Public Pensions Mull Shift from DB to DC
Are many American public pension plans moving toward adopting defined contribution plans?
News Archive: Jul - 2011
Concerned with Developed Economies, Singapore’s GIC Alters Investment Strategy
The Government of Singapore Investment Corp has expressed uncertainty about developed economies and is moving investments toward developing economies in what it calls a “challenging” investment climate.
Preqin Survey: PE Fund Fees Remain Problematic
Preqin's latest investigation into fund terms and conditions has shown that management fees are still causing significant unrest amongst investors.
OECD Report: While Pension Assets Return to Pre-Crisis Levels, Full Recovery Remains Uncertain
A new OECD report shows that having weathered the financial crisis, pension fund asset levels in most countries continue to show strong growth and are on the way to returning to pre-crisis levels.
UK Pension Buy-Ins Reach Record £3 Billion
The combination of favorable market conditions and impending increased capital requirements for insurance firms has spurred a record £3 billion in UK pension buy-ins, KPMG reports.
Cash Offers Best Tail-Risk Protection, Says New Paper
A paper by a London-based portfolio manager with GMO has argued that cash offers the best hedge against black swan events.
Carlyle Group Aims to Sell RAC Equity
US private equity firm The Carlyle Group is seeking to sell up to £200 million ($326 million) of equity in RAC, the roadside rescue business it purchased from Aviva for £1 billion a month ago, The Sunday Telegraph has reported.
Short on Institutional Investors, Venture Capital Firms Fund Fewer Start-Ups
Venture capital firms provided 5% less funding to start-ups during the second quarter of 2011 compared to 2010, Dow Jones VentureSource reported; a lack of institutional investors to fund the venture capital firms may be to blame.
Future Regulation Makes Fossil Fuel Reserves Wildly Overvalued, Report Claims
A new report that warns of a “carbon bubble” argues that the world’s financial markets have vastly inflated the value of fossil fuel reserves because future regulation will ensure that most of it will remain in the ground.
BlackRock's ETF Guru Deborah Fuhr Steps Down
Funds giant BlackRock has revealed that Deborah Fuhr, its head of ETF research, is stepping down.
Are in-Kind Contributions for Public Pensions an Overlooked Opportunity?
As state and municipal governments face severe financial pressures and scarce levels of cash, perhaps more creative approaches are needed -- industry observers note that in-kind contributions may be one necessary, helpful option.
Towers Watson: Insurers Gear Up for Aggressive Investments
A survey from consultancy Towers Watson has shown that insurance companies are prepared to take more risks in investing, fueled by pressure from low interest rates.
Mass Laborers’ Pension Fund Joins Growing List of News Corp Plaintiffs
The Massachusetts Laborers’ Pension and Annuity Funds has sued Rupert Murdoch and other News Corp directors over lack of oversight and a breach of fiduciary trust, adding to a growing list of investor lawsuits hitting News Corp in the midst of the phone hacking scandal.
Maryland State Retirement System’s Former Actuary Liable for $73 Million
The Court of Appeals of Maryland has ruled that Milliman, Maryland State Retirement and Pension System’s actuary from 1982 to 2006, is liable for damages of approximately $73 million for faulty actuarial valuations that left the state’s plans underfunded.
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Makes Deal to Increase Airport Holdings
The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan has made an agreement with Australian Airport owner MAp Airports in which the two parties will swap holdings in three different international airports.