The Curious Quant

The Curious Quant series, hosted by Michael Kollo, is a discussion between technically-minded professionals in the financial services, technology and data science fields. It carefully examines the application of new data and new methodologies to common problems in financial markets. The aim is to promote better discussions about these emerging areas, and a better understanding of new technologies.

 

 

Michael Kollo is a seasoned investment professional with a deep passion for the pragmatic discussion and application of quantitative models to solve problems. His PhD in Finance is from the London School of Economics where he lectured in quantitative finance in addition to Imperial College and at the University of New South Wales. He has created models and led quantitative research teams at Blackrock, Fidelity and Axa Rosenberg in the UK before more recently moving to Australia where he established the quantitative team for the $50 billion industry superannuation fund, HESTA. Kollo is an experienced speaker, author, mentor, a keen student of philosophy and more recently, a podcaster. The Curious Quant is a series of conversations with market leaders, deep thinkers and practitioners who deal with the wonder and frustrations of these models and who are on the front line of AI innovation.

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Should hedge funds delay taking performance fees?

The US$173 billion California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) is restructuring the relationships it has with its hedge fund managers and calling for fees to be based on long-term rather than short-term performance. CalPERS said performance fees should be judged on a long-term basis, and mechanisms such as delayed realisations and clawbacks can better align

OMERS’ new co-investment entity gateway to private deals

The Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS) has created a new investment entity, called OMERS Strategic Investments, with a specific mandate to secure co-investment relationships with like-minded investors from around the world, and facilitate a move to its target of about 42 per cent of investments in private markets. mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

Beware of PE secondaries “rubbish” as dealflow rises, valuations drop

Investors in the private equity secondaries universe must be selective as more assets, including distressed assets, come to market and valuations seem set to head south. mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

US congress challenges Bernanke on bankers’ performance pay

Federal officials in the US, including Federal Reserve chairman, Ben Bernanke, will receive letters from Congress in the next couple of days requesting documents about their knowledge of performance bonuses paid to Merrill Lynch executives just weeks before federal money was allocated to the bank’s merger with Bank of America. mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2

Shareholder engagement crucial to returns: Australian Future Fund

As many corporate executives draw public criticism for their governance practices, institutional investors should exercise their power to influence who is appointed to the boards of companies they invest in, and who remains on them, the chairman of Australia’s A$59.6 billion Future Fund, David Murray, said. mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

Co-investment opportunities come to the fore

The distress in the financial markets is offering Australian superannuation funds good opportunities to achieve a higher internal rate of return (IRR) on quality assets purchased directly. Sam Magee, commercial director at Australian investment manager Industry Funds Management (IFM), told the Conference of Major Superannuation Funds (CMSF) held in Australia this week, that there are

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