Valuing Positions in Alternatives - New DOL Scrutiny

Posted on November 15, 2010 by Susan Mangiero

According to "DOL rule could raise pension funds' costs: Proposed fiduciary requirement would hit appraisers of alternative investments" by Doug Halonen (Pensions & Investments, November 15, 2010), those who provide independent valuations could soon be declared fiduciaries. Remembering that there is no free lunch and that every new rule has unintended consequences, third party pricing experts are already running for cover. Some say they may exit the appraisal business at the same time that ERISA plans are enlarging their positions in alternatives and also being called upon to provide more information in their Form 5500 filings.

In case you missed it, click to access my comments on this topic, entitled "September 11, 2008 Testimony Presented by Dr. Susan Mangiero before the ERISA Advisory Council Working Group on Hard to Value ("HTV") Assets."

I had the pleasure of presenting on the same topic of risk management and valuation to the OECD and International Organization of Pension Supervisors in Paris in June 2010.

Clearly, pension plan decision-makers and their advisors, attorneys and consultants are going to be challenged to find the right balance between return and risk (with valuation questions being one type of risk). Not every alternative investment is "hard to value." Indeed, some mutual funds and other "traditional" choices have their own challenges in terms of pricing and liquidity.

Click to read "Hedge Fund Valuation: What Pension Fiduciaries Need to Know" by Susan Mangiero, Journal of Compensation and Benefits, July/August 2006.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Pension Consultants and Hedge Funds

Posted on November 2, 2006 by Susan Mangiero
In "Retirement funds fear untested consultants" (HFM Week, August 17-30, 2006), Jefferson Wells engagement manager Aileen Doherty describes a need for independent hedge fund valuations and a concern that pension consultants may not be doing as much as possible to vet valuation issues. Attorney Doherty adds that "There is going to be more pressure on pension funds to make sure the managers they hire are doing what they are supposed to be doing", especially at a time when "Pressure from the SEC and individual states is growing."

In the same article, Wilmer Hale partner Alexandra Poe asserts the need for "trustworthy third party valuations", adding that pension fund trustees "may feel they have hired consultants to get to the bottom of it, and they may feel underserved."

Any pension consultant who wishes to comment has an open invitation from this blog to offer your perspective. The same invitation extends to investors. Please be reminded that we do not endorse any particular firm for any type of product or service. We would simply be acting as a communication conduit.

As I've written before, valuation is a cornerstone of a hedge fund's activities, including, but not limited to, asset allocation, trading, risk management, performance reporting, compliance and auditing.

A point which CANNOT be emphasized enough is the need for independence and objectivity. Regulatory bodies such as the IRS and various courts continue to emphasize specialized valuation training and designations. This applies regardless of purpose - rendering an opinion of value of a particular position or portfolio, assessment of the economic interest of a hedge fund partner or the business itself (such as when a new person exits or enters, key person insurance, divorce) and/or a review of the process employed by organizations providing valuation numbers.

As an Accredited Valuation Analyst, I have written extensively about valuation issues. Please email if you want a copy of any or all of these items:

1. Chart that describes various valuation designations
2. Aforementioned article
3. Hedge fund valuation panel transcript from earlier this year

In case you missed these items, these links may be of interest.

"Hedge Fund Valuation is a Big Deal for Pension Fiduciaries"

"Do You Really Know the Value of Your Portfolio?"

"Hedge Fund Valuation: What Pension Fiduciaries Need to Know" (Source: Journal of Compensation and Benefits, July/August 2006)
Tags: , , , , ,