This conference will help pension funds to review their investment strategy. We will feature some of the strategies that pension funds are increasingly looking at to improve returns whilst keeping risk levels at manageable levels. We will consider the practical benefits and drawbacks of Diversified Growth and Absolute Return Strategies, Real Investments such as Infrastructure and Real Estate and the case for Emerging Market Bond and Equity Strategies. We will consider the benefits of diversification and how incorporating new strategies into an overall portfolio can improve a fund's return and risk management.
Moderator: Judy Saunders, Chief Investment Officer, West Midlands Metropolitan Authorities Pension Fund
“Diversified Growth Strategies”
Client experiences and requirements according to their objectives; Different classes have different needs; DB scheme solutions; Growth solutions; Links to liability benchmarks; Issues across the spectrum, with a focus on the beta end.
Daniel Farley, Managing Director- Head of US Multi Asset Class Solutions, State Street Global Advisors
“Absolute Return Investing - generating performance in different return scenarios”
Navigating through a muted and choppy economic backdrop; Taking risk that is rewarding; Implementing ideas efficiently.
Richard Batty, Investment Director, Global Investment Strategist, Standard Life Investments
“Enhancing Portfolio Optimisation Through Infrastructure”
How Infrastructure, as an emerging asset class, can provide an effective absolute return strategy to match long duration inflation linked pension liabilities? It’s evolution into its own asset class and the resulting segmentation by geography, sector and risk profile? How has it performed against other asset classes during the recent volatile markets? What are the key sector themes and how do investors get access?
Danny Latham, Head of Infrastructure Investments – Europe, First State Investments (UK)
“The European Real Estate Session”
What is driving real estate pricing in the main European markets? Is the bounce-back in prime pricing sustainable? What does a slow transaction market mean for the type of funds that managers will launch? How should investors adjust their risk/return expectations? And, finally, what investment opportunities offer the most attractive risk-adjusted returns?
Nick Hayward, Vice President, JP Morgan Asset Management
12.15
Drinks and Lunch
13.45
Emerging Market Strategies
Moderator: Mark Horne, Senior Investment Consultant, Towers Watson
“Emerging Markets Debt – Structural Trends and Investment Opportunities”
Emerging Markets Debt has evolved from being a satellite investment to now being a core mainstream investment - with many institutional investors considering it a strategic long term allocation. What opportunities lie ahead in Emerging Markets Debt? What is the debt sustainability, fiscal and growth outlook for the asset class. Finally, what are the opportunities and key risks across sovereign and corporate debt, and local rates and currencies.
David Griffiths, Senior Portfolio Manager, Stone Harbor
“What Drives Equity Returns in Emerging Markets?”
Stock Selection is key.Investing in equities is about backing companies that create value for shareholders.
M&G challenges the view that such companies only exist in western economies
Michael
Godfrey, Co-Fund Manager, Global Emerging Markets Fund, M & G Investments
15.05
Coffee/Tea
15.20
LDI Update and Panel Session
"Liability Risks - Too Big To Ignore?"
What if your fund is getting all the promised good returns only to be outdone by an unexpected increase in your fund’s liabilities? Should you consider liability driven investing?
Andrew Firth, Senior Investment Consultant, AON Consulting
"Panel Session"
A panel of pension scheme executives and trustees will talk about their experiences.
Speakers include:
Prof. Michael Green, Trustee, Medical Research Council Pension Fund
Sarah Smart, Board Member, London Pensions Fund Authority
Gary Waller, Chairman, Sun Microsystems Pension Trustees
