Fund Management

The pension’s overall annual return of 4.5 percent – its lowest return in five years – was boosted by alternatives. Teachers’ annual report said real estate was the highest performing asset class returning 14.7 percent.

The former CEO of Credit Suisse asset management, David Blumer, will be replaced by Rob Sharif after taking up a new role as head of financial markets at Swiss Re.

As speculation grows about the likely (under-) performance of leveraged deals struck over the last couple of years, Andy Thomson finds it is a question of what's in the portfolio.

The potential for private equity growth in the Middle East is undeniable. Opportunities to invest abound. Capital is plentiful. But people are in short supply. Nicholas Lockley looks at how the region is tackling the human capital issue.

Controversy has surrounded China's attempts to ramp up its investment activities on the international stage. But what are its real motivations? And are fears in the US and elsewhere irrational? Albert McLelland provide revealing insights into the thinking behind China's outbound moves.

How are LPs in the West approaching the Chinese market? Jennifer Harris tests the waters.

Nicholas Lockley, editor of PrivateEquityOnline.com, looks behind the recent headlines on the web.

In keeping with the tourist crowds, Andy Thomson also set out to discover the latest fashions in Paris. For private equity firms facing uncertain times ahead, standing out from the crowd has never been more important.

The continuing flow of capital that is being attracted by even the larger private equity funds appears to have put paid to any notion that investors in the asset class would opt out at a time when market conditions have become more challenging. However, the jury is out on whether the fundraising momentum will be sustained once the effects of any downturn can be more clearly seen. Andy Thomson reports.

Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan is one of the world's most influential institutional investors, fusing both GP and LP activities. The recently promoted head of its private equity arm, Erol Uzumeri, spoke with Amanda Janis about Teachers' efforts to be a pension that isn't ‘your Dad's Cadillac’.