Issue - meetings

As part of good governance, the Pension Fund Committee (Committee) periodically reviews the performance of the Fund’s investments. There is a further focused review of different asset classes each quarter. This quarter the paper concentrates on credit markets.

Speakers:

Lloyd Whitworth, Head of Investment & Stewardship

Anthony Fletcher – Independent Advisor, MJ Hudson

Milo Kerr – Border to Coast

Key points raised during the discussion:

1.    The Head of Investment & Stewardship explained that the fund had 10.8% in the multi asset credit fund of Border to Coast and 2.4% in gilts at the current time, both underweight target asset allocations.  Therefore, a recommendation was being made that those weightings and the nature of the investments should be reviewed.

2.    The Independent Advisor gave a detailed precis of the submitted report which included:-

• That he was not satisfied with the report from BCPP and gave a detailed explanation why. 
• Only two of the managers had outperformed over 12 months and those were the high yield manager and the emerging debt hard currency manager.  All the other managers underperformed. 
• It was still too early to compare the performance of BCPP to the “cash plus benchmark” but he thought it was perfectly reasonable to expect the managers they had selected to have outperformed.
• He pointed out a few areas of the BCPP presentation that were lacking in detail and analysis.

3.    BCPP responded to the comments made:-

• They were mindful that, in this instance, they didn't appropriately present the latest positioning of the fund and how they had made decisions.

• The new CIO had joined in January and had a priority to evolve the presentation performance and the level of transparency to investors. The importance of providing the right information and transparency to allow an assessment of strategy was understood.

Actions/ further information to be provided:

None.

Resolved:

1.    That the Fund’s credit market holdings, respective funds’ investment performance, and review by the Fund’s independent investment adviser be noted.

2.    That officers, investment consultant and investment advisor be approved to review the Fund’s weighting to credit markets and the nature of those investments.

The Committee took a comfort break at 14.25pm and reconvened at 14.35pm.

George Potter returned to the table.