Morneau Shepell releases the results of its Performance Universe of Pension Managers' Pooled Funds

Pension funds continue to post positive returns in second quarter of 2017

TORONTO, July 24, 2017 /CNW/ - Morneau Shepell (TSX: MSI) has released the results of its Performance Universe of Pension Managers' Pooled Funds for the second quarter of 2017.

According to the report, in the second quarter of 2017, diversified pooled fund managers posted a median return of 0.7 per cent before management fees.

"In the second quarter, the Canadian stock market underperformed by 1.6 per cent, while global stock markets posted positive returns. The rise in the Canadian dollar versus several foreign currencies had a negative impact on Canadian investors. For the second quarter in a row, emerging market equities dominated with the MSCI Emerging Markets Index returning 6.7 per cent in local currency (3.6 per cent C$). The US equities in the S&P 500 Index rose 3.1 per cent in local currency (0.6 per cent C$) and the international equities in the MSCI EAFE Index returned 2.7 per cent in local currency (3.3 per cent C$). Following the decrease in bond yields for the first two months of the quarter, Canadian bonds ended the quarter with positive returns. The median bond manager achieved a return of 1.1 per cent for the quarter," said Jean Bergeron, Partner responsible for Morneau Shepell's Asset and Risk management Consulting team.

"On a solvency basis, pension fund financial positions declined in the second quarter, largely due to lower interest rates in the first two months. The solvency liability for an average pension plan rose 6.2 per cent, while the median return was only 0.7 per cent," added Bergeron.

On average, during the second quarter of 2017, diversified pooled fund managers underperformed the benchmark. In fact, the median return (0.7 per cent) for these managers was 0.4 per cent lower than the benchmark portfolio (with an allocation of 55 per cent in equity and 45 per cent in fixed income) return (1.1 per cent) used by many pension funds. Since the beginning of the year, the median pension fund return was 3.6 per cent, 0.6 per cent lower than the benchmark portfolio.

Canadian bonds
In the second quarter of 2017, managers obtained a median return of 1.1 per cent on bonds (Universe mandate), which was equal to the benchmark.

During the same period, long-term bonds posted a return of 4.1 per cent, while the return for medium-term bonds was negative 0.1 per cent and for short-term bonds negative 0.4 per cent. High-yield bonds posted 1.7 per cent, while real return bonds provided a positive 1.4 per cent return. Since the beginning of 2017, managers obtained a median return of 2.5 per cent on bonds (Universe mandate) which was 0.1 per cent above the benchmark.

Canadian equities
In the second quarter of 2017, the median return for Canadian equity managers was negative 1.4 per cent, which is 0.2 per cent higher than the negative 1.6 per cent achieved by the S&P/TSX Index.

During the same period, the S&P/TSX Small Cap Index decreased by 5.5 per cent, whereas the S&P/TSX Completion Index representing mid-cap stocks lost 1.2 per cent, and the large-cap S&P/TSX 60 Index registered a fall of 1.8 per cent.

Foreign equities
Foreign equity managers' median returns and appropriate benchmark indices for the second quarter of 2017 are as follows:

• 0.3 per cent for U.S. equities versus 0.6 per cent for the S&P 500 Index (C$);
• 4.7 per cent for international equities versus 3.3 per cent for the MSCI EAFE Index (C$);
• 2.5 per cent for global equities versus 1.3 per cent for the MSCI World Index (C$);
• 4.0 per cent for emerging markets equities versus 3.6 per cent for the MSCI Emerging Markets Index (C$).

Alternative investments
The Dow Jones Credit Suisse Hedge Fund Index (formerly CSFB/Tremont Hedge Fund Index) posted a return of negative 1.8 per cent (C$) for the second quarter of 2017.

The Performance Universe covers about 324 pooled funds managed by nearly 50 investment management firms. The pooled funds included in the Universe have a market value of more than $262 billion.

The results of Morneau Shepell's study are based on the returns provided by leading portfolio managers, ranging from independent investment management firms to insurance companies, trust companies and financial institutions. The returns are calculated before deduction of management fees.

The quarterly Performance Universe results are produced by the Asset & Risk Management Consulting team at Morneau Shepell. This team provides independent consulting services on all aspects of asset and liability management of pension funds, endowment funds, and other institutional investment funds.

About Morneau Shepell
Morneau Shepell is the only human resources consulting and technology company that takes an integrated approach to employee assistance, health, benefits and retirement needs. The Company is the leading provider of employee and family assistance programs, the largest administrator of retirement and benefits plans and the largest provider of integrated absence management solutions in Canada. As a leader in strategic HR consulting and innovative pension design, the Company helps clients solve complex workforce problems and provides integrated productivity, health and retirement solutions.  Established in 1966, Morneau Shepell serves approximately 20,000 clients, ranging from small businesses to some of the largest corporations and associations.  With more than 4,000 employees in offices across North America, Morneau Shepell provides services to organizations across Canada, in the United States and around the globe. Morneau Shepell is a publicly-traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: MSI). For more information, visit morneaushepell.com.

Summary
Rates of return for periods ending June 30, 2017 (annualized returns beyond one year)
Diversified
				3 months	6 months	9 months		1 year	2 years	3 years	4 years		5 years
	5th percentile			2.03	6.40	9.57		14.92	8.42	8.95	11.39		12.20
	1st quartile			1.16	4.42	6.47		11.29	6.85	7.51	10.21		10.75
	Median			0.73	3.57	5.30		9.71	6.24	6.56	9.80		10.23
	3rd quartile			0.23	2.79	4.27		8.66	5.46	6.02	9.42		9.60
	95th percentile			-0.32	1.22	2.62		5.60	4.16	4.89	8.01		8.27
	Benchmark*			1.10	4.20	3.98		8.21	5.79	6.54	9.08		8.66
	Benchmark**			0.96	4.21	4.47		8.95	5.96	6.65	9.40		9.07
	*     45% fixed income,55% equity
	**   40% fixed income,60% equity
	Returns compounded quarterly
Money market
				3 months	6 months	9 months	1 year		2 years	3 years	4 years		5 years
	5th percentile			0.24	0.62	0.75	1.15		1.20	1.76	1.71		1.22
	1st quartile			0.22	0.48	0.72	0.93		1.00	1.10	1.12		1.12
	Median			0.21	0.45	0.66	0.90		0.90	0.98	1.02		1.05
	3rd quartile			0.15	0.42	0.51	0.69		0.84	0.90	0.96		0.95
	95th percentile			-0.19	0.30	0.17	0.47		0.62	0.74	0.81		0.85
Canadian bonds
				3 months	6 months	9 months	1 year		2 years	3 years	4 years		5 years
	5th percentile			4.19	6.23	4.49	8.51		6.41	6.90	7.19		6.62
	1st quartile			1.50	3.24	0.41	1.90		4.22	4.68	5.24		4.49
	Median			1.13	2.68	-0.58	1.01		3.23	4.08	4.63		3.87
	3rd quartile			0.83	2.35	-1.19	0.33		2.83	3.81	4.28		3.55
	95th percentile			0.09	1.21	-1.92	-0.08		2.49	2.81	4.00		3.12
Canadian bonds (Universe mandate)
				3 months	6 months	9 months	1 year		2 years	3 years	4 years		5 years
	5th percentile			1.39	3.02	0.78	2.19		3.47	4.49	4.92		4.22
	1st quartile			1.20	2.69	-0.46	1.08		3.17	4.17	4.62		3.87
	Median			1.13	2.50	-0.68	0.77		2.96	3.96	4.37		3.68
	3rd quartile			1.00	2.38	-1.11	0.22		2.63	3.79	4.21		3.44
	95th percentile			0.59	1.98	-1.31	-0.07		2.52	3.56	4.09		3.18

Rates of return for periods ending June 30, 2017 (annualized returns beyond one year)
Canadian equity – Broad*
				3 months	6 months	9 months	1 year	2 years	3 years	4 years	5 years
	5th percentile			0.92	4.16	9.35	17.27	9.15	7.44	12.82	13.87
	1st quartile			-0.47	2.08	7.14	13.91	7.29	5.55	11.28	11.61
	Median			-1.43	1.03	5.68	11.69	6.01	4.27	10.40	10.81
	3rd quartile			-2.10	-0.53	4.36	10.27	4.71	2.51	8.84	9.37
	95th percentile			-3.82	-4.42	1.71	8.23	3.46	0.81	7.35	8.23
	S&P/TSX			-1.64	0.74	5.30	11.05	5.27	3.08	8.96	8.74
	S&P/TSX Capped			-1.64	0.74	5.30	11.05	5.27	3.08	8.96	8.74
	*     Some funds may include up to 30% in foreign content
Canadian equity - Specialized
				3 months	6 months	9 months	1 year	2 years	3 years	4 years	5 years
	5th percentile			-0.75	1.37	7.98	13.20	11.78	9.21	16.70	16.96
	1st quartile			-1.32	-0.19	5.93	7.59	5.09	2.56	12.27	13.35
	Median			-2.41	-2.52	-0.21	6.63	3.57	1.00	10.13	11.01
	3rd quartile			-3.52	-5.32	-1.80	3.64	2.22	-0.23	8.47	9.84
	95th percentile			-5.25	-5.96	-3.84	1.09	0.25	-3.34	5.27	7.28
	S&P/TSX Small Cap			-5.51	-4.12	-1.13	3.75	6.72	-1.62	6.72	5.13
	BMO Small Cap weighted			-4.24	-1.13	1.87	8.39	6.94	-0.80	7.37	6.25
U.S. equity
				3 months	6 months	9 months	1 year	2 years	3 years	4 years	5 years
	5th percentile			2.51	11.36	16.86	27.52	14.95	20.08	22.05	23.02
	1st quartile			1.09	7.33	13.85	21.02	12.81	17.23	19.20	20.84
	Median			0.30	5.69	12.77	17.85	11.99	16.03	18.59	19.89
	3rd quartile			-0.13	3.90	10.32	15.00	9.05	14.34	17.12	18.44
	95th percentile			-2.13	0.35	6.69	10.32	7.49	10.48	14.59	16.85
	S&P 500 (C$)			0.59	5.68	12.31	18.44	12.86	17.00	19.29	20.33

Rates of return for periods ending June 30, 2017 (annualized returns beyond one year)
International equity (Europe and Asia)
					3 months	6 months	9 months	1 year	2 years	3 years	4 years	5 years
	5th percentile				6.81	15.90	15.36	25.00	12.53	15.46	17.45	18.79
	1st quartile				5.82	13.28	13.88	24.02	8.14	10.28	14.33	15.93
	Median				4.69	11.79	11.75	20.24	6.99	9.29	12.77	14.56
	3rd quartile				3.70	10.33	10.41	18.16	6.02	8.19	11.99	13.98
	95th percentile				1.92	7.65	8.13	14.01	5.09	7.32	11.46	12.66
	MSCI EAFE (C$)				3.34	10.22	11.66	20.27	6.01	8.06	12.01	14.08
Global equity (U.S.A., Europe and Asia)
					3 months	6 months	9 months	1 year	2 years	3 years	4 years	5 years
	5th percentile				4.85	15.03	16.31	27.10	13.98	16.39	18.68	20.60
	1st quartile				3.31	10.60	13.77	22.44	12.12	14.40	16.63	18.60
	Median				2.49	8.33	11.65	18.59	10.21	13.00	15.53	17.03
	3rd quartile				1.58	7.09	9.13	13.97	8.61	11.98	14.83	16.40
	95th percentile				-0.31	4.38	7.54	10.12	7.21	9.47	12.32	13.89
	MSCI World (C$)				1.30	7.16	11.38	18.20	9.33	12.43	15.50	16.91
Emerging markets
					3 months	6 months	9 months	1 year	2 years	3 years	4 years	5 years
	5th percentile				5.06	18.15	17.04	30.35	12.02	12.43	14.27	13.41
	1st quartile				4.55	17.00	14.42	27.81	9.99	11.75	13.02	11.72
	Median				3.97	15.66	12.92	25.62	9.48	10.17	11.27	10.82
	3rd quartile				2.79	14.11	10.16	18.64	8.66	8.83	10.20	8.69
	95th percentile				1.52	9.66	4.96	10.93	7.13	6.48	8.02	7.35
	MSCI Emerging markets				3.60	14.86	12.41	24.17	6.79	8.37	10.18	9.50

The information herein has been drawn from sources believed to be reliable, but the accuracy or completeness of the information is not guaranteed, nor in providing it does Morneau Shepell Asset & Risk Management Ltd. ("MS ARM") or its affiliates ("Morneau Shepell") assume any responsibility or liability. MS ARM or Morneau Shepell is not liable for any errors or omissions in the information or for any loss or damage suffered. Where such statements are based in whole or in part on information provided by third parties, they are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete. The information does not provide individual financial, legal, tax or investment advice and is for information purposes only.

SOURCE Morneau Shepell Inc.

Cathren Ronberg, Director, Corporate Communications, 416.355.5632, [email protected]; Jean Bergeron, FSA, FCIA, CFA, Partner, 514.392.7852, [email protected]

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