CalPERS aligns performance pay with new allocation strategy

CalPERS is set to change its benchmarks for measuring performance compensation for senior investment staff so they are consistent with recent changes to its strategic asset allocation.Earlier in the year CalPERS introduced a range of new benchmarks, including composite benchmarks for the new asset classes. The proposed performance plan will align with these benchmark changes.

The restructure of asset classes resulted in assets being classified in five main groupings: growth, income, inflation, real assets and liquidity.

Some of the key performance changes reflect CalPERS’ economic outlook for likely returns in the coming year, with infrastructure performance benchmark changed from CPI plus 5 per cent to CPI.

AIM (private equity) moved to a global public markets-based benchmark to better align with global equity and total fund policy benchmark.

In forestland the benchmark for measuring performance was changed to NCREIF Timberland.

Performance plans will also take into account both quantitative and qualitative measures.

Sponsored Content

Chief investment officer, Joe Dear (pictured), will have 70 per cent of his performance compensation in quantitative measures, calculated on a sliding scale of performance above a series of basis points hurdles for the total fund.

Of his performance remuneration, 20 per cent will depend on qualitative factors such as leadership, succession planning, risk management and teamwork.

The remaining 10 per cent will be decided by performance in enterprise-wide initiatives during the fiscal year.

The board will review the new performance measures at its May 17 meeting.  A second board level review is set for June to further refine certain benchmarks and incentive schedules.

Leave a Comment

Sort content by

CalPERS’ absolute return mess

Wilshire’s annual review of CalPERS’ internal risk managed absolute return strategies (RMARS) has revealed a number of anomalies compared with its other global equity investments, including an over-reliance on quantitative tools and inadequate staff compensation incentives. mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

Swedish pension fund collaboration to influence local market

Four of Sweden’s national pension funds (AP1-4) have collaborated with another nine investors to form the Swedish arm of The Sustainable Value Creation, and have already begun surveying the top 100 companies on the NASDAQ OMX Stockholm regarding their governance policies and sustainable value creation. mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

Crisis will force private real estate to go public

Tight credit conditions in the US will diminish the private sector’s monopoly on residential and commercial property, driving assets into public markets and real estate investment trusts (REITs) loaded with cash from a spate of capital raisings. mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

Commodity investing: papering over the problems

As funds globally review their investment policies, investment consultants are now strongly endorsing commodity investment, with funds generally planning a staged 3 to 6 per cent strategic allocation into commodities. Writing exclusively for conexust1f.flywheelstaging.com, chairman of Mountain Pacific Group, Ronald Liesching, traces the history of commodity investing, highlighting the risks and benefits for pension fund

Russell changes tune on TAA

After a long history of opposition to tactical asset allocation, Russell Investments has not become a convert but is allowing for a “slower twitch” version of the discipline, says global chief investment officer of the consultant and multimanager, Peter Gunning. mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

ATP staff reduce own CO2 emissions

Each employee of the $110 billion Danish fund, ATP has saved the environment 300 kilograms of CO2 in one year, according to its first climate change report, which coincides with the fund’s strategic move to focus on climate and environmental considerations within its investment policy. mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

Previous