Western Australia’s Government Employees Superannuation Board (GESB) is reviewing its $2 billion international equities portfolio.
The $7 billion public sector fund’s review is being assisted by Mercer Investment Consulting, its primary asset consultant since last year. GESB has a long list of international equity managers, comprising Bernstein Investment Research (US equities, value-biased), Fidelity International, Genesis Investment Management (emerging markets), Goldman Sachs Asset Management (US equities), GMO (emerging markets), State Street Global Advisors (passive international equities) and Wellington International Management. GESB’s chief investment officer, Paul Edmondson, said: “As part of our ongoing management of a $7 billion diversified portfolio, GESB is reviewing its international equities strategy. We are conducting due diligence and are therefore not able to provide further information at this stage. We expect to be able to make a statement towards the end of the year.”
There is one investment area where Insignia’s $180 billion super arm has not lost money for the past 17 years, which is what it calls the insurance-related investments. The alternatives strategy is gaining popularity among asset owners due to its diversification benefit, but Insignia’s super and asset management investment chief Dan Farmer warns it is a space where investors can suffer if they “stumble in without doing the homework”.
Darcy SongJanuary 23, 2025
