Institutional Investors Warn of Increasing Correlations, Finds Natixis survey

• Stocks and bonds are too highly correlated, according to more than half of institutional investors surveyed
• Large investors say low-yield environment is No. 1 concern
• Significant increase in demand for innovation in managing liability risks, longevity
• Half of investors surveyed believe there is alpha in ESG (environmental, social and governance) investments

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Institutional investors worldwide say it is challenging to find diversification among traditional asset classes, with more than half (54%) saying stocks and bonds are too highly correlated to provide distinctive sources of return, according to a recent survey by Natixis Global Asset Management. The survey also found evidence that alternative assets are taking on new prominence within institutional portfolios to help generate better risk-adjusted returns - the top priority of institutional investors in 2016.

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“The events of the last month have shown the need for a sophisticated, balanced approach to asset allocation,” said John Hailer, chief executive officer of Natixis Global Asset Management in the Americas and Asia. “That’s part of the reason institutional investors plan this year to supplement traditional stocks and bonds by making an even bigger commitment to non-correlated, alternative assets.”

Two-thirds (66%) of institutional investors believe that an effective way of easing risk is to increase allocations to non-correlated assets, including private equity, private debt and hedge funds. Nearly half (49%) say it is essential to invest in alternatives in order to outperform the broader markets.

The Natixis survey of 660 institutional investors includes corporate, public and government pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies, and endowments and foundations collectively managing more than $35 trillion in assets.

Institutions worry about their ability to fund liabilities in a volatile, low-rate market. In response, they are adapting their investment strategies, risk management approach and business operations to better meet their long- and short-term obligations.

Eighty-four percent of institutions say the low-yield investing environment is their biggest concern for managing risk, followed by generating returns (82%) and funding long-term liabilities (72%). Nearly seven in ten (68%) say meeting growth objectives and short-term liquidity needs is a challenge to their organization.

Performance expectations in an active/passive worldWhile costs are top of mind for institutions and many will increase usage of passive strategies in more efficient asset classes, active strategies still hold favor for pursuing better returns overall. Currently, 64% of institutional assets are managed actively and 36% are managed passively. Fifty-eight percent of investors say that, over the long term, active investments outperform passive ones. And, in the next 12 months, 67% say economic factors, changing monetary policies and market volatility will be favorable for active managers.

The majority of institutional investors agree that active management is a source of alpha (87%) and better for accessing non-correlated asset classes (77%) and taking advantage of short-term market movements (71%). Ninety percent say passive investing is best for minimizing management fees.

Rising need for LDI innovationThe vast majority of institutions are concerned over meeting their long-term objectives and are looking for more innovative LDI (liability-driven investing) solutions.1

Nearly three-fourths of institutions (72%) say they are concerned about their ability to fund long-term liabilities, and 68% say it is a challenge to manage uncertain liabilities linked to increased longevity. Although nearly three-quarters of institutions (73%) say they have tools to manage liability assets, 78% say institutional investors are looking for more innovative LDI solutions for today’s markets.

“Institutions can’t afford to underestimate their future liabilities,” Hailer said. “And yet that’s a risk as populations age and beneficiaries live longer. Institutions need products that help them to better manage these types of long-term liabilities. The findings of our survey continue to suggest that more LDI innovation is needed to help investors address this issue.”

Incorporating ESG investingMany institutional investors (64%) say it has become increasingly difficult to achieve alpha. Half (50%) now see environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing, which considers those factors in investment analysis and decision making, as a potential source of return, and 51% say ESG assessments help mitigate headline-making risks. Most (95%) institutional investors are to some extent incorporating ESG strategies. More than three in ten (31%) of them do so primarily because it’s in their fund’s mandate.

About the surveyThe Natixis Global Asset Management Institutional Investor study is based on fieldwork carried out in 29 countries. The online survey was conducted in October 2015 with 660 senior decision makers working in institutional investment. The findings are published in a new whitepaper, Smart Money Never Sleeps, by the Natixis Durable Portfolio Construction Research Center. To download a copy, visit http://durableportfolios.com.

About Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A.Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A. is a multi-affiliate organization that offers a single point of access to more than 20 specialized investment firms in the Americas, Europe and Asia. The firm ranks among the world’s largest asset managers.2 Through its Durable Portfolio Construction® philosophy, the company is dedicated to providing innovative ideas on asset allocation and risk management that can help institutions, advisors and individuals address a range of modern market challenges. Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A. brings together the expertise of multiple specialized investment managers based in Europe, the Americas and Asia to offer a wide spectrum of equity, fixed-income and alternative investment strategies.

Headquartered in Paris and Boston, Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A.’s assets under management totaled $865.9 billion (€775.5 billion) as of September 30, 2015.3 Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A. is part of Natixis. Listed on the Paris Stock Exchange, Natixis is a subsidiary of BPCE, the second-largest banking group in France. As of September 30, 2015 Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A.’s affiliated investment management firms and distribution and service groups include Active Investment Advisors;4 AEW Capital Management; AEW Europe; AlphaSimplex Group; Aurora Investment Management; Axeltis; Capital Growth Management; Cube Infrastructure Managers; Darius Capital Partners; DNCA Investments;5 Dorval Finance;6 Emerise;7 Gateway Investment Advisers; H2O Asset Management;6 Harris Associates; IDFC Asset Management Company; Loomis, Sayles & Company; Managed Portfolio Advisors;4 McDonnell Investment Management; Mirova;6 Natixis Asset Management; Ossiam; Seeyond;8 Snyder Capital Management; Vaughan Nelson Investment Management; Vega Investment Managers; and Natixis Global Asset Management Private Equity, which includes Seventure Partners, Naxicap Partners, Alliance Entreprendre, Euro Private Equity, Caspian Private Equity and Eagle Asia Partners. Visit ngam.natixis.com for more information.

More about John Hailer, CEO of the Americas and Asia, Natixis Global Asset ManagementAs President and Chief Executive Officer of Natixis Global Asset Management, John Hailer is responsible for distribution strategies worldwide and oversees the business activities of the firm’s asset management affiliates in the Americas and Asia. He has been a key spokesperson for the Durable Portfolio Construction Research Center and has worked to position Natixis as a global solutions provider for clients worldwide. His recent interview discussing the survey results can be found here.

1An investment strategy that seeks to gain enough assets to meet all current and future liabilities2Cerulli Quantitative Update: Global Markets 2015 ranked Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A. as the 17th largest asset manager in the world based on assets under management ($890.0 billion) as of December 31, 2014.3Net asset value as of September 30, 2015. Assets under management (AUM) may include assets for which non-regulatory AUM services are provided. Non-regulatory AUM includes assets which do not fall within the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s definition of ‘regulatory AUM’ in Form ADV, Part 1.4A Division of NGAM Advisors, L.P.5A brand of DNCA Finance.6A subsidiary of Natixis Asset Management.7A brand of Natixis Asset Management and Natixis Asset Management Asia Limited, based in Singapore and Paris.8A brand of Natixis Asset Management.

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Natixis Global Asset Management
Ted Meyer, 617-449-2507
[email protected]

Source: Natixis Global Asset Management

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