Minerva backs key industry Summit

Minerva Analytics has sponsored this year’s flagship LGC Investment and Pensions Summit.

As Europe’s best-known independent provider of global research and proxy voting solutions, Minerva will sponsor the summit’s end of conference podcast which summarises the discussions from this year’s event.

The event, which kicked off on 5 September 2019 at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, featured over 30 expert speakers discussing a range of key topics including governance, funding, administration and investment strategy.

Themes for discussion included the social impact of infrastructure investment, the future of ESG, private sector trends, and the importance of funding, investment and governance to build a successful LGPS fund.

The event also covered
off the impact of climate change on investment strategies, and how to manage
Brexit and market uncertainties.

The debates were
hosted by several prominent industry speakers including James Ashley, market
strategist at Goldman Sachs Asset Management; Lorraine Bennett, senior pensions
adviser at the Local Government Association; Simon Davy, head of private
markets at LPP Investments; and Peter Walsh, head of Robeco UK.

“[This] will
be another important year for the LGPS as funds receive their triennial
valuation and will be reconsidering their strategic investment strategy,” LGC
said.

“Most, if
not all funds, will be looking with some confidence at this, as global markets
finished the period on a high note. Core inflation remains stable, unemployment
continues to fall across Europe, the US and Japan which boosts the
stabilisation of financial returns.”

Recent
months have seen industry concerns build over trade policies and growing nervousness
about the macro-economic environment.

“Looking
ahead, a gloomy global growth outlook could put pressure on upward performance
across broad asset classes,” LGC said.

“This year’s
Summit addressed these key issues and offered insight and expert views to
assist LGPS decision makers in evaluating their investment strategies.”