Investor Profile
Illinois’s innovative first
Illinois State Treasury is planning a new $700 million allocation to student loans in the first investment of its kind for any US state treasury. The $32 billion state treasury has never been scared to innovate.
Sarah RundellMay 15, 2019
Sustainability
New guide for implementing climate risks
More than 600 organisations have supported the Task Force on Climate Related Financial Disclosures but the implementation of its recommendations have been slow, so CDSB and SASB have drawn on their well-established reporting frameworks to produce a guide that shows companies, in a very practical way, how to implement the recommendations.
Sustainability
Foundations should invest for impact
Inequality and the climate crisis are market-based problems that need market-based solutions. What is the role of foundations in solving such problems?
Fixed Income
USS invests in EM linkers
The £65 billion Universities Superannuation Scheme is investing in inflation-linked emerging market bonds to profit from developing economies higher bonds yields and levels of inflation.
Sustainability
The world must change
"If we don’t heal the fractures of today’s workforce that have been caused by the current model of greed, we will see even greater inequality in years to come," says Sharan Burrow, general secretary, International Trade Union Confederation.
Sustainability
The most responsible allocators named
The Responsible Asset Allocator Initiative’s Leaders List report, developed in partnership with the Fletcher School at Tufts University, analysed $21 trillion in sovereign wealth fund and government pension fund assets around the world to identify 25 leaders and 25 finalists that set a global standard of excellence in sustainable investing.
Scott KalbMay 13, 2019
Asset Allocation
Iceland’s LSR prepares to invest abroad
Iceland’s ISK900 billion ($7.5 billion) Lífeyrissjóður Starfsmanna Ríkisins (LSR), the Pension Fund for State Employees and the Pension Fund for Nurses is poised to invest more overseas as capital controls introduced in the wake of Iceland’s 2008 banking crisis finally ease.
Sarah RundellMay 9, 2019
Milken Global Conference
Momentum in ESG in Asia
Asia's largest institutional investors help spread the ESG movement in emerging markets.
Elizabeth FryMay 9, 2019
Investor Profile
CalPERS wants PE ideas for new entity
The CalPERS’ board has approved the first step in the creation of a new private equity model, and now the fund’s CEO, Marcie Frost, is looking for advice on how to structure such an entity.
Amanda WhiteMay 3, 2019
Sustainability
MetallRente builds risk return culture
A new fund in Germany combining liquidity, dynamic equity exposure and strong ESG focus is against the mould of the country’s more conservative, insurance-led investment style, and Heribert Karch, managing director of MetallRente which offers the fund, is determined to bring a return-seeking investment culture to Germany.
Sarah RundellApril 30, 2019
Sustainability
Japan’s governance conundrum
Japan has been progressive in the development of a stewardship code and a corporate governance code, however to make real impact this requires asset owners need to be more proactive in holding boards and executives of their investee companies accountable.
Nicholas BenesApril 29, 2019
Sustainability
NY State Common’s climate plan
The New York State Common Decarbonization Advisory Panel, set up to advise the Comptroller, as trustee of the $209.1 billion New York State Common Retirement Fund, on how best to mitigate investment risks stemming from climate change and maximise opportunities from the new, low-carbon economy, has handed down its report this week. It has clear lessons for all asset owners.
Cary KrosinskyApril 19, 2019
Sustainability
Climate change risk to spur stress test
Mercer has quantified a ‘low-carbon transition’ premium in the sequel to its seminal climate change report, showing that a 2⁰C scenario equates to 11 basis points per annum to 2030 in a typical growth portfolio. Further, investors with the same asset allocation but greater exposure to sustainability and the companies delivering the transition solutions, could […]
Elizabeth FryApril 9, 2019
Asset Classes
There’s alpha in Chinese equities
The returns of long-term investors are driven by economic growth so it is difficult to ignore China as a big part of the future investment opportunities, a panel of experts told delegates at the Fiduciary Investors Symposium.
Amanda WhiteApril 18, 2019
Asset Classes
OTPP boosts bonds, late cycle protection
OTPP increased its bond allocation from 22 to 31 per cent last year. The defensive strategy was aimed at taking advantage of rising yields in fixed income markets and protecting the portfolio from a potential economic slowdown given the late cycle and decade-long economic expansion.
Sarah RundellApril 6, 2019
Asset Classes
Oregon’s real estate revamp
Oregon State Treasury has de-risked its $12 billion real estate allocation, moving away from closed end, private equity-style investment and its associated inherent cyclical risk and total return focus. Building in more liquidity and transparency, reduced volatility and lowered fees via evergreen manager partnerships in separate account and open-end fund structures.
Sarah RundellApril 2, 2019
Asset Classes
Investors mull UK equity tilt on Brexit
Senior investment director on Cambridge Associates' global investment research team, Michael Salerno, analyses the impact of Brexit on UK equities, the British pound and tactical asset allocation.
Michael SalernoMarch 27, 2019
FIS Stanford
Rise of the unicorns: venture capital
The increase in privately held start-ups has piqued interest in venture-capital markets. The opportunities are there but investors must realise that technological innovation has changed the game.
Sarah RundellOctober 18, 2018
FIS Stanford
Protecting human capital helps everyone
Investors have plenty to gain from helping to protect human rights in supply chains and managing the human costs during technological disruption and the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Sarah RundellOctober 12, 2018
FIS Stanford
How to follow megatrends to success
The big themes that will fuel growth in coming decades are interconnected and subject to change. An expert panel gave advice on riding societal change to outperformance.
Sarah RundellOctober 12, 2018
FIS Stanford
How the active complements the passive
Investors discuss the various ways that two styles often presented as if they are enemies in fact work hand in hand across portfolios to produce returns.
Sarah RundellOctober 11, 2018
FIS Stanford
CalPERS shake-up may delay PE plans
The surprise ousting of CalPERS board president Priya Mathur heralds a leadership shake-up that could place final approval of an expanded private equity program on hold.
Sarah RundellOctober 9, 2018
Asset Allocation
Informed rebalancing is untapped alpha
The case of three asset owners which have successfully added value through strategic tilting or informed rebalancing, shows how this could be applied by other asset owners to add alpha.
Arun MuralidharMay 1, 2019
Asset Allocation
Strategic tilting adds value at NZ Super
Strategic tilting has added 1.1 per cent, or NZ$3 billion, to the New Zealand Super Fund’s reference portfolio over the past 10 years, David Iverson, head of asset allocation at the NZ$41 billion fund says. This is way above the expected return from the program which was set at around 40 basis points.
Amanda WhiteApril 17, 2019
Asset Allocation
Geopolitics: portfolio implications
For most investors recognising whether geopolitical tensions are a short term blip, or a long-term systemic shift is key to understanding how those risks inform investment decisions. Amanda White spoke to investors about the impact of geopolitical risk on their portfolios.
Amanda WhiteMarch 21, 2019
Asset Allocation
UK’s CEPB favours private markets
The UK’s £2 billion Church of England Pension Board, the pension fund for church clergy has changed strategy, slashing its equity portfolio in favour of private markets in a bid to seek stronger returns, income and a shelter from equity volatility.
Sarah RundellMarch 19, 2019
Strategy
Tough times greet new CalPERS CIO
Ben Meng isn’t easing into his role. The new CIO of CalPERS faces three new board members, a stressed private equity program and executive turnover, all under the pressure of a 70 per cent funded status and a maturing membership at the $340 billion fund.
Sarah RundellFebruary 26, 2019
Strategy
Value lies where precious data is stored
Organisations across the globe are collecting data, analysing and re-analysing it more and more every day. As this trend continues, data infrastructure – tangible or intangible – becomes increasingly attractive. Canada’s OPTrust cites this reality as the rationale behind the EdgeCore partnership. It thinks data is its own asset class.
James DavisFebruary 25, 2019
Strategy
Asset owners’ climate-change advice
A new guide, Climate Change for Asset Owners, provides case studies and other practical advice for how to get investor organisations focused on climate change, how to craft a related investment strategy and how to implement it. The publication includes content from 10 asset owners.
Amanda WhiteFebruary 6, 2019
Strategy
Dutch trio launches PE co-investment
The Netherlands’ Achmea Investment Management, Blue Sky Group and SPF Beheer have teamed up on a joint investment platform designed to lower fees and expand opportunities in private equity. Jos van Gisbergen, senior portfolio manager for private equity at Achmea, explains how it works.
Sarah RundellJanuary 31, 2019