Cambridge (Mass.) Retirement Board is searching for an international equity manager to run $28 million in either a passive MSCI EAFE index fund or an enhanced EAFE index portfolio. Ann C. LeDuc, executive director of the $540 million pension plan, declined to provide additional details. RFPs are available from Carol Tam at consultant Segal Advisors at [email protected] The deadline for proposals is Jan. 20.
Waltham (Mass.) Contributory Retirement System issued an RFP for a manager to run $9 million in active domestic midcap growth equities, said Joseph Juppe, executive director for the $130 million plan. The portfolio will be benchmarked to the Russell Midcap Growth index. The RFP is available on consultant Wainwright Investment Counsel's website, www.winvcounsel.com. Proposals are due at noon EST Jan. 25.
Woburn (Mass.) Retirement System is searching for a manager to run $4.5 million in active domestic small-cap growth equities, said Bart Earley, senior investment analyst with consultant Wainwright Investment Counsel. The portfolio will be benchmarked to the Russell 2000 Growth index. Mr. Earley said existing manager Essex Investment Management will be reconsidered in the search process. The $84 million retirement system issued the RFP in December because of organizational changes at Essex, he said. The RFP is available on Wainwright's website, www.winvcounsel.com. Proposals are due at noon EST Jan. 26. Maureen T. Marcucci, retirement board administrator, referred questions to Wainwright.
Ohio School Employees' Retirement System, Columbus, issued an RFI for an active domestic small-cap growth equity manager to run from $50 million to $70 million, said Robert Cowman, director of investments. The $8.8 billion system will fund the new hire by trimming the portfolios of its three existing small-cap growth managers; none will be terminated. "We just want a manager to complement our existing managers," Mr. Cowman said. The RFI is available at www.ohsers.org; responses are due Jan. 31.
Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System, Nashville, is searching for a general investment consultant, said Tom Milne, chief investment officer. The contract with the $27 billion plan's current consultant, Callan Associates, expires in February; Callan can rebid, Mr. Milne said. The RFP is available on the state of Tennessee's website, at www.state.tn.us/finance/rds/ocr/rfp. Proposals are due at 2 p.m. CST Jan. 31.
Westfield (Mass.) Contributory Retirement System is searching for an active domestic large-cap growth equity manager and a core-plus fixed-income manager to run a combined $45 million, said Lynn Rea, retirement administrator. State Street Research currently manages the assets in an active balanced fund. Ms. Rea said officials of the $115 million system decided to conduct the search because of BlackRock's pending acquisition of State Street Research; officials will consider the firm. The retirement board will consider proposals for separate managers or one manager for both asset classes. The RFP is available by e-mailing l[email protected] Proposals are due Feb. 18.
Wisconsin Deferred Compensation Program, Madison, will issue an RFP this month for an administrator and record keeper for the $1.3 billion plan, according to Shelly Schueller, state deferred compensation director. Nationwide Retirement Solutions is the plan's current administrator and record keeper. She said there was no dissatisfaction with Nationwide, which will be allowed to rebid, but the plan hadn't issued an RFP for a record keeper since 1992 and "we felt it was time." Ms. Schueller said a copy of the RFP can be obtained by calling her at 608-266-6611 or e-mailing her at [email protected] Proposals will be due in March.
New York State Deferred Compensation Plan, Albany, will soon issue a routine RFP for a synthetic GIC manager, according to Julian Regan, executive director of the $6.9 billion plan. The plan currently has $2.8 billion in its stable value fund. The fund's four stable value managers, which all run synthetic GICs, will be allowed to rebid. Mr. Regan said the RFP will be available from consultant Evaluation Associates.
Harbor Police Retirement System, New Orleans, is considering allocating about 8% of the $12 million fund's portfolio to alternatives, said Warner Tureaud, trustee. He said the board will likely decide soon whether to proceed and, if so, what kind of investments to pursue. Fund officials have not determined whether they will issue an RFP. Funding would come from reductions to active domestic fixed income, although no managers would be terminated. The fund's asset allocation is roughly 65% equity and 35% fixed income. Consulting Services Group, the fund's investment consultant, will assist if the board decides to add the allocation.
