ASSET MANAGEMENT MOVES INTO THE SPOTLIGHT

Pension funds are already investing not only directly in infra- structure projects, but are also using the expertise of asset managers to invest in such projects. Currently 34% of pension funds’ infrastructure investments come through unlisted infrastructure funds. 1% 11% 1% 11% 1% 11% Figure 11 breAkdowN of INfrAstrUCtUre INvestmeNt of peNsIoN fUNds 2012

FOCUS ON INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS IN PENSION FUNDS

As pension funds seek to diversify, interest in infrastructure is gaining traction. According to a recent OECD pension fund survey, infrastructure investment was $72.1 billion in 2012. 33 of 69 surveyed funds reported an allocation to unlisted infrastructure equity. 20

34% 54% 34%

54% 54%

34%

1%

11%

Direct investment and co-investment in unlisted infrastructu Unlisted infrastructure funds Unlisted debt Other unlisted investment Direct investment and co-investment in unlisted infrastructu Unlisted infrastructure funds Unlisted debt Other unlisted investment

54% Direct investment and co-investment in unlisted infrastructure companies Unlisted infrastructure funds Unlisted debt Other unlisted investment

Figure 10 totAL INfrAstrUCtUre posItIoN of LArge peNsIoN fUNds ANd pUbLIC peNsIoN reserve fUNds

34%

Sources:OECDannual surveyof largepension fundsan Sources:OECDannual surveyof largepension fundsan

$ bn

# of funds

Sources:OECDannual surveyof largepension fundsandpublicpension reserve funds2013.

A prime example of this growing trend is the Government Pension Investment Fund of Canada, the world’s largest pensionfund.InFebruary,2014,thefund’smanagersmadethe decision to invest in riskier assets instead of low-yielding gov- ernment bonds. Together, the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System and the Development Bank of Japan invested in infrastructure projects through an investment trust fund. 21 Investing pension fund money in infrastructure, though, is a relatively new concept. Although it is an obvious and natural solution to the problem of pension fund diversification - infrastructure projects take a long time horizon, but deliver cash flows over an extended period, while pension funds have long-term liabilities to meet - risk also plays a big part in this strategy. Pension funds are dependent upon reliable returns to pay retirees, so uncertainty does not fit well into this equation. Public policy also plays an important role in this area since political decisions directly impact infrastruc- ture investments. Direct investment and co-investme t in unlisted infrastructure companies Unlisted infrastructure funds Unlisted debt Other unlisted investment Source: OECD annual survey of large pension funds and public pension reserve funds 2013.

80

34

72.1

32

60

Sources:OECDannual surveyof largepension fundsandpublicpension reserve funds2013.

30

41.8

40

28

20

26

0

24

2011

2012

infrastructure investment

Number of pension funds reported infrastructure exposure

Source: OECD Annual survey of large pension funds and public pension reserve funds, 2013

Sources:OECDAnnual surveyof largepension fundsandpublicpension reserve funds,2013.

20 OECD,“Annual survey of large pension funds and public pension reserve funds”, 2013 21 Reuters,“Japan overhauls its public pension fund, the world’s largest”, April 22, 2014

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