News

Survey: American Pensions Shun Risk

(December 23, 2009) – A recent Hewitt survey shows that American pension plans increasingly are looking to step away from risk in many, if not all, of its forms.   According to the consultancy’s Global Pension Risk Survey of 153

Private Equity Titan Terminates Fund

(December 23, 2009) – Europe’s Candover has agreed to close its nearly $5 billion buyout fund, a fall from grace for this once mighty private equity house.   The firm confirmed late last week that its five year investment window

PIMCO’s Gross Reduces Government Debt Holdings, Moves to Cash

(December 23, 2009) – Bill Gross’s Pacific investment Management Co. (PIMCO), a weathervane for many institutional investors, reportedly has raised its cash holdings to the highest levels since September 2008. According to a report from Bloomberg, PIMCO’s Total Return Fund

Dubai, Again, Gets Bailout from Abu Dhabi

 

Not for the first time in 2009, Abu Dhabi—the federal seat of government for the United Arab Emirates—has been forced to step in and provide an injection of funds for a debt-ridden Dubai.

Dubai World, under Duress, Plans To Sell Assets

 

Dubai World plans to sell assets for cash, but the government continues to maintain that it has no financial responsibility for the sovereign wealth arm that it created to fund the city’s growth.

Investigations Deepen at CalPERS

 

The SEC has asked the nation’s largest public pension fund whether two former officials had any contact with an alternative investment manager convicted of paying officials for access to funds.

UK Merger Market Hurt by DB Pensions

 

A CBI/Watson Wyatt study also shows that corporate profits are more often than not hurt by the pension costs associated with defined benefit systems.

Canadian Pensions Both Worried, Proud

 

A new poll shows that, while Canadian pension plan sponsors are worried about meeting their liabilities, they still are confident that the national retirement system is better equipped to handle future challenges than the rest of the world.