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- Examines the risks of failing to incorporate ESG factors
into macroeconomic forecasts
- Offers perspectives on how biodiversity and ESG
considerations have and will continue to affect sustainable
investing and valuations
- Discusses how sustainability is driving new sources of
value creation for private equity investors
BOSTON and TORONTO, July 28,
2021 /CNW/ - Manulife Investment Management today released
its semiannual Global Intelligence report, a firmwide
outlook highlighting notable perspectives from its investment
teams. Key themes in the report include the rising role of
environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors, including
biodiversity and stewardship in macroeconomic valuation and the
creation of value across the asset class spectrum. The investment
teams also describe the case for China bonds as a stand-alone asset class, as
well as the role of real assets in the deepening search for yield
and income security in retirement.
"One enduring outcome of the past year is the importance of
sustainability," said Paul R.
Lorentz, president and CEO of Manulife Investment
Management. "Against this backdrop, we devote much of the
latest edition of Global Intelligence to examining those
sustainability scenarios and their impact on investments and
investment decisions."
Christopher P. Conkey, CFA,
global head of public markets at Manulife Investment
Management, said, "Sustainable investing is no longer an
option. It is a necessity—for us, for the global economy, and for
our investors. We've made significant progress in the past year and
aim to consider sustainability in everything we do as a business,
across both traditional and alternative asset classes."
Stephen J. Blewitt, global
head of private markets at Manulife Investment
Management, added, "Sustainable investing is essential for
illiquid private assets that we manage over a long time horizon. We
take a critical look at biodiversity and the tools we have at our
disposal. Further, findings from our private equity team reveal how
better stewardship can unlock value in private equity."
Notable asset class themes, shifts, and guidance within
Global Intelligence include:
- Applying an ESG lens to macroeconomic analysis—a starting
place—Managing Director, Global Chief Economist, and
Global Head of Macroeconomic Strategy Frances Donald takes a closer
look at how climate change factors and targets could alter an
economy's growth trajectory, the implications of government-led
green initiatives on fiscal policy and productivity, and the impact
of a growing wealth divide on monetary policy and central bank
action.
- Sustainable private equity and the new drivers of value
creation—ESG Director of Private Markets Maria Clara Rendon Echeverri and Global Head of
Private Equity Vipon Ghai highlight the expectations of private
equity investors for ESG practices by the general partners (GPs)
they invest with and how GPs are responding by implementing new and
creative investment ideas.
- Valuing biodiversity: the tools at our
disposal —Chief Sustainability Officer of Private
Markets Brian J. Kernohan and Global Head of ESG Integration and
Research of Public Markets Peter Mennie explore the inclusion of
biodiversity implications into investment portfolios and take a
closer look at how green bonds have fundamentally changed how
people think about the debt market.
- A closer look at the growing appeal of China bonds for global
investors—Senior Portfolio Manager of Fixed Income Paula
Chan discusses the case for China
bonds as a strategic long-term allocation while showing the
potential benefits of China bonds
as a replacement for emerging-market debt and brings forward the
merits for China bonds as a
stand-alone asset class.
- Emerging markets and the case for sustainable
investing—Senior Portfolio Managers Kathryn Langridge and Philip Ehrmann and Asia
Head of ESG Eric Nietsch, CFA, review why emerging markets
offer some of the world's most consequential investment
opportunities for investors focused on mitigating global climate
and social risks.
- Building better retirement plans with liability-driven
investing—Global Head of Liability-Driven Investments,
Financial Engineering, and Quantitative Research of the Multi-Asset
Solutions Team Serge Lapierre and Professor of Asset Management and
Associate Dean for Corporate Engagement at Cass Business School
Andrew Clare dissect how the
liability-driven investing approach to the management of retirement
plan assets can help reduce the risks that a typical plan
faces.
For more information and to view the full report, please click
here.
Manulife Investment Management
Manulife Investment
Management is the global wealth and asset management segment of
Manulife Financial Corporation. We draw on more than a century of
financial stewardship and the full resources of our parent company
to serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members
worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto, our leading capabilities in public
and private markets are strengthened by an investment footprint
that spans 17 countries and territories. We complement these
capabilities by providing access to a network of unaffiliated asset
managers from around the world. We're committed to investing
responsibly across our businesses. We develop innovative global
frameworks for sustainable investing, collaboratively engage with
companies in our securities portfolios, and maintain a high
standard of stewardship where we own and operate assets, and we
believe in supporting financial well-being through our workplace
retirement plans. Today, plan sponsors around the world rely on our
retirement plan administration and investment expertise to help
their employees plan for, save for, and live a better
retirement.
As of March 31, 2021, Manulife
Investment Management had CAD$764.1
billion (US$607.6 billion) in
assets under management and administration. Not all offerings
are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information,
please visit manulifeim.com.
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SOURCE Manulife Investment Management