ESG
How NEST is becoming a more sophisticated investor
The master trust is leading the way on DC investment, getting into illiquid assets and challenging asset managers to do more. CIO Mark Fawcett tells Stephanie Baxter about its evolution
Exclusive: Blackrock launches multi-asset strategic growth fund
Blackrock has launched a strategic growth fund for defined benefit (DB) and defined contribution (DC) schemes which aims to achieve long-term growth with two-thirds the volatility of equities.
Climate change policy adopted by just 5% of top corporate pension funds
While three quarters of the biggest UK corporate pension funds recognise the potential impact of climate change, only a handful have a specific policy, according to Pinsent Masons research.
Govt blocks mandatory climate risk reporting in 'disappointing' response to EAC proposal
The government has rejected the Environmental Audit Committee's (EAC) proposal to make pension fund climate-related financial disclosures mandatory.
LifeSight to adopt 50% ESG strategy for default fund amid DC 'challenges'
Willis Towers Watson's LifeSight is the first defined contribution (DC) master trust to allocate around half of equity investments in the default fund to environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategies.
Church of England Pensions Board challenges 55 companies on climate lobbying practices
The Church of England Pensions Board has written to 55 European companies on their climate lobbying practices, and has warned of shareholder resolutions later this year.
Pensions minister calls for schemes to step up environmental commitments
Pension funds can step up their environmental commitments by ensuring they take full account of climate change in their investment strategies, pensions minister Guy Opperman has said.
Hermes appointed for LGPS Central engagement remit
LGPS Central has appointed Hermes Equity Ownership Services (EOS) to run engagement and voting services for the investments of its nine local authority funds.
A wake-up call for pension funds
Catherine Howarth argues that more auto-enrolment providers need to develop their climate-related risk management.
IGCs face stronger ESG reporting duties under FCA plans
Contract-based schemes could face requirements to disclose their firms' policies on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues under Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) plans.
ESG could be 'hidden superpower' for member engagement
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues could be the key to greater engagement with members if the power of investments is communicated well, says Emma Douglas.
Labour business proposals would be 'double whammy' for pension savings
Labour Party plans to renationalise core industries and require the largest listed companies to hand 10% of shares to employees would be a "double whammy" for pensions, business leaders have warned.
No more than 10 master trusts needed, says industry
Just under half of respondents to this week's Pensions Buzz argued the master trust market would operate more efficiently if there were fewer participants, without damaging competition.
Schemes told to report on 'hard-headed' impact of ESG issues
Pension scheme trustees will be handed a fresh obligation to disclose to members how they take into account environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues when investing.
Local Pensions Partnership signs UN-backed PRI; commits to ESG integration
The Local Pensions Partnership (LPP) has become the fourth local authority pool signatory to the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI).
Smart Pension gets first ESG head as funds launch looms
Rachel Neill has been appointed as Smart Pension's first head of environmental, social and governance (ESG) as it plans to launch responsible investment funds.
BT Pension Scheme completes £260m sale of stake in Hermes
US-based Federated Investors has completed its acquisition of a 60% interest in Hermes Investment Management from the BT Pension Scheme (BTPS).
Industry split on DWP proposals to reform trustees' investment duties
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has opened a consultation proposing reforms to trustees' investment duties to boost ESG risk consideration. Kim Kaveh gauges industry reaction.
Industry rebuffs DWP call for investment strategy statements
Respondents say it is a bad idea to state the extent member views are taken into account when setting investment strategies.
Hermes launch carbon tool to track fund's level of risk and engagement
Hermes Investment Management has launched an environment, social and governance (ESG) tool in a bid to improve carbon risk engagement with investee companies.
DWP consults on changes to trustees' investment duties
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has launched a consultation on reforming trustees' duties to consider environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks.
Companies to be forced to disclose pay ratios from 2019
Companies with more than 250 employees will be required to disclose the pay gap between chief executives and their average staff members from 2019, the government has announced.
Do climate change resolutions erode shareholder value?
A contentious report claims ESG resolutions at American company AGMs can do more harm than good. James Phillips explores the findings
PMI names Aberdeen Standard Investments as ESG insight partner
The Pensions Management Institute (PMI) has partnered with Aberdeen Standard Investments as its environmental, social and governance (ESG) insight partner.
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