James Comtois

New York

Senior Reporter at Institutional Investor

James Comtois is a Reporter at Pensions & Investments.

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Articles

More State Pension Plans Target Smaller, Direct Infrastructure Deals in ‘Their Own Backyards’

1 month ago | institutionalinvestor.com | James Comtois

With capital increasingly scarce and institutions paring down the number of GPs on their rosters, managers are courting state pensions by offering “fund of one” deals to target smaller, local investments. Barings has been partnering with state pensions to target lower-middle-market local infrastructure investments, an often overlooked part of the sector.
A U.S. Pension Stopped Investing in Tesla. The Controller Expects More to Follow.

1 month ago | institutionalinvestor.com | James Comtois

Since Tesla chief Elon Musk took over the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, pensions have faced mounting pressure to divest from the company. But while overseas plans like Denmark’s $20 billion AkademikerPension dumped their Tesla holdings months ago due to Musk’s political activities, U.S. allocators have remained noncommittal, with many viewing divestment as symbolic rather than strategic.
MacArthur Taps Nature Conservancy Vet to Replace Outgoing CIO

1 month ago | institutionalinvestor.com | James Comtois

Six months after its chief investment officer announced her intention to step down after 21 years, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has named Nature Conservancy vet Bola Olusanya to manage its nearly $9 billion endowment as VP and CIO. Starting in June, Olusanya replaces Susan Manske, who in November confirmed her plans to retire next month after having been in the role since 2003.
Walton Family Consolidates Investment Offices Under Sole CIO

1 month ago | institutionalinvestor.com | James Comtois

Following the recent departure of one of its chief investment officers, the family office of Walmart heir Lukas Walton has promoted the remaining CIO to lead a newly consolidated investment team. Builders Vision has promoted Noelle Laing to the sole CIO of the impact investment firm. Previously, the family office used a dual CIO model in which Laing served as investment chief for the philanthropic arm — Builders Initiative — while Rebecca Carland oversaw the asset management division.
Big Allocators Double Down on Private Credit Amid Market Volatility

1 month ago | institutionalinvestor.com | James Comtois

Trade tensions are driving volatility within markets, but large asset owners remain sanguine about shorter-term market moves and are doubling down on private credit. Results of a new survey released by Mercer show that 70 percent of asset owners with at least $20 billion intend to increase allocations to private debt in the next 12 months, and 63 percent plan to invest more heavily in infrastructure.
More Deals May Be in the Works as Wilshire Names New CEO

2 months ago | institutionalinvestor.com | James Comtois

After a rebranding and restructuring, Wilshire Advisors has promoted its president and deputy CEO Jason Schwarz to CEO. He succeeds Andy Stewart, who will become executive chairman. Schwarz said in a statement that he’s looking to expand the firm’s offerings and build on Stewart’s legacy, while working to deepen client relationships.
Now Global Investors Are Pulling Money Out of Sustainable Funds

2 months ago | institutionalinvestor.com | James Comtois

A perfect storm of geopolitical challenges and an intensifying ESG backlash has led investors to pull a record amount from global sustainable funds in the first quarter. But the state of funds that identify investments based on environmental, social, and governance factors is not entirely clear. The outflows come even as large asset owners, such as New York City’s pension funds, have doubled down on their commitments to sustainable investments amid the contentious debate.
Now Global Investors Are Pulling Money Out of Sustainable Funds

2 months ago | institutionalinvestor.com | James Comtois

A perfect storm of geopolitical challenges and an intensifying ESG backlash has led investors to pull a record amount from global sustainable funds in the first quarter. But the state of funds that identify investments based on environmental, social, and governance factors is not entirely clear. The outflows come even as large asset owners, such as New York City’s pension funds, have doubled down on their commitments to sustainable investments amid the contentious debate.
Institutional Investors Wield Enormous Influence Over Trade Policy - Even if Indirect

2 months ago | institutionalinvestor.com | James Comtois

New research shows a direct correlation between trade policy shifts and U.S. pension funds’ allocations to international private equity managers, with plans engaging in a form of “institutional tariff-jumping.”It’s no surprise the research comes as the U.S. has upended the global trading system by slapping tariffs on almost every country across the globe.
Yale’s Potential PE Sale Won’t Solve Liquidity Challenges

2 months ago | institutionalinvestor.com | James Comtois

After years of underperformance and as Ivy Leagues face federal funding freezes, Yale is considering selling off a portion of its private equity holdings on the secondary market. A spokesperson confirmed in an email to Institutional Investor that the university is working with Evercore and “exploring a sale of private equity fund interests.” While Yale did not provide a target price for the sale, PEI Media initially reported that it could be as high as $6 billion.