PIMCO Fees Under Scrutiny Following Gross Lawsuit

Morningstar says it will look into Bill Gross’ complaint that PIMCO has been “deliberately obfuscating the allocation of some fees.”

Bill Gross’ lawsuit has not changed Morningstar’s rating of PIMCO, but the ratings agency will monitor how the firm charges fees.

Morningstar said it was concerned about references to how PIMCO calculates and discloses fees, especially “Gross suggesting that PIMCO has been deliberately obfuscating the allocation of some fees in order to make it easier for the firm to raise them.”

The lawsuit claimed PIMCO Managing Director Brent Harris was “particularly proud of his efforts to raise the annual fees… through creatively labeling such fees ‘administrative costs.’”

The complaint added that Harris’ efforts in raising fees and the resulting profits “led to conflict” with Gross.

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When Gross suggested Harris begin reducing fees, the managing director became “one of the most vocal supporters for ousting Mr. Gross,” the suit said.

Morningstar first raised concerns about PIMCO’s fee practices in 2011, particularly its splitting of costs into “investment advisory fees,” and “supervisory and administrative fees.”

“What is noteworthy is the parity between those line items,” Morningstar said. According to its data, both types of fees for the flagship Total Return Fund added up to more than $450 million each in 2010.

“It doesn’t make sense that the true cost of servicing PIMCO’s funds is anywhere close to their fair value of investment advisory services—for one of the best mutual fund managers around,” the ratings agency added.

PIMCO’s parent company Allianz said the lawsuit “has no merit.”

The Newport Beach, California-based firm will keep its stewardship grade of C, the ratings agency said, while the Total Return Fund would also maintain a bronze rating.

Related: Inside Bill Gross’ Lawsuit

Corporate Pensions Likely to Miss 2015 Return Expectations

US corporate funds would need at least an 8.4% gain in the fourth quarter to make up for recent heavy losses, according to Milliman.

US corporate pensions are unlikely to meet 2015 return expectations of 7.3% due to poor performance in August and September, according to a new report by Milliman.

The actuarial firm’s latest index of corporate pension firms revealed defined benefit plans lost $51 billion in the third quarter of 2015. This 2.5% quarterly investment loss marked the largest third quarter loss for corporate pensions since 2011.

In the same period, liabilities increased by $15 billion, growing the funded status deficit by $66 billion.

In September alone, corporate pensions lost $28 billion and gained $9 billion in liabilities, resulting in a further drop in funding. The funded ratio for corporate pensions at the end of September was 81.7%, down from 83.6% a year prior, according to Milliman.

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Similar studies by BNY Mellon and Wilshire Consulting showed corporate pension funding status dropping in September to 81.8% and 81.3%, respectively.

“The calendar year began with strong equity performance that seemed so promising, and yet here we are looking at an overall decline in equities for the year,” said John Ehrhardt, principal and consulting actuary at Milliman.

In order to meet the projected annual returns of 7.3%, pensions would need a “massive rally” of nearly 8.4% in gains in the fourth quarter, said Ehrhardt.

Milliman also forecasted DB plans’ funded ratios would increase to 82.2% and 84.2% at the end of 2015 and 2016, respectively, if they are able to achieve the expected annual return.

corporate pensionsSource: Milliman 

Related: Corporate DB Plan Funding Levels Suffer in 2014 & US Public Pensions ‘On the Road to Recovery’

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