Research
Gender Diversity on Company Boards Improves Due to Pressure from Big Three Asset Managers
An NBER study shows the push by Vanguard, BlackRock and State Street has rippled through corporate America.
News
Newsmakers
NBA Approves Institutional Investors’ Passive Ownership Stakes in Teams
Investors including pension funds, sovereign wealth funds and endowments can own passive stakes in NBA franchises, following a 2020 decision to welcome private equity firms.
Regulation
Congressional Republicans Take Aim at SEC Climate Disclosure
Three bills have been proposed since late September which seek to limit or prevent the SEC’s ability to require climate change-related disclosure.
Asset Allocation
PBGC Grants SFA Money to Third Teamsters Pension in Two Weeks
New Jersey union pension fund, expected to become insolvent in 2023, will receive $54.1 million in assistance.
Manager Selection
Former Connecticut Treasurer Named Chief Public Pension Strategist at Apollo Global Management
Shawn Wooden, outgoing treasurer of Connecticut, was named partner and chief public pension strategist at Apollo Global Management’s institutional client and product solutions group.
Risk
More Real Estate Woes: Blackstone Hits Exit Limit
The investment firm’s storied property arm is beset by investor withdrawals, underscoring REITs’ plight these days.
Newsmakers
Ohio Takes Lead in $25.5 Million Suit Against Warner Bros. Discovery
Class-action lawsuit alleges company intentionally failed to disclose financial problems at WarnerMedia prior to merger.
Pensions
US Single-Premium Buy-Out Sales Set Record in Q3 ’22
U.S. single premium buy-out sales are poised to set new records for 2022, as the third quarter delivers $26.15 billion in buy-out transaction volume.
Research
Global Asset Allocators Continued to Grow in 2021, Hitting Almost $26 Trillion
WTW study shows the 9% pace wasn’t as high as 2020’s for the top 100 funds, but was still impressive.
Newsmakers
BlackRock’s Red-State Woes Continue as Florida Divests
Florida’s CFO freezes assets managed by BlackRock and says by early 2023, the state will have divested fully from the world’s largest asset manager.
Manager Selection
PGIM Hires VP of DEI Strategy and Industry Engagement
PGIM appoints Natalie Gill as vice president of DEI strategy and industry engagement.
Asset Allocation
BlackRock’s Suggested 2023 Buys: Investment Grade Corporates and Just 2 Other Bond Types
Still-high inflation and an expected recession call for slighting stocks and most other categories, the asset kingpin advises.
News
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Invests in Scottish Hydroelectric Transmission System
The pension fund will pay $2.4 billion for 25% of SSEN Transmission, continuing the plan’s allocation to infrastructure, which has increased 60% since 2017.
Research
Higher Interest Rates Are Living on Borrowed Time, Jeremy Siegel Says
The Federal Reserve won’t be able to ignore a slowing economy and will reverse course, the economist predicts.
Newsmakers
PSERS Exploring Legal Action Stemming from Reporting Error
The 2020 fund reporting error’s revision triggered the state’s shared-risk provision, which required school districts, as plan providers, and plan participants to pay more into the system.