ATLANTA - Cox Enterprises hired Strategic Investment Solutions as consultant, said Carol Larner, assistant treasurer and director of qualified plan assets. Strategic replaces SEI.
Strategic will conduct an asset-liability study of the $600 million plan during the first quarter.
It is too soon to tell if manager searches will come out of the study, she said.
Eastern Enterprises
WESTON, Mass. - Eastern Enterprises will add three options to its 401(k) plan early next year and is switching bond funds, said Barbara Leimsieder, manager of compensation and benefits.
The $50 million plan is adding The Managers Funds' Special Equity Fund; the MFS Research Growth and Income Fund; and Vanguard's Life Strategic Funds, or asset allocation funds.
In addition, Vanguard's Long-Term Bond Fund will be replaced with Vanguard's Total Market Bond Fund.
The additions bring the number of options to 10. Vanguard is the plan's bundled provider.
DeMarche Associates assisted.
El Paso County
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - El Paso County hired a new custodian and is in the process of searching for a new actuary and investment consultant.
The $115 million plan has a fairly new board committed to putting all positions out to bid that haven't been for a long time, said Mike Cherry, plan administrator.
Norwest Bank is in the process of taking over custodial services from Colorado National Bank/First Trust, following an in-house search. The incumbent, as well as Western National Bank and BancOne also were finalists.
A new actuary should be hired after the fund's January meeting. Finalists to be interviewed are incumbent William M. Mercer, Segal Consulting and Buck Consultants.
RFPs should be sent out shortly for a consultant. Mercer, the incumbent, is expected to respond, said Mr. Cherry. A decision is expected in February.
New York Board of Education
BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The $1.2 billion New York City Board of Education Retirement System, Brooklyn, hired Genesis Investment Management to manage a portfolio of emerging markets stocks, said Horatio Sparkes, executive director.
Genesis will receive 3%of the $1.2 billion fund, or about $36 million, said Mr. Sparkes.
The commitment will be funded from the retirement system's fixed-income allocation, which is being reduced to 30%from 40% equities are being increased to 70%of assets from 60%
No managers will be terminated. The New York City Bureau of Asset Management will determine from which portfolios the money will be taken, said Mr. Sparkes.
NTN USA Corp.
MOUNT PROSPECT, Ill. - NTN USA Corp. hired Prudential as bundled provider for its start-up 401(k) plan for new subsidiary NTN BCA Corp. in Lititz, Pa.
Joseph Tierney, corporate manager of human resources, said Prudential was chosen over five other firms because of good investment performance among its mutual funds. NTN BCA Corp., recently purchased from Federal-Mogul, will have 900 participants. Nordstrom Pension Consulting assisted.
Platinum Technology
OAK BROOK TERRACE, Ill. - Platinum Technology Inc. selected Putnam Investments as bundled provider for its $33 million 401(k) plan. Putnam replaces Nationwide Insurance. Nine investment options will be offered, up from six.
Virginia Retirement System
RICHMOND, Va. - The Virginia Retirement System agreed to invest $40 million in the Summit Subordinated Debt Fund II, a limited partnership of up to $330 million that will invest, along with Summit, in acquisitions or recapitalizations of private midsized companies. Assets will come from cash, said Nancy Everett, deputy chief investment officer of the $23 billion fund.
