All ethical articles – Page 3
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NewsLawsuit against USS to proceed as High Court overturns dismissal
On the go: A lawsuit against Universities Superannuation Scheme directors over their handling of the scheme’s 2020 valuation is to proceed, after the High Court ruled against attempts to deny the legal action.
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NewsMPs back amendment against political divestments by LGPS
MPs in the House of Commons have approved an amendment that would allow ministers to issue guidance stymieing the ability of public sector pension schemes, including the Local Government Pension Scheme, to pursue politically motivated boycotts and divestment policies.
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NewsClimate change could impact sponsor cash flow and longevity
On the go: Climate change could have significant impact on sponsor covenant, hitting cash flows and potentially impacting sponsor longevity, according to a report from the Employer Covenant Practitioners Association.
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NewsEx-Norton owner pleads guilty to illegally investing pension funds
The former owner of Norton Motorcycles has pleaded guilty to the charge of illegally investing pension scheme money in his failing company.
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NewsLGPS funds question government’s ‘levelling up’ investment target
A handful of Local Government Pension Scheme funds and a former pensions minister are unconvinced by the government’s new requirement for these schemes to set out plans for investing up to 5 per cent of their assets in domestic projects, as trustees’ fiduciary responsibilities could come under threat.
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NewsScottish Widows to invest in companies driving decarbonisation
On the go: Scottish Widows will invest up to £25bn by 2025 in businesses that it views as leading on decarbonisation and climate-aware solutions, according to the company’s new climate action plan.
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NewsChurch of England puts pressure on miners, PIC invests in student halls
ESG spotlight: A roundup of the latest news on environmental, social and governance initiatives, including the Church of England Pensions Board pushing miners on standards, the Pension Insurance Corporation’s investment in low-carbon student accommodation, and a pledge by the Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance to halve portfolio emissions by 2030.
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NewsInvestment managers’ boardrooms lagging on ESG
On the go: Investment managers lack environmental, social and governance experience at boardroom level, with less than a quarter having mandatory training for board members, according to new research.
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PodcastsPodcast: DC focus must ‘fundamentally shift’ from costs to value in 2022
Podcast: The focus on defined contribution scheme offerings must “fundamentally shift” from costs to value for money in 2022 if better outcomes are to be achieved. Darren Philp, director of policy and communication at Smart Pension, and Mike Ambery, partner at Hymans Robertson, discuss the DC outlook, expanding auto-enrolment, and reforming Solvency II.
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NewsSociété Générale transfers scheme to Aegon Master Trust
On the go: Société Générale has announced the bulk transfer of its trust-based scheme into the Aegon Master Trust, a move it says will “enhance the savings journey” of 4,500 members.
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NewsLGPS seeks UN clarity on Israel investment comments
On the go: The Local Government Pension Committee and the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum are to arrange a call with UN special rapporteur Michael Lynk, seeking clarity over his comments on investments in contested Israeli settlements.
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NewsIndustry suggests improvements to climate reporting requirements
Industry experts have broadly welcomed proposals from the Department for Work and Pensions to introduce a suite of new climate and investment reporting requirements, but cautioned that there are still improvements to be made.
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NewsNest and UBS divest from ‘unresponsive’ energy companies
On the go: Asset manager UBS has jettisoned “unresponsive” energy companies from its suite of climate-aware funds, including one it manages on behalf of Nest.
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PodcastsPodcast: Fiduciary trumps politics if divesting from ‘illegal Israeli settlements’
Podcast: Local Government Pension Schemes looking to divest from Israel should do so on grounds of sustainability and fiduciary responsibility, not because of politics and personal morality, says Richard Butcher, managing director of PTL. He is joined by Ian Neale, Aries Insight co-founder, to discuss divestment, defined benefit funding and ageing populations.
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NewsDB funding code’s bespoke route could reduce schemes’ costs
Forty per cent of FTSE 350 defined benefit schemes will not be sufficiently well funded to opt for the ‘fast-track’ route in the Pensions Regulator’s forthcoming DB funding code, but the bespoke route offers significant cost savings.
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NewsRegulators’ value for money paper branded ‘utopian’ by SPP
On the go: The Society of Pension Professionals has criticised the “utopian” value for money discussion paper published by the Pensions Regulator and the Financial Conduct Authority, arguing that there is “no practical way” of achieving the goals set out.
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NewsDC schemes could allocate almost half of assets to illiquids
On the go: Defined contribution schemes could allocate up to 40 per cent of assets to illiquids for younger members to help improve their outcomes, according to new research from Hymans Robertson.
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NewsBrendan McCafferty appointed as Nest chair
On the go: Pensions minister Guy Opperman has announced that Brendan McCafferty has been appointed as chair of the National Employment Savings Trust for a five-year term.
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NewsLGPS urged to divest from ‘Israeli settlement economy’
Canadian Professor Michael Lynk, who works with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, has requested that the Local Government Pension Scheme funds divest from any holding that may be linked to contested Israeli settlements.
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NewsCOP26 sees 12% uptick in net zero commitments
More than half (52 per cent) of insurers and 50 per cent of pension funds have committed to making their portfolios net zero by 2050, up 12 per cent from last year, according to a new report from Aviva Investors.