All alternative assets articles – Page 6
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NewsGovernment pushes for patient capital in Autumn Budget
Autumn Budget 2017: Chancellor of the exchequer Philip Hammond stated the government’s desire to see pension funds invest in patient capital as part of its Autumn Budget.
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Features
Wholesale changes to rules are needed to enable DB consolidation
Pensions Expert 20th Anniversary: Amalgamating defined benefit corporate pension funds could reduce costs, improve investment and make for better governance, but it is still unclear whether full DB consolidation is a chimera or the fix to a fragmented system.
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FeaturesNilgosc outvotes social infrastructure sceptics
The Northern Ireland Local Government Superannuation Committee has voted for social infrastructure as a suitable investment type, despite concerns among some committee members about political risk and the impact on public services.
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OpinionThe best way to harness illiquidity
Pension schemes are facing tough times. In June, the Pension Protection Fund reported that 74 per cent of defined benefit schemes were in deficit, and this situation has been exacerbated by a prolonged low interest rate environment.
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FeaturesPearson moves away from hedge funds into DGFs
The pension plan of publishing giant Pearson Group has scrapped its hedge fund exposure and invested in diversified growth funds, in a bid to control investment risk and costs as the scheme nears self-sufficiency.
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OpinionPPF: An investment strategy for the long term
From the hedging programme to infrastructure investments, the Pension Protection Fund’s Ian Scott explains how the lifeboat fund manages its assets.
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Features
Imperial Tobacco fund sharpens returns focus
The Imperial Tobacco Pension Fund has cut its exposure to shares and corporate bonds in favour of alternative asset classes, with a view to increasing the scheme’s sources of return and reducing reliance on equities.
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FeaturesSuffolk scheme fills gaps with greenfield infra
The Suffolk Pension Fund has added to its alternatives allocation, including a commitment to illiquid credit and an investment in a greenfield infrastructure fund, as experts have highlighted the importance of good governance when investing in illiquids.
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OpinionSeeing the wood for the trees: The ins and outs of investing in forestry
Analysis: Whether investing in the UK or overseas, forestry and timberland can be an attractive addition to a pension fund portfolio. So what should trustees be aware of before branching out into this asset class?
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OpinionCan illiquid investments help weather market mayhem?
Once again, global financial markets are in shock. Donald Trump’s surprise election as US president has seen many bond markets sell off sharply while some equities have soared, particularly those in sectors expected to benefit from Trump policies, like healthcare, mining and financials.
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FeaturesComet scheme enters alternatives space
In a bid to improve diversification and returns, the Comet Pension Scheme has added alternatives to its portfolio, as rising deficits and the current economic environment prompt many pension funds to hunt for yield.
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FeaturesRBS scheme diversifies with US life settlements
The RBS Pension Scheme has made a number of new investments as part of its long-term plan to diversify its portfolio.
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FeaturesRoyal Mail diversifies alternatives ahead of planned scheme closure
The Royal Mail Pension Plan has diversified the alternatives investments in its portfolio, adding new private debt and infrastructure funds, while almost eliminating its exposure to equities in one of its sections.
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FeaturesVodafone scheme diversifies with alternatives additions
Vodafone has made a foray into a number of new asset classes, including alternative beta, alternative credit and private market investments, for greater diversification.
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News
Expertise key to exploiting multi-asset solutions
Schemes looking to multi-asset strategies to generate positive cash flow while derisking may have to turn to specialist managers to reduce their potentially significant governance burden.
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FeaturesMPS mines for income with alternative credit and shipping
The Mineworkers Pension Scheme is hunting for income with new allocations to shipping and special situations debt, alongside increased exposure to private debt and property.
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News
MPs press government to incentivise ESG investment
Pension funds should do more to incorporate environmental, social and governance considerations into their investment decisions, a report by the House of Commons’ International Development Committee last week suggested.
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FeaturesNationwide targets 30% in illiquids
The Nationwide Pension Scheme is struggling to find suitable illiquid investments as it targets 30 per cent of its portfolio in the assets, the scheme’s chief investment officer has said.
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Features
How pension schemes reacted to volatility amid a turbulent 2015
Analysis: Volatile markets and economic uncertainty drove pension schemes into multi-asset strategies and alternative assets in 2015, data show, as they looked to mitigate losses from equity markets.
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OpinionPrivate market investing – what schemes need to know
Opportunities abound for trustees looking at the private debt markets, but investment is not straightforward. BlackRock’s Andrew Stephens equips schemes with the essential information.