Facing Possible Liquidity Issues, Stanford Initiates Private Equity Sale
Although the university is claiming that it doesn’t need the cash, Stanford has initiated a sale of up to $1 billion in private equity stakes in the secondary markets.
News
With Pensioners Refusing to Die, Trustees Move To Insure Against Longevity
A new study is showing that UK pension plans, faced with an aging population that relies heavily on defined benefit pension schemes, are expected to increasingly insure against such longevity risk.
Hurting Like Others, Gates Foundation Tries New Investments
Having lost 20% of its value, the mighty Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has turned to a novel investment approach to retain capital while still putting it to work.
Seeking Third World Investors, IFC Coaxes SWFs and Pensions
The IFC—a member of the World Bank group—is planning on working with SWFs and pension plans to create a $1 billion fund for investments in emerging and frontier markets.
CIC Rises, Dubai’s Istithmar Falls
All SWFs were not created equal, recent activity shows.
With Interest Rates Low, Brazil Pensions Get Okay To Diversify
Brazilian pension funds will now be able to move out of their traditional government and corporate debt holdings and into other, more esoteric, investments.
As Regulators Step Up, Securities Lending Comes Under the Spotlight
Regulation is a certainty in many different niche financial markets, and so it was only a matter of time before the SEC turned its gaze toward securities lending, which saw seemingly risk-free practices turn risky in 2008.
As Custodians Search for Profits and the EU Regulates, Prices Rise
With higher-margin services on the decline, European custodians have started to raise basic rates, and the trend is expected to continue if proposed depository rules are enacted.
With SWF Transparency Calls Mounting, Some Quietly Protest
SWF transparency often is thought of as a universal positive. However, some within the asset management business are quite vocally starting to state otherwise
Knowing They Were Selling “Crap,” UBS under Siege in CDO Case
Despite internally acknowledging that some of their CDOs were “crap” and “vomit,” UBS still sold such instruments to unwitting investors—and now are being sued for doing so.
Following the SWF Trend, Mongolia Jumps in
The poor, landlocked country’s willingness to set up a long-term investment vehicle for resource profits lends credence to the idea that the SWF model has taken hold worldwide.
With Firms Chosen, PPIP Comes Knocking
Connecticut State Treasurer Denise Nappier reportedly is considering a large investment in the government-backed program to purchase distressed debt, possibly signaling a larger trend for American pension funds.
Despite Hype, Pension Management Outsourcing Not Popular
While talk of fiduciary management has been on the rise, a new survey by consultant bfinance shows that pension plans are unlikely to use plan outsourcing anytime soon.
To Entice Foreign Capital, China Relaxes Regulations
Although still miniscule in nature, the Chinese Qualified Foreign Investor (QFII) program will—if proposed regulation passes—raise limits, lower minimums, and reduce lockups for foreign institutions, a sign of encouragement for foreigners wishing to pour money into the country.
For World’s Pensions, Asia Sees Growth while America Falters
Asian pension funds (including Australia) gained 19% in the past five years, according to a study by Watson Wyatt; North American funds, on the other hand, returned just 4%.