13 finalists chosen for $200 million bond assignment

The Louisiana Department of the Treasury, Baton Rouge, selected 13 finalists in its search for a manager to run a combined $200 million in active domestic bonds for the state's $1 billion Medicaid Trust Fund, said John J. Broussard, CIO. Treasury officials interviewed Amalgamated Bank, AmSouth, Banc One, Davis Hamilton Jackson, EARNEST Partners, LM Capital, MDL Capital, Morgan Stanley, NCM Capital, Orleans Capital, Pugh Capital, Western Asset and Whitney National Bank, Mr. Broussard said. The money had been internally managed. Officials have not determined how many firms they will hire, he said; selections are expected by the end of the month. PRIME Asset Consulting assisted with the RFP process but did not help with the firms' evaluations, Mr. Broussard said.