Pension Funds Still Embrace Alternatives
In reading "Alternative investments still hot with pension fund managers" (Andrew Osterland, Financial Week, September 27, 2007), several things caught this blogger's eye. Summarizing a recent Citigroup Investment Research Survey of U.S. and European funds, the article states that "almost 90% of pension fund managers allocate assets to private equity investments vs. 50% to hedge funds." It was somewhat surprising then to read that "over 80% of managers expressed concern over the lack of marking-to-market of hedge fund investments."
Does that mean that pension investors are less concerned about the valuation of private equity positions? That seems odd. While true that many hedge funds actively trade (and therefore tend to have a shorter holding period than private equity managers), we've fielded valuation calls from more than a few defined benefit plan auditors and investment committees. Concern about how to fair value any position for which no ready market exists - hedge fund or otherwise - ranks high on their "watch out" list.
Though some believe that accounting rule changes are the primary reason for concern, the Private Equity Industry Guidelines Group reports the following:
FASB Statement No. 157 did not change GAAP, it includes "provisions which required subtle changes to the guidelines which could be deemed significant! Fair Value was required for PE investments prior to Statement 157. Statement No. 157 clarified the definition, usage and disclosures necessary when using Fair Value and in certain circumstances changes historic practice in the private equity industry as further outlined below." (Source: 2007 Updated Private Equity Valuation Guidelines Frequently Asked Questions)
With more than $1.0 trillion expected to flow into alternatives by 2010 (as per survey results), understanding hedge fund and private equity valuation is critical.
