Table of Contents
Issue Date: Monday, January 7, 2013
News
Risks to retirement industry remain despite fiscal cliff deal
Tax preferences for retirement savings remain a potential target as Congress last week removed the immediate threat of the fiscal cliff and now must address required spending cuts.
DC plans cutting costs using 'big stick' of fee disclosure
New federal fee-disclosure regulations have enabled defined contribution plan executives to cut costs in multiple ways, ranging from negotiating lower fees for existing investment options to bargaining for less expensive institutional shares as well as collective trusts, consultants say.
Cheap debt means private equity finally pays off
Private equity firms are taking advantage of low interest rates to refinance their portfolio companies, packing on debt but also providing a long-awaited pay day for firms and their investors.
Forecast optimistic for new year
Institutional investment strategists generally paint an upbeat outlook for 2013, including the S&P 500 and emerging markets, while seeing little chance of recession in a weak but slowly strengthening economy.
Retirement issues likely to dovetail with tax reform in 2013
The Washington outlook for retirement and investment policy in 2013 can be summed up in one word: revenue.
Hedge funds to see brighter opportunities in 2013
The new year is expected to be one of changes that will provide hedge fund managers with opportunity for better performance and new inflows from fresh sources, but lower revenues might result as institutional investors successfully push fees down.
P&I survey shows divergence in investors', market views
Uncertainty caused by last-minute congressional negotiations to avert the fiscal cliff created pessimism about the economy and markets in the short term, according to Pension & Investments readers responding to a P&I/Oxford University survey.
Fewer good real estate deals seen for otherwise OK new year
Real estate is expected to remain in favor with investors in 2013 but good deals and managers with attractive investment opportunities will be harder to come by, industry insiders say.
U.S. money management M&A up, Europe down in 2012
Buyer confidence seems to have gradually returned to the U.S. asset management industry in 2012, as the deal value of U.S. mergers and acquisitions transactions increased from the previous year.
Top endowments find wide range of returns in fiscal year
Fiscal year-end returns of the 25 largest U.S. endowments spanned a wide 910-basis-point range, from 8% to -1.1%.
Easy credit could prompt some setbacks for PE firms in new year
Private equity in 2012 made a rapid recovery from the lows of the 2008 economic downturn, but firms may suffer a setback in 2013 amid the expected return of high valuations and easy credit, industry insiders say.
Sleepless nights over eurozone, China to extend into new year
Pension fund, endowment and money management executives cited the eurozone crisis, China and the fiscal cliff among the top issues that occupied their minds in 2012, some of which continue to vex them as we enter the new year.
Ford uses bond sale to finance contributions, derisking plan
Ford Motor Co., Dearborn, Mich., sold $2 billion in 4.75% 30-year notes Jan. 3, mostly to finance accelerated contributions to its worldwide defined benefit pension plans this year and continue derisking its pension obligations.
Mixed opinions on the prospects of bonds in 2013
On the riskiest and the best asset classes for the new year, Treasury bonds fell into both camps, depending on the strategist.
Dyal buys stake in MKP Capital
Hedge fund MKP Capital Management sold a minority stake to Dyal Capital Partners.
Japanese pension funds not rushing to equity
Japanese pension fund executives appear poised to tweak their bond allocations for the coming year more than their equity targets, even as promises of aggressive stimulus policies by the incoming prime minister, Shinzo Abe, have fueled explosive gains for Tokyo stocks.
Special Report
Outlook 2013
Forecast optimistic for new year as most money managers and retirement plan executives see stronger economy, little chance of recession.
Money Manager M&A 2012
Deal values rise 43% in U.S., but EU debt crisis hurting Continent.
Frontlines
Editorial
Time to expand audits
Once Congress gets past the fiscal cliff and takes steps to solve the country's long-term debt problem, it should turn its attention to strengthening the integrity of both defined benefit and defined contribution retirement plans.
Other Views
Concerns rise with foreign litigation
Over the past decade, the governing boards of public pension funds and other institutional investors have acted swiftly to implement policies and procedures for monitoring U.S. securities class-action litigation.
Letters to the Editor
Face to Face
Prudential's Marcks applies lessons from dad
Prudential Retirement's Christine Marcks used lessons from her father's drugstore to help others navigate the confusion of retirement.
