CalPERS considers water bonds
The $178 billion CalPERS is considering inflation-linked assets, such as the water bonds issued by the World Bank, as part of an over-riding view to allocate capital to climate change initiatives.
Investors are watching conflict in the Middle East closely as inflationary pressures begin to build beneath the surface. One of the challenges for many investors is reduced exposure to the hedging benefits of fossil fuels in listed, and private markets.
The $178 billion CalPERS is considering inflation-linked assets, such as the water bonds issued by the World Bank, as part of an over-riding view to allocate capital to climate change initiatives.
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is currently considering pay-to-play activities and will report back on any proposed action in the next few weeks, according to its chairman Mary Schapiro, speaking via video at the annual International Corporate Governance Network conference this week.
Pension funds should demand an overhaul in the product offerings of funds managers and change the terms of mandates to incorporate environmental, social and governance issues in portfolios, according to Colin Melvin, chief executive of Hermes Equity Ownership Services, who pointed to a number of funds in the UK, including the owner of Hermes, BT
The ability to appoint and dismiss company board directors is the most important shareholder right according to an overwhelming majority of delegates at the International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN) annual conference, who were more cautious on whether shareholders could actually influence corporate governance once they had the right to vote.
As the International Corporate Governance Network held its annual conference this week, its new executive director, Carl Rosen, spoke with Amanda White about the challenges for the year ahead, in particular prioritising the changes to shareholder rights in the US.
The C$105.5 billion ($90 billion) Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has vastly expanded its infrastructure investments, with its proposal to acquire all the stapled securities of Macquarie Communications Infrastructure Group being accepted by security holders.
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