Next-generation nuclear energy, and the money pouring into it, will truly change the world, according to CIO of Utah Retirement System John Skjervem. It’s a lonely position as the CIO of a public pension fund but one Utah is embracing as it builds out early-stage investments in nuclear energy as part of its alternative energy portfolio. He speaks to Sarah Rundell in an exclusive interview about how investing in transformational energy technologies can be part of prudent investment management.
CalPERS’ approach to improving portfolio returns by engaging management of poorly performing companies to rethink governance and strategy has had a substantial endorsement, with analysis by Wilshire Associates demonstrating that the fund has had a dramatic effect on the performance of the companies placed on its Focus List.
The $32 billion Alaska Permanent Fund has taken a unique approach to asset allocation, re-organising the fund according to how investments respond to economic conditions and their purpose in the portfolio. Chief executive, Mike Burns spoke to Amanda White about the new approach, which also includes a search for four ‘external CIO’ mandates. Alaska Permanent
The £31.3 billion ($51 billion) BT Pension Scheme will make additional deficit contributions of $862 million per year over the next three years after suffering an $13.6 billion loss on its investments in 2008. Kristen Paech reports on the scheme’s performance in 2008 and its new strategic asset allocation, which includes a 20 per cent
PGGM Investments, whose main client is the €75 billion ($107 billion) Pensioenfonds Zorg en Welzijn (PFZW) in the Netherlands, is well on its way to achieving its goal of becoming a commercial manager of pension fund assets, with more funds due to come on board soon. Else Bos, chief executive officer investments, spoke to Kristen
The board of CalSTRS, the second biggest fund in the US, has three broad research initiatives for the investment team this year: rethinking active versus passive and the mix of internal and external management; commodities; and liability – driven investments. Chief investment officer, Chris Ailman, spoke to Amanda White.
The financial crisis struck as many of the state-owned portfolio companies held by Khazanah Nasional Berdad, Malaysia’s $23 billion (RM82 billion) sovereign wealth fund (SWF), were learning to operate with new executive leaders and, crucially, less gearing. Simon Mumme charts the progress of the manager’s attempts to strengthen and diversify the Malaysian economy throughout the
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