Showing newest posts from May 2012
Posted May 31, 2012 at 4:00 PM EST
Today's new: - It's not looking good for Nigeria's new SWF. - KIA will sell some Kuwait Airways. - CIC loses some private equity talent to the private sector. - CPPIB invests in energy.
Posted May 30, 2012 at 4:45 PM EST
Today's news: - Dartmouth accused of self-dealing. - SOFAZ may have more money to invest abroad. - The public pension brain drain continues. - And lots more...
Posted May 30, 2012 at 4:40 PM EST
You may be growing tired of the debate surrounding long-term investing, but some pretty smart folks have identified it as one of their key competitive advantages in the marketplace. And that means, at least to me, that we should keep focused on it...
Posted May 29, 2012 at 4:01 PM EST
Today's news: - Alaska is betting on residential real estate. - Qatar's Hassad is having a busy year. - Is money missing from Ghana's new Petroleum Holding Fund? - The Wyoming Permanent Mineral Trust Fund! - and lots more...
Posted May 29, 2012 at 4:00 PM EST
Slovenia will be joining the SWF club, merging five public agencies with $13 billion under management into a single ‘sovereign fund’ with a view to professionalizing asset management and boosting returns.
Posted May 25, 2012 at 4:30 PM EST
It's Memorial Day weekend here in the US of A, which means for many three days of floating lounge chairs, 'koozies' and some good reading...
Posted May 25, 2012 at 4:29 PM EST
Kenya’s Cabinet will have a new draft law in front of them that will outline the creation of a new sovereign wealth fund within two months. Welcome, Kenya, to the SWF club...
Posted May 24, 2012 at 4:30 PM EST
Today's news: - NZSF in-sources domestic equities. - The Future Fund testifies. - Alberta prepares to talk about the Heritage Fund. - The CIC is buying stuff. - And lots more...
Posted May 23, 2012 at 4:29 PM EST
Because of their lack of liabilities, the community of sovereign funds could offer an antidote to the pervasive short-termism in financial markets today. So what's preventing that from happening? We examine the role of transparency in driving short termism...
Posted May 23, 2012 at 4:00 PM EST
Today's news: - Alaska's Permanent Fund Corp is hiring. - Wyoming gives up on Alpha. - CIC's Jin Liqun tells it like it is. - And lots, lots more.
Posted May 23, 2012 at 3:59 PM EST
In 2011, the US Department of Justice launched its first investigation into the US asset management community and its dealings with foreign sovereign funds under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Asset managers fears grew... and with good reason. (Cue scary music.)
Posted May 22, 2012 at 4:00 PM EST
Today's news: - Temasek sees trouble ahead in markets. - The fate of Nigeria's new SWF is in the hands of the Supreme Court. - Victoria Funds Management loses another boss.
Posted May 22, 2012 at 3:59 PM EST
Gone are the days when a pension fund interested in agriculture might allocate money to an asset manager that would trade soybean futures contracts in Chicago! And I’m happy to explain why...
Posted May 21, 2012 at 12:30 PM EST
Today's news: - Panama's Legislature is formally considering a new SWF. - The CADF is expanding its Agriculture investments in Africa. - Western Australia defends its new SWF. - And Nigeria's new SWF is facing trouble of its own. - And lots more...
Posted May 18, 2012 at 12:00 PM EST
Here's what I've got for you: A new research paper by moi and some interesting news. Have a great weekend!
Posted May 18, 2012 at 11:00 AM EST
Institutional investors are, today, much more willing to think creatively about deploying their capital, such as through in-house teams, but they are doing so with the idea that they’ll be networked with like-minded investors around the world...
Posted May 17, 2012 at 12:00 PM EST
Today's news: - Welcome, Western Australia, to the SWF club. - North Dakota's new "Legacy Fund" tops $350M. - Why Nigeria's Governors oppose the new SWF. - And lots more...
Posted May 16, 2012 at 7:00 PM EST
Much the venture capital industry's problems are to do with the abdication of responsibility, the poor governance, and the sheer laziness of the LPs.
Posted May 16, 2012 at 12:00 PM EST
Today's news: - Investment staff at public pensions have a dangerous job. Seriously. - Why are SWFs so popular in Africa? - Gonski is reshaping the Future Fund. - CalPERS is considering broadening the reach of its timber portfolio. - And more...
Posted May 15, 2012 at 12:00 AM EST
How can a fund that is arguably the global champion for ESG investment policies have a Board of directors made up of ESG skeptics? Let's investigate...
Posted May 15, 2012 at 11:00 PM EST
Today's news: - Hong Kong considers setting up a new sovereign fund. - GCC foreign assets grew by half a trillion dollars in 2011. That's a lot. - TIAA-CREF launches a new co-investment vehicle for agriculture. Cool. - And lots more...
Posted May 14, 2012 at 6:00 PM EST
It may not be sexy to build awesome data management systems. It may not offer the promise of ‘free money’ that comes with algorithmic trading. But this is where real value can be added...by getting timely, pertinent and reliable information into the hands of key decision makers.
Posted May 14, 2012 at 12:00 PM EST
Today's news: - Cyprus asks the IMF for help with new SWF. - SOFAZ is unleashed. - Institutional investors' appetite for venture capital may be growing. - Nigeria's new SWF may finally get a management team. And more...
Posted May 10, 2012 at 12:00 AM EST
This $1.2 billion SWF has been around for roughly seven years and represents the sponsoring country's interests in privatized companies. It also has plans to diversify its holdings into international investments by 2016... Can you name it?
Posted May 10, 2012 at 9:00 PM EST
Today's news: - AIMCo wants your food, energy, and materials. - The three sides of Temasek. - Malaysia's KWAP has a solid quarter. And more...
Posted May 9, 2012 at 12:00 AM EST
It’s comforting to think that we can just throw resources at a problem to eliminate it. But, alas, that doesn’t seem to be the case. There are some important reasons why fail-safe organizations, well, fail-to-be-safer...
Posted May 9, 2012 at 9:00 PM EST
Today's news: - Qatari Diar has some cool plans for Tunisia. - ADIA sells London real estate. - Four sources claim the PBOC is launching a new $10B vehicle. - Aabar signs a construction and financing deal with the Chinese. And lots more...
Posted May 8, 2012 at 4:00 PM EST
In the past few weeks, three different institutional investors have told me that they’d like to hire some sort of geopolitical analyst to help them better understand the political risk exposures embedded (i.e., hidden) in their portfolios. Here's some ideas on what these folks would actually do...
Posted May 8, 2012 at 3:00 PM EST
Coming to you live from Stanford University, today's news: - Billions missing in Libya. - ADIA continues to build out its PE team. - UK pension funds stare longingly at Canadians. - Kuwait Finance Minister "grilled" over Kuwait Investment Authority'.
Posted May 7, 2012 at 7:00 PM EST
Plan sponsors should think harder about the constraints and limitations placed on the qualifications and skills of board members and less about the specific investment restrictions for investment managers...
Posted May 7, 2012 at 12:00 PM EST
Today's news: - 90% of SWFs that invest in infrastructure do so on a direct basis. - Norway sells Euro-area bonds and is interested in the ME. - The Kuwait Investment Authority is sponsoring MBAs. - SOFAZ to grow quickly. And much, much more...
Posted May 4, 2012 at 2:30 PM EST
The Institutional Investor Global Sovereign Funds Roundtable in London was great. Here are some of my takeaways…
Posted May 4, 2012 at 1:00 AM EST
Today’s news: - The IMF likes SOFAZ – Iran's SWF is surprisingly big – The CIC signs a cooperation agreement with…Belgium? And lots more…
Posted May 2, 2012 at 3:00 PM EST
Good morning, London. Nice to be here. I come bearing news: - CIC offers cash for gold. - Joe Dear offers some insights into CalPERS future strategy. - Chris Ailman also offers some insights into CalSTRS plans. And a bunch more stories...
Posted May 1, 2012 at 10:00 AM EST
I’m off to the Global Sovereign Funds Roundtable in London. If you’re coming, don’t hesitate to say hello. If you’re not coming, why aren’t you coming?