Asset Allocation
Brunel Hits Carbon Intensity Target, Varma’s Real Estate to Be Carbon Free by 2030
European funds with a combined $87.2 billion in assets look to reduce their carbon footprints.
News
Newsmakers
Austin Takes Steps to Save Local Pensions
The city’s Audit and Finance Committee enables new legislative allowances to save its police and employees’ retirement systems.
Alternatives
ESG ETF Investing ‘Should At Least Double’ This Year, Says Industry Savant
Investor interest has jumped amid challenges in the coronavirus crisis and George Floyd protests.
Corporate Moves
Presbyterian Church, Illinois Police Pensions Name New Leaders
Donald Walker tapped as CIO of church pension while Richard White will be interim head of new police fund.
Regulation
Convicted Officials Shouldn’t Get Public Pensions, Say North Carolina Lawmakers
Bill before legislature is sparked by anger over a county employee who won government retirement benefits after embezzling nearly $1 million.
Alternatives
PE-Related Bankruptcy Filings Soared in May
Too much debt and the virus economic slide harmed companies such as Hertz and J. Crew.
Risk
San Francisco Pension Plan Reports Data Breach
SFERS is the latest to suffer the loss of personal information that puts some at higher risk of identity theft.
Research
Pandemic Provides Lessons to Improve Retirement System
Research paper says pandemic ‘is likely to hasten the demise’ of defined benefit plans.
Asset Management Culture
Mellody Hobson: Incentivizing Better Racial Relationships
Using investments to improve the world.
Market Moves
Don’t Get All Excited by the Green Light for PE in 401(k)s
Private equity isn’t always a market beater and charges high fees. Besides, it’ll be confined to larger investment pools, like target-date funds, which limits its impact.
Pensions
Study: There’s a Better Way to Withstand Downturns than Old DB Model
Under new set-up, a plan is over-funded, which serves as a cushion in a downturn. Any benefit cuts are only as a last resort.
Asset Allocation
USS Targets Tobacco, Thermal Coal for Divestment, Exclusion
UK’s largest pension plan will shun investments, like tobacco and coal, it deems ‘financially unsuitable.’
Market Moves
Schwarzman Dodges Bullet: Boosts Warehouses, Dumps Hotels, Malls
His Blackstone Group’s real estate arm manages to avoid bad trends and embrace good ones.
Alternatives
Racism Is an ESG Problem, Says Calvert CEO
The leader of the responsible investing group said investors must demand actionable outcomes from businesses.
Regulation
Ohio Court Rules Segal Blend Violates ERISA
Case has ‘significant ramifications’ for employers contesting their withdrawal liability from multiemployer plans.