As we consider the impact of investments and companies on nature and climate change, we are deepening our knowledge on biodiversity loss and how we can support sustainable business practices. Joining the FAIRR Initiative earlier this year—and more recently the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) Forum and Nature Action 100 (https://lnkd.in/esjPWvkD)—are important parts of our learning journey.
University Pension Plan Ontario
Financial Services
Jointly sponsored, defined benefit pension plan for Ontario’s university sector.
About us
A decade in the making, UPP is Ontario’s newest jointly sponsored pension plan (JSPP) and the first of its kind in Ontario's university sector. We are proud to join other world-recognized Ontario JSPPs in building a secure future for our members while helping bring greater long-term funding sustainability to Ontario’s university sector.
- Website
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https://myupp.ca/
External link for University Pension Plan Ontario
- Industry
- Financial Services
- Company size
- 51-200 employees
- Headquarters
- Toronto
- Type
- Privately Held
- Specialties
- Pensions, Responsible Investing, and Investment
Locations
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Primary
Toronto, CA
Employees at University Pension Plan Ontario
Updates
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UPP and SHARE—Shareholder Association for Research and Education were pleased to recently co-host a breakfast and panel discussion for university sector investors alongside the #PRIinPerson 2024 conference. We were honored to have three esteemed panelists—Sandra Carlisle, Head of Responsible Investment at Universities Superannuation Scheme (Ltd) (USS), Michael Cappucci, Managing Director at Harvard Management Company, and Ioana Circo, MBA, CFA , Investment Advisor at the Université de Montréal—share their invaluable insights on the challenges and opportunities currently facing the sector. A special thank you to our moderator, Kevin Thomas, CEO of SHARE, for steering the conversation with expertise, and to our engaging emcee Brian Minns, Senior Managing Director of Responsible Investing at UPP. We look forward to continuing these vital conversations in the future.
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We were thrilled to co-host yesterday's Student Investment Fund Conference, in partnership with CIBC Mellon and Investment Management Corporation of Ontario (IMCO), welcoming student investment fund leaders from across the Canada. Our Chief Investment Officer Aaron Bennett, CFA participated in a thought-provoking macroeconomic panel, sharing insights on key macroeconomic trends, market dynamics, and effective career strategies. During dedicated networking sessions, members of our People team were able to directly engage with passionate students and highlight placement opportunities that will empower the next generation of leaders in the financial sector. A big thank you to our co-hosts CIBC Mellon and IMCO for fostering an enriching environment that encourages experiential learning and collaboration.
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“Investors need reliable and comparable information on how companies or assets are performing on sustainability and climate-related parameters to better understand opportunities and risks.” A recent opinion piece by UPP President & CEO Barbara Zvan, published in TheFutureEconomy.ca, discusses the role of sustainable finance pathways in supporting long-term economic competitiveness. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gvRDrj3R
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Exciting insights from the 2024 ACPM - ACARR | Association of Canadian Pension Management National Conference! Our Senior Managing Director of Responsible Investing, Brian Minns, participated in a panel discussion focused on practical strategies for integrating ESG factors into investment and board governance practices The ACPM National Conference is a key platform each year, exploring trends in workplace pension coverage and enhancing outcomes for pension beneficiaries across Canada. Curious about the latest discussions and insights? Learn more about the conference here: https://lnkd.in/dD9RFAH8
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UPP is pleased to co-host the Student Investment Fund Conference on October 7 in partnership with CIBC Mellon and Investment Management Corporation of Ontario (IMCO). Leaders from each organization, including UPP's Chief Investment Officer Aaron Bennett, CFA, will share perspectives and insights related to macroeconomics and career development, alongside a case competition and an exploration of different student investment fund approaches. "Events like this give us a chance to reach early talent, propel aspiring financial leaders forward, and showcase some of the amazing career prospects available at the innovative pensions and asset managers active in this market." - Aaron Bennett, UPP CIO. Learn more about the conference and sign up here: https://lnkd.in/e2VN6FMr
CIBC Mellon, UPP & IMCO to Host Student Investment Fund Conference on October 7, 2024
newswire.ca
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“At UPP, a total portfolio approach is embedded in our Strategic Asset Allocation through the incorporation of liabilities, macro factors, and total fund liquidity risk in investment decisions. By using a total portfolio approach and leveraging our culture of cooperation, we can achieve the firm’s goal of being fully funded while taking into account our ESG commitments.” Thank you to the CAIA Association for hosting this insightful event featuring a panel with Nicholas Lindsey Clark, CAIA, Senior Analyst, Absolute Return Strategies at UPP.
Managing Director, Head of Canada & Investor Engagement, Americas, AIMA (Global Association for Hedge Funds, Private Credit & Digital Assets)
Total Portfolio Approach (TPA) is an investment model that views the portfolio holistically, rather than separating it by asset class buckets as does the more siloed approach of the Strategic Asset Allocation (SAA). TPA can be expressed in many different ways, across diverse organizations with different sizes, team structures and needs. It might look at the portfolio across different dimensions, factors or themes, centralizing liquidity management and reviewing total exposures across asset classes. The goal is to effectively manage the portfolio as ONE portfolio with risk budgeting controls aligning it to the portfolio objectives. Why does TPA matter? Early research suggests that the outperformance of TPA vs SAA is on average 100 basis points higher, with some investors citing returns even as high as 200-300 basis points higher than traditional SAA. But, transitioning firms to this model can be difficult, if it’s even a fit at all. It requires board alignment to a risk budget and significant management delegation, cultural leadership and commitment, team-based and total fund performance incentives, clean and reportable look-through investment data and truly collaborative conversations across a firm on how the portfolio should best be allocated, as every single dollar continually competes for its place in the portfolio. Advice for managers vying for an allocation from an investor using TPA? Transparency is essential, use of an SMA is helpful and as always, portfolio fit, liquidity terms and performance are paramount. Thank you to Derek Walker (CPP Investments | Investissements RPC), Nicholas Lindsey Clark, CAIA (University Pension Plan Ontario) and Sebastien Betermier (International Centre for Pension Management) for illuminating this topic in such a practical discussion yesterday and sharing your expertise with the CAIA Association Toronto community! Thanks to Charles Dixon, CFA, CAIA, Steven Novakovic, CAIA, CFA and the entire CAIA Toronto chapter for organizing and to CIBC Mellon for sponsoring. To learn more, please read this outstanding CAIA paper on TPA here: https://lnkd.in/gCz3YmnW or listen to this Capital Decanted podcast with John L Bowman, CFA, Christie T., CAIA paper authors Jayne Bok and Ben Samild here: https://lnkd.in/grT5CStg with thanks too to CAIA paper authors Charles Hyde, Swee Chiang CHIAM and Geoffrey Rubin for sharing your thought leadership on this topic!
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Over the past month, UPP team members have completed Truth and Reconciliation focused learning with Indigenous Works. Today, we gathered for a virtual tour of the Former Mohawk Institute with the Woodland Cultural Centre to learn about what took place in residential schools. Many of our team wore their orange T-shirts, which were specially designed by Miskomin Twenish and printed by Diamond Phoenix Creations from Kitigan Zibi, to commemorate #OrangeShirtDay and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Together, we remember and acknowledge the painful legacy of residential schools, honour Survivors and the lost children, their families, and their communities, and commit to the work that lies ahead to foster healing and reconciliation. #NDTR
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"Engagement is most valuable when it is focused, strategic and outcome oriented. Stewardship plans can help focus our engagement on strategic companies, sectors and goals that matter most to address issues the systemic environmental and social issues that impact long term diversified investors." - Delaney Greig At this month’s Responsible Investor Canada 2024 Conference in Toronto, UPP’s Director of Investor Stewardship Delaney Greig discussed engagement strategies for sustainable investing in Canada, and UPP President and CEO Barbara Zvan spoke about transition finance and its essential role in Canada’s economy.
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"So far, across all private markets, we've invested or committed over C$1 billion across six fund partnerships and six co-investments, and most of that has been in infrastructure. I think we've really seen tremendous opportunities in the current market because we have very significant dry powder where most people didn't have it. That has allowed us to be a great partner." Peter Martin Larsen, Senior Managing Director and Head of Private Markets at UPP recently spoke with Zak Bentley at Infrastructure Investor about how UPP’s partnerships with market leading investment partners, and a very clear focus on co-investments, are core elements to our strategy. These deals were made possible by a strong team of internal partners across UPP, including James W., Frances Wu, Evan Zhou, CFA who cover the infrastructure asset class. Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/dMe5ng9g
Canada’s latecomer LP plots deployment of ‘very significant dry powder’
infrastructureinvestor.com