Mercer Acquisition Highlights Continued Industry Consolidation
Evaluation Associates marks Mercer’s second investment consulting acquisition in 2011, highlighting its drive to expand in the US.
Newsmakers
Prudential Completes First US Pension Buy-In Transaction
A North Carolina-based manufacturing company has used pension plan assets to purchase a “portfolio protected buy-in" policy, transferring investment and longevity risk to a Prudential Financial Inc. unit.
Swedish and US Pensions Partner in Agricultural Real Estate Deal
Swedish pension fund AP2 has decided to establish a joint venture with US pension fund/asset manager TIAA-CREF, with a goal of investing in agricultural real estate in the USA, Australia and Brazil.
CalPERS Efficiency Drive Captures Nearly $1 Billion in Savings
Aiming to increase efficiency while lowering waste and redundancy, the nation's largest public pension fund has captured $963 million in cost savings in 2010, with an additional $287 million of savings targeted in 2011.
Hewitt EnnisKnupp or Russell Stand to Oust Mercer at CT Pension
Connecticut Retirement Plans & Trust Funds has selected Hewitt EnnisKnupp and Russell Investments as semifinalists for its new general investment consultant.
Andrew Ross Sorkin: Wall Street's Confidant
Over a span of three months that saw Goldman Sachs sued and settle and financial reform debated and pass, aiCIO spoke with Sorkin, a New York Times reporter and the author of Too Big to Fail, for a special extended Interrogation.
Hymans Robertson Predicts Record UK Pension Derisking in Q2
With $7.2 billion (£4.5 billion) of risk transfer deals completed over last year, the second quarter of 2011 looks to be a record quarter for the number of buyin and buyout deals completed in the UK, according to consultancy Hymans Robertson.
An Outcome of Longer Lifespans: Death Derivatives
Banks are now forming death derivatives to help pension funds better manage longevity issues.
With Arrest of IMF's Strauss-Kahn, El-Erian Asserts Greece Default Risk Heightens
Since the arrest of International Monetary Fund (IMF) head Dominique Strauss-Kahn, PIMCO's Mohamed El-Erian has asserted that the likelihood of Greece defaulting becomes greater.
CalSTRS' CIO Ailman: Public Pensions Suffer From 'Outdated Model'
CalSTRS' CIO Christopher Ailman tells aiCIO that public pension plans in the US run on a more than 40-year-old business model.
With US At Debt Ceiling, Geithner Leans on Pensions
As the federal government reached its $14.3 trillion legal limit on its debt, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner tells Congress he will start targeting federal pension funds.
Russian Minister Supports Country's New SWF, With Backing From Goldman, Abu Dhabi
Representatives of Goldman Sachs, Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth fund, and other groups are supporting Russia's hopes for a new government-backed fund.
Rajaratnam Conviction: A Red Flag for Wall Street
Industry sources say the conviction of hedge fund titan Raj Rajaratnam serves as a warning to Wall Street over the perils of insider-trading.
Study: Passive Beats Active During Rising Stock Markets
New research carried out by students at Uppsala University and reported by Affärsvärlden shows that if the stock market is on the upswing, then a passive management approach across a broader market index may be superior to an active approach.
CPPIB to Profit From Microsoft-Skype Agreement
Microsoft has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to buy Skype for $8.5 billion; CPPIB to reap the rewards of its investment.