UK Public Funds Pump Money Into Alternatives
<p>At the end of the year the 105 public pension funds in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland had collectively invested £16.6 billion (€19.1 billion) in asset classes including infrastructure, real estate, and private equity, according to State Street’s research. This amounts to roughly 6.6% of the total assets in the local government pension scheme (LGPS).</p>
<p>Andy Todd, head of UK pensions and banks at State Street, said the rise was “significant”, although the starting point was low.</p>
<p>“Pension funds do want to investigate these asset classes – some of them, maybe, for the first time,” he said.</p>
Why I Invested In Syndicate Room's Hibergene Campaign: Jim Shiggins, Cantor Fitzgerald
Today Hibergene‘s Series B funding round on SyndicateRoom will successfully close at midnight tonight, having raised at least £5,707,336 with the help of over 53 investors. Funds will be used to support R&D activities to launch three new products in 2017. The Irish medical diagnostics company specializes in the urgent diagnosis of potentially fatal human infectious diseases and has developed what it believes to be a simple, easy to use and low cost solution comprising a compact, fully portable, reusable instrument and a menu of proprietary single use molecular tests.
Hedge Funds V. Silicon Valley, The Battle For Quant Talent
On the warmest February day on record in Cambridge, about 60 students at the <a href="http://web.mit.edu/" target="_blank">Massachusetts Institute of Technology</a> opt to stay inside a dimly lit lobby, crunching data and churning out pages of analysis, rather than enjoy the sunny, summer-like Friday afternoon.
<p>No, it isn’t mid-term time. The students — handpicked from 400 applicants — are competing in a datathon hosted by the $26 billion hedge fund <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/578298Z:US" title="Company Overview">Citadel</a>. Ken Griffin’s firm is upping the ante in the industry’s chase for data scientists and engineers, hosting 18 competitions at universities across the U.S., Britain and Ireland this year. The prize in the final data championship: $100,000.</p>
How Citadel Lures the Beautiful Minds
On the warmest February day on record in Cambridge, about 60 students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology opt to stay inside a dimly lit lobby, crunching data and churning out pages of analysis, rather than enjoy the sunny, summer-like Friday afternoon. No, it isn’t mid-term time. The students -- handpicked from 400 applicants -- are competing in a datathon hosted by the $26 billion hedge fund Citadel. Ken Griffin’s firm is upping the ante in the industry’s chase for data scientists and engineers, hosting 18 competitions at universities across the U.S., Britain and Ireland this year. The prize in...
Frontline Ventures Wraps Up Second Fund
Dublin and London-based Frontline Ventures, an early-stage venture firm, has closed its second fund at 60 million euros. The firm backs B2B software companies, making investments that are between 200,000 euros and 3 million euros. Frontline Fund II’s limited partners include Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, Enterprise Ireland, European Investment Fund, Allied Irish Banks, various pension funds and family offices.
Ireland Likely To Be First Country In The World To Ban Fossil Fuel Investment
With the passing of the Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill in the Dáil, Ireland is just one step away from becoming the first country in the world to stop all Strategic Investment Fund payments that support fossil fuels.
Visit By China's Pension Funds Manager 'Could Signal Offshore Intentions'
<p>A visit to Belfast last week by China’s provincial pension funds manager, the National Committee for Social Security Fund (NCSSF), to meet its Northern Ireland counterpart could signal offshore investment intentions, according to sources.</p>
<p>Those familiar with the Chinese pension system told IPE the trip could be a precursor of more to come as the NCSSF familiarises itself with the practicalities of offshore investment with foreign counterparts such as the Northern Ireland Local Government Officers’ Superannuation Committee (NILGOSC).</p>
Private Equity Chief Tipped For US Ambassador Role In Ireland
The managing director of Fortress Investment Group, the New York-based private equity giant that lost out to rival Cerberus in the competition to acquire Nama's 'Project Eagle' loan book, is understood to be among the leading contenders for appointment to the role of US ambassador to Ireland.
Puma Energy Acquires BP Terminal In Northern Ireland
Deal marks 100th terminal added to global storage network Puma Energy, the globally integrated midstream and downstream energy company, today announced that it has signed a purchase agreement with BP to buy its bulk storage fuel terminal.
Private Equity Deal Flow Sinks In Europe In Wake Of Brexit Vote
The value of private equity deals in Europe has slumped by nearly a quarter during the first nine months of 2016 compared with last year, as the pace of deals in the U.K. and Ireland showed a marked decline in the wake of the EU referendum, according to numbers from data provider PitchBook.