The World Bank has set up a new asset management division, IFC Asset Management Company, and a new private equity fund, specifically designed to facilitate co-investment by sovereign wealth funds in developing countries.
UK pension funds given property investment incentives
UK pension funds are being encouraged to support the residential property market via an initiative which would see them invest in the private rented housing sector for the first time.
Global search activity down, but US pension funds hire and fire
US pension funds increased their manager search activity in 2008 on the back of large losses in equity markets, while funds in the UK, Europe and Australia ditched searches to concentrate on strategy issues.
ICGN appoints Rosen to ex dir as Simpson departs to CalPERS
The International Corporate Governance Council (ICGN) has appointed Carl Rosen, head of corporate governance at the Second Swedish National Pension Fund (AP2), as its new executive director replacing Anne Simpson who will join CalPERS as senior portfolio manager for corporate governance this month.
Australian Future Fund piles into debt
The $A51.2 billion ($37.9 billion) Australian Future Fund has quintupled its allocation to debt in the past year, significantly upweighting its exposure to debt securities in the last quarter to 21.9 per cent of the fund.
Governance review to facilitate speedy decisions at SWFs
Sovereign wealth funds are prioritising a review of their internal risk management frameworks and better communication with their stakeholders regarding expectations of financial markets, according to Patricia Pascuzzo, global head of national funds consulting at Mercer.
