All investment committee articles
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NewsDerbyshire among funds at risk in £138mn solar farm scandal
The Derbyshire Pension Fund is among a number of public sector institutions with members’ money invested in a scandal-hit council investment project that has seen £138mn in public money go missing.
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NewsGovt redefines fiduciary management in CMA probe reply
The government has excluded transition management from the scope of fiduciary management in its response to the Competition and Markets Authority’s 2018 investigation of the sector.
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NewsAppeals made as foreign exchange class action proceeds on opt-in basis
The Competition Appeal Tribunal has ruled that a class action suit against banks for participating in a foreign exchange spot trading cartel must proceed on an opt-in basis, leading to fears that thousands of pension funds could miss their opportunity to join the suit.
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NewsOpperman slates lack of long-term vision in pensions, hints at reshuffle
Pensions minister Guy Opperman has suggested a reshuffle may be on the cards, and has criticised a perceived lack of long-term vision in the pensions industry.
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NewsTweaking the charge cap will not solve DC illiquids conundrum
As the government’s consultation on removing performance fees from the charge cap — designed to assist defined contribution schemes looking to invest in illiquids — closed on Tuesday, industry experts have warned that the measure may make very little difference, and may in fact prove counterproductive.
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NewsAccess pool criticised by LGPS board over policy failings
Investment pool Access has earned the ire of the Local Government Pension Scheme Advisory Board, having failed to implement a policy on member representation that was decided in 2017.
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NewsLGPS seeks UN clarity on Israel investment comments
On the go: The Local Government Pension Committee and the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum are to arrange a call with UN special rapporteur Michael Lynk, seeking clarity over his comments on investments in contested Israeli settlements.
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NewsBig schemes turn to fiduciary managers during pandemic
Data crunch: The average size of a pension scheme taking on a fiduciary manager rose by around 80 per cent during the Covid-19 pandemic, suggesting the flexibility afforded by the model was particularly attractive in turbulent market conditions, according to research from IC Select.
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NewsIndustry bodies to 'develop the case' for DC illiquid investments
Industry bodies including the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association, the Association of British Insurers and the Investment Association will “develop the case” for defined contribution schemes to invest in less-liquid assets, as part of a push to secure “long-term value” for its members.
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NewsBA signs 'first of its kind' £21bn deal with BlackRock
The trustees of the British Airways pension schemes have signed a deal with BlackRock that places the investment management company in charge of the day-to-day management of more than £21bn of assets.
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NewsCost Transparency Initiative sees 23% spike in schemes’ uptake
On the go: The Cost Transparency Initiative has recorded a 23 per cent increase in uptake during the past year, with 79 per cent of pension schemes now making use of its framework.
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NewsUK pension schemes under-allocated to Chinese equities
UK pension schemes’ allocation to China as a percentage of global equities is generally inadequate, but there is no consensus as to how big the allocation should be, according to participants at Camradata’s Investing in China roundtable.
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NewsSchemes have reason to be positive about Chinese equities
New research by NTree International suggests significant positive sentiment towards Chinese equities, and investment experts have argued that pension schemes should make strategic allocations to mainland Chinese markets.
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NewsCan UK councils rent their own streets to fund pensions?
Several US public schemes have embraced unusual means of securing funding, including renting property to themselves. Although these tactics cannot be used across the Atlantic, the post-Covid landscape could see a variety of new strategies being deployed in the UK.
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NewsMore work needed to make ESG meaningful
Scarcely a week passes without an announcement of a new environmental, social and governance-oriented venture. But experts warn more needs to be done if onlookers are to be confident that words have meaning.
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News
RPI reform drives up inflation hedging cost
Demand for inflation hedging is now returning after it was suppressed during the government’s consultation on the retail price index. However, the limited supply of index-linked bonds is itself having an inflationary effect, according to Insight Investment.
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NewsVolatility exposes trustees’ slow reaction times
Volatility playing havoc with defined benefit funding ratios may speed the transition towards fiduciary management and consolidation of final salary schemes, according to governance specialists.
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News
Hammersmith & Fulham weighs up fossil fuel divestment
The £1bn London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham Superannuation Fund is discussing whether to lower its fossil fuel exposure as part of its next investment strategy review.
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Features
Is it time to return to equities?
Analysis: Investors are the most overweight in equities relative to government bonds since August 2014. Might pension schemes share in this bullish outlook on equities?
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FeaturesTfL considers a closer look at carbon exposure
The Transport for London Pension Fund plans to look into ways of analysing its carbon exposure following a member request, as experts stress that schemes need to understand exactly what they are measuring and what further steps they can take.