Engineering firm, Babcock International, is the first UK firm to use a longevity swap to hedge against life expectancy risk in its pension scheme. Amanda White looks at the use of longevity swaps as a risk management tool.
Hedge Funds: Broken or Damaged?
In this latest piece of research the US-based independent investment consulting firm, NEPC, examines whether the assumptions about hedge funds, hedge fund of funds and portable alpha, are broken or merely damaged, and whether there is still a case for including these strategies in institutional investment programs.
Better beta strategy bridled by maverick risk
CalPERS has led the charge in the adoption of fundamental indexing, but the concept has a long way to go before it challenges the conventional cap-weighted strategy. Michael Bailey spoke to chairman of Research Affiliates, and one of the originators of fundamental indexing, Rob Arnott.
Abu Dhabi funds advance on JVs with Western investors
The strategic investment arm of the Abu Dhabi government, Mubadala Development, has built its stake in joint-venture partner General Electric (GE), bringing it closer to reaching its stated aim of being a top 10 shareholder in the US conglomerate, while the Abu Dhabi Investment Company (ADIC) and UBS Global Asset Management (UBS GAM) reached a first close of $US250 million for an infrastructure fund targeting the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
PME’s path to recovery
PME, the €18.8 billion (US$25.6 billion) industry-wide pension fund for the mechanical and electrical engineering sector in the Netherlands, has seen its funding ratio fall 45 per cent over the last year. Kristen Paech talks to the fund about its recovery plan, including the decision not to rebalance equities, and the benefits of using a fiduciary manager.
US plays catch-up, institutions applaud “say on pay” reforms
Institutional investors in the US, including the largest pension fund in the country, CalPERS, have applauded the introduction of the Shareholder Bill of Rights which includes reform to allow long-term investors to nominate their own director candidates on the management proxy card.
