Bears Stearns near failure. They are said to be cutting back on loans to financial players and running worst-case scenarios on derivative contracts and credit to test their exposure to their rivals. Most global banks saw their access to funds from other banks disappear. The freeze in money markets resulted in an 80 basis point jump in the overnight dollar London interbank offered rate (Libor), the biggest one-day jump since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Maple Bond Fate Uncertain

The fate of $2.65 billion in Maple bonds Bear Stearns has issued in Canada in the past four years is one uncertainty surrounding the proposed bailout of Bear Stearns Cos. Inc. by JPMorgan Chase & Co. JPMorgan has pledged to guarantee Bear Stearns's counter-party risk, but it is not known if this will extend to the 11 issues of fixed- and floating-rate Canadian-dollar-denominated debt that it has sold with the help of Scotia Capital Inc. and RBC Capital Markets. Scotia Capital is monitoring the situation and still making a market in Maple bonds, says spokesman Frank Switzer. The Investment Industry Association of Canada says that a total of $26.9 billion was raised in 71 Maple bond issues last yea including issues by JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs Group, Morgan Stanley, and Lehman Bros.

ABCP Protected

A bid to put $32 billion of asset backed commercial paper (ABCP) under the protection of the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act has been approved by the Ontario Superior Court. This gives the Pan-Canadian Investors Committee, which is working to restructure the troubled asset class, additional time. An agreement that had been keeping the market frozen, and preventing the paper's value from crashing, expired at midnight last Friday. The court protection extends until April 16, at which point it could be extended, and the committee has negotiated a standstill agreement with the asset providers until the end of April. While some details of the plan are still being negotiated, the committee has secured 98.5 per cent of the $14 billion in backup funding commitments it needs for the smooth operation of the restructured market. As well, nearly all participants in the third-party asset-backed commercial paper sector want legal releases signed to make it more difficult for investors in the sector to successfully sue them.

Allegations Can Lead To Rejection

Allegations of unethical behavior in hedge fund managers’ background is enough to make private and institutional investors reject them, says a Survey of Due Diligence Practices Among Investors in Alternative Investments by Greenwich Roundtable and Quinnipiac University. The study found the most common ethics lapse involved misrepresentation of credentials.

Healthcare Benefits Cost $2.59 An Hour

Employer-provided healthcare benefits cost an average $2.59 hourly in 2005, almost $1 more than in 1999, says a Kaiser Family Foundation study of employer payroll and health benefits costs. The median cost to U.S. employers of employee healthcare coverage as a share of payroll rose from 8.2 per cent in 1999 to 11 per cent in 2005. 

MacKay Heads Ceridian

Dave MacKay is president of Ceridian Canada Ltd. He moves up from chief operating officer. He joined the firm 25 years ago and has held a number of increasingly senior leadership positions. He succeeds Jim Burns who has been appointed president, Ceridian International.

What To Look For In A Hedge Fund

Winning in a losing market: How to choose hedge funds will be the theme of a presentation by James McGovern, managing director and CEO, ArrowHedge Partners, at the 6th Annual Morningstar Investment Conference. He will discuss what to look for in a hedge fund and in a manager. The conference takes place June 11 in Toronto, ON. For more information, visit www.morningstar.ca/conference

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Monday, March 17, 2008

ABCP Committee Wants Protection

A committee of investors seeking to revive asset-backed commercial paper (ABCP) will ask a Superior Court of Ontario judge to grant the notes bankruptcy protection, says a report in the Toronto Globe and Mail. While there is no provision under Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act to grant bankruptcy protection to the 20 trusts involved, an arrangement could be made to convert them into corporations, which are eligible for protection. If the court application is successful, assets linked to ABCP – such as mortgages and car leases – will be protected from default notices, lawsuits, and other potential claims until a restructuring is approved by the courts. The investors committee had been trying to convert the short-term notes into long-term bonds and believed this would repay virtually all principle owed to investors. Under bankruptcy protection, repayment could average 80 cents on the dollar.

 Real Estate Favoured Alternative

Real estate is the most popular alternative investment among public pension plans in the U.S. and Canada, says a report by the Government Finance Officers Association. Real estate was the favourite alternatives asset class for 85 per cent of respondents, followed by private equity (60 per cent), venture capital (44 per cent), and hedge funds (42 per cent). Overall, 52 per cent of the 150 public pension plans polled either invest or plan to invest in alternatives. The ones do not invest are typically either barred by law or by investment policy from doing so or are governed by conservative boards of trustees.

Sponsors Unaware Of Impact Of Better Execution

When buying and selling securities, over half (53 per cent) of pension fund sponsors in Canada are not aware of the impact of adopting best trade execution practices, says a Morneau Sobeco 60 Second Survey. The survey also revealed that out of the pension fund sponsors that are aware of the impact of best execution practices – or what the industry refers to as ‘best execution’ – the majority (32 per cent) estimates that these practices improve their fund's return by more than 50 basis points and maybe even as much as one per cent annually.

Ethical Funds Sustainable Leader

The Ethical Funds Company was named Canada’s sustainable investment and banking leader at the 2008 Globe Awards for Environmental Excellence Gala. The award is in recognition of its success at marketing socially responsible investing (SRI) to investors by showing how individual investments can help to change the world. Ethical has been at the forefront of this industry for more than 20 years and has $2.6 billion in assets under management.

Employers Using Consumer-Directed Health Plans

The number of U.S. companies that offer consumer-directed health plans (CDHP) is rising and the number of workers who enroll in the programs has nearly doubled over the last two years, says a Watson Wyatt and the National Business Group on Health survey. As well, health cost increases for companies with high CDHP enrollment are about half those facing companies offering only traditional health coverage. The number of companies offering CDHPs is now at about 47 per cent, up from 39 per cent in 2007. Employee enrollment also continues to rise. Fifteen per cent of employees at organizations that offer CDHPs are currently enrolled in such plans, up from 10 per cent
in 2007. CDHPs offer a way for companies to control costs while increasing employee accountability for healthcare decisions.

Marmer Speaks At Oakville Event

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Friday, March 14, 2008

CPPIB Airport Bid Accepted

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) partial offer for 39.2 per cent of the fully paid ordinary shares in Auckland International Airport Limited (AIAL) has met the required levels of approvals and acceptances. CPPIB has successfully achieved the minimum acceptance condition and approval under Rule 10 of New Zealand’s Takeovers Code necessary to allow the offer to continue. It said earlier this week it would voluntarily reduce its voting power on all shareholder resolutions, with the exception of resolutions that affect the rights attaching to its shares, to satisfy the regulation by reinforcing the fact that CPPIB will not have control over the airport.

Market Value Of Funds Unchanged

The market value of assets in these pension funds amounted to $957.2 billion for the three-month period ending September 2007, essentially unchanged from $956.9 billion in the second quarter, says Statistics Canada. This situation reflects both the performance of Canadian stocks on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the rise in value of the Canadian dollar, hindering gains in foreign stock holding. At the end of September, pension fund assets held in stocks and equity funds accounted for 39.1 per cent of total assets; bonds and bond funds, 32 per cent; real estate, 6.6 per cent; short-term investments, 3.6 per cent; mortgages, 1.4 per cent; and other assets, 16.9 per cent. Pension revenues declined to $28.3 billion in the third quarter, after peaking in the previous quarter at $34.7 billion. This decline was due to reduced employer contributions, investment income, and profits from buying and selling stocks.

Trust-based DC Used Because It Fits

A Fidelity report shows that 70 per cent of UK firms have opted to implement a trust-based Defined Contribution plan as it "fits" with existing Defined Benefit arrangements. However, 'Corporate Commitment to Pension Provision' says if employers could start from scratch, 60 per cent would prefer a contract-based scheme such as a stakeholder or group personal pension (GPP). More than 60 per cent now operate at least one trust-based DC scheme, a slight increase from 2006.

Employers Enhancing 401(k)s

Many companies that shift from traditional Defined Benefit pension plans to Defined Contribution plans, such as 401(k)s, are enhancing contributions to their DC plans, says Watson Wyatt Worldwide. However, the overall retirement value delivered by employers that provide only DC plans is generally less than what is provided by companies with a combined DB and DC approach. Its survey of 300 large U.S. employers found that 40 per cent have replaced their DB plan with a DC plan as their main retirement vehicle for new hires in the past 10 years. More than three-quarters of these companies made enhancements to their DC plan after freezing or closing their DB plan, with the majority (52 per cent) introducing or increasing a non-matching contribution.

Strategies Could Revolutionize Plan Management

Canadian institutions are in the early stages of a strategic shift that could ultimately transform the way pension assets are managed, says Greenwich Associates' 2008 Canadian Investment Management Research Study. An increasing number of Canadian plan sponsors are adopting techniques and strategies designed to more closely align the structure of their investment portfolios with pension liabilities. About one quarter of Canadian institutions say they have adopted some form of asset-liability matching strategy in their portfolios and another 19 per cent say they have plans to do so. Slightly more than 10 per cent have taken the next step and implemented liability-driven investing strategies.

 Investors Want Lasting Changes In Executive Compensation

In the wake of U.S. Congressional hearings on executive compensation and the continued distress of the global investment markets, the CFA Institute Centre for Financial Market Integrity has restated its call on behalf of investors worldwide for improved disclosure, transparency, and shareowner influence on executive pay practices. In December 2007, the CFA Institute Centre asked the SEC for improvements to its executive compensation and related-party disclosure rules. In its letter, the CFA Institute Centre recommended 10 changes to existing SEC rules such as limiting companies' ability to use "competitive considerations" as a reason to avoid disclosure of compensation strategy and disclosing the role a company's CEO played in determining his/her own compensation.

Members Not Turned Off By Higher Savings Rate

While many plan sponsors are reluctant to set a higher default savings rate for fear of 'turning off' employees, research from MassMutual 's Center for Behavioral Research shows otherwise. Among approximately 400 plans with automatic features evaluated, those with a default rate higher than three per cent actually had higher participation rates (84 per cent) than those defaulting at three per cent or lower (72 per cent). Automation: 3 Steps to a High Performance Plan suggests important criteria for retirement plan advisors and sponsors to consider when evaluating the adoption of automatic plan features include automatic enrollment, automatic deferral increase, and automatic asset allocation.

C-surance.ca Now Cross-country

C-surance Global Services/MDI’s flagship product is now available to group benefit advisors and actuaries across Canada. Implemented in Quebec in 1996, it provides a ‘software as a service’ approach to group benefits management. It is scalable to respond to the needs of every size operation.

HRPAO Changes Branding

While the official name will remain the Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario (HRPAO), it has moved to a logo which shows HRPA. The soft rebranding process follows the lead of other HR associations in the world which do not identify themselves geographically. It decided to take the soft approach to allow Canadian HR professionals to get used to the new acronym.

Demographics Impact Claiming Trends

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Thursday, March 13, 2008

Cooper, Hamilton Examine New Retirement

Dr. Sherry Cooper and Malcolm Hamilton will discuss the issues of aging and retirement at a CPBI Ontario breakfast seminar inspired by Cooper’s new book, The New Retirement – How it will change our Future. Cooper is executive vice-president and global economic strategist for BMO Financial Group. She will speak on how the retiring boomer generation will redefine retirement. Hamilton is a principal and worldwide partner at Mercer. He will discuss how Canadians should address the financial challenges of retirement and the growing gap between the fact and fiction of aging. It takes place April 17 in Toronto, ON. For more information, visit http://www.cpbi-icra.ca/

Glide Path Needs Consideration

Plan sponsors considering the addition of target-date funds need to consider the funds’ glide path and whether the offerings should be actively or passively managed, says the Vanguard Investment Counseling and Research report, Evaluating and Implementing Target Date Portfolios – Four Key Considerations. It also suggests that plans need to consider whether a customized fund is the right idea. Finally, plan sponsors need to think about the potential impact on plan participation of adding or not adding a target-date option.

Disclosure Guidelines Impact View Of Risk

Proposed pension disclosure guidelines from the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) could impact the overall pension management process, but will specifically impact the outside view of risk in asset allocation decisions and as a primary factor in investment strategy implementation, says an CFO Summary from SEI Global Institutional Solutions. It says pension plan sponsors have historically made asset allocation decisions based on return objectives or a better match to liabilities while being comfortable with the level of risk the investment presented to the organization. Now, however, the sponsor must understand these decisions to a deeper level and be able to discuss their decisions with users of their financial statements. Risk has typically been a key factor in asset allocation decisions, but it takes on new importance with these changes.

DB Health Delays Shift To DC

While the proportion of Defined Benefit plans closed to new employees jumped to 26 per cent in 2007 from 22 per cent in 2006 in the United States, the share of closed Canadian funds has been stable at about 20 per cent for the past three years, says Greenwich Associates' 2008 Canadian Investment Management Research Study. At the same time, the share of Canadian plan sponsors operating DC plans has been steady at about 50 per cent. Canadian plan sponsors are under less pressure to close their DB plans in part because the plans themselves are better funded. The average funding ratio for Canadian pension plans now stands at 99 per cent, up from 97 per cent last year.

State Street Expands Commission Management

State Street Corporation has expanded its commission management service offering. State Street Global Markets, its investment research and trading arm, has acquired FinancialSockets, a firm that offers asset management firms a technology solution for managing and reporting on their usage of research and execution commissions. Its new offerings include a commission management platform that consolidates tracking, analysis, and reporting of costs and payments to address regulatory and business management reporting requirements.

 Crawford Speaks at ABS 2008

Purdy Crawford, chair of the Investors Committee examining third-party asset backed commercial paper, is the keynote speaker at the 11th Annual Asset Securitization Forum, ABS 2008. The event will examine topics such as Canadian securitization and the global credit crunch and choosing between ABCP and term funding. It takes place June 1 to 4 in Mont Tremblant, QC. For more information, visit www.insightinfo.com

 Hedge Fund Alpha Creation Examined

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Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Teachers’ Satisfy CRTC

The Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan has addressed a concern that the structure of its deal to takeover BCE Inc. will comply with Ontario pension laws. Two weeks ago, a hearing before the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) was postponed so it could get a letter from the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) approving the proposed shareholder structure. Ontario pension laws restrict pension funds to no more than 30 per cent of a company's voting shares. To remedy this, it arranged for a former Teachers’ executive, P. Morgan McCague, to hold two-thirds of BCE's class A voting shares and vote them according to Teachers' orders. It must still show the proposed takeover and privatization complies with foreign ownership rules for the broadcasting sector.

Social Media Can Benefit Employers

Social media has started to improve companies' ability to enhance employee communication, says Watson Wyatt Worldwide. When properly rolled out, social media can help companies engage employees. Instead of simply mass eMailing information or posting to an intranet in hopes employees will see it, social media tools help employees actively participate in creating and sharing information. This shift to employee-generated content has resulted in employees' becoming more engaged online. However, at the moment, many companies are focused on the risks of social media. Executives often express concern about giving employees the ability to create content and many information technology departments are blocking employee access to the most popular external social media tools.

CIBC Mellon Enhances Securities Lending Operations

CIBC Mellon Global Securities Services will use EquiLend to automate its securities lending operations. It says this will facilitate greater connectivity with securities borrowers, positioning it to deliver superior returns to Canadian securities lenders. It also reflects its ongoing commitment to strengthen automation across its business to mitigate operational risk and achieve greater processing efficiency.

CPPIB Joins Wireless Consortium Group

Manitoba Telecom Services Inc., the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), and The Blackstone Group L.P. have formed a consortium to bid as an entrant in the Advanced Wireless Services spectrum auction. The auction, which is scheduled to begin May 27, is being conducted by Industry Canada to foster greater competition and innovation in the Canadian wireless market. Each will own approximately one-third of the new entity.

Five Things Your Insurance Broker Should Communicate

Understanding your business ranks as the top thing an insurance should communicate when developing a plan for employee healthcare benefits packages, says The Wilshire Group, an insurance affiliate of CheckPoint HR, LLC. It says each business has unique needs and cannot afford a one-size-fits-all  insurance strategy. Brokers should also show a commitment to the client, independent judgment, exceptional expertise and service, and openness for change.

AIMA Debates Short Strategies  

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Tuesday, March 11, 2008

TFSAs Election Issue For Many Employers

Nearly a quarter of employers polled would consider Tax Free Savings Account (TFSAs) an important campaign issue if a federal election were called before enabling legislation was passed, says a Morneau Sobeco 60 Second Survey. Nearly 40 per cent said it was likely or definite that their organization was likely to set up an employer-sponsored TFSA. "The positive interest at this early stage is already very high. We think it is likely that interest in an employer-sponsored TFSA will rise further in the months ahead as more employers become comfortable with the concept and learn how TFSAs can be factored into their organization's overall retirement and savings programs," says Greg Hurst, Morneau Sobeco's National DC Practice Leader.

Retirees Maintain Disposable Income

On average, Canadian workers had family disposable incomes at age 75, when most are retired, that were 80 per cent of their incomes at age 55, when they were working, says a Statistics Canada study. However, the extent to which they maintained their income in retirement varied with their level of income. Disposable incomes for wealthier Canadian workers declined significantly after they headed into the retirement years, but those with low incomes encountered relatively little change. It found that among workers with average incomes at age 55, family disposable income fell after the age of 60, declined until 68, then stabilized at about 80 per cent of the income level they had when they were 55.

Canadian Funds Add Foreign Exposure

Freed from past regulatory constraints on foreign investments and driven by a desire for diversification and higher returns, Canadian pension plans, endowments, and foundations are adding international assets to their investment portfolios at a rapid rate, says Greenwich Associates. Its 2008 Canadian Investment Management Research Study shows that as recently as 2003 – when institutions were still limited by the Foreign Property Rule – international equity represented slightly less than half of institutional equity portfolios in Canada. That share rose to 51 per cent in 2004, to 56 per cent in 2006, and surged to 58 per cent in 2007. All told, foreign securities represent about 30 per cent of institutional assets in Canada, with non-domestic equities making up more than 29 per cent and international bonds accounting for slightly more than 0.5 per cent.

CPPIB Reducing Voting Rights

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) will further restrict its ability to vote its shares of Auckland International Airport Limited (AIAL) if its partial takeover offer is successful. CPPIB intends to voluntarily reduce its voting power for all shareholder resolutions, with the exception of resolutions that affect the rights attached to CPPIB’s shares, to 24.9 per cent of all AIAL voting shares. The voluntary restrictions mean CPPIB will meet the 25 per cent limit on voting rights for overseas investors wishing to acquire shares in substantial companies or companies that have sensitive land in New Zealand.

Tsotsos Represents Canada 

Bill Tsotsos has joined the North American Institutional sales operation for Barin