TRS of Texas Investment Committee Meeting

TRS of Texas Investment Committee Meeting

7/28/2024 | AUM: $213B   | Members: 2M

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✦ TLDR:

The Texas Teachers Retirement System is making significant adjustments to its $213B portfolio, reducing emerging market exposure and private equity allocation while increasing focus on stable, developed markets and improving liquidity management. They deep dive on real estate.

Executive brief:

Strategic Asset Allocation Adjustments

Reduce Emerging Markets Overweight: Focus on stable, developed markets.

Private Equity Allocation: Target reduced to 12%, maximum at 19% during transition.

New Hedge Fund Benchmark: SOFR plus 250 basis points.

Risk and Liquidity Management:

Liquidity Assurance: Sufficient liquidity maintained even in stressed scenarios.

Real Estate Portfolio Update:

Outperformance: Despite negative return, top quartile performance over 5 years.

Sector Focus: Underweight office, focus on industrial and multifamily.

Global Power Market Trends:

Growth in Electricity and Natural Gas: Emphasize energy sector opportunities.

Public Equity Portfolio Adjustments:

Regional Weights: Increase allocation to US and non-US developed markets.

ENRI Performance Review:

Alpha Generation: 430 basis points of alpha in energy and infrastructure sectors.

Private Markets Annual Update:

Team Strength: Managing $80 billion in assets across 745 investments.

Consistent Returns: Around 11% since inception.

Private Markets Annual Update:

Regional Weights: Increase allocation to US and non-US developed markets.

ENRI Performance Review:

Liquidity Assurance: Sufficient liquidity maintained even in stressed scenarios.

Strategic Asset Allocation Adjustments

Reduce Emerging Markets Overweight: Focus on stable, developed markets.

Private Equity Allocation: Target reduced to 12%, maximum at 19% during transition.

New Hedge Fund Benchmark: SOFR plus 250 basis points.

Real Estate Portfolio Update:

Outperformance: Despite negative return, top quartile performance over 5 years.

Sector Focus: Underweight office, focus on industrial and multifamily.

Global Power Market Trends:

Growth in Electricity and Natural Gas: Emphasize energy sector opportunities.

Public Equity Portfolio Adjustments:

Regional Weights: Increase allocation to US and non-US developed markets.

Private Markets Annual Update:

Team Strength: Managing $80 billion in assets across 745 investments.

Consistent Returns: Around 11% since inception.

Private Markets Annual Update:

Regional Weights: Increase allocation to US and non-US developed markets.

Risk and Liquidity Management:

Liquidity Assurance: Sufficient liquidity maintained even in stressed scenarios.

ENRI Performance Review:

Alpha Generation: 430 basis points of alpha in energy and infrastructure sectors.

ENRI Performance Review:

Liquidity Assurance: Sufficient liquidity maintained even in stressed scenarios.

Call to order and approval of minutes

The committee meeting was called to order, roll was taken, and the minutes of the May 2024 Investment Management Committee meeting were approved.

1 Year Performance: The Trust's 1-year performance as of Q1 end was 9.4%, including 298 basis points of alpha, which is a record 1-year alpha for the Trust.

3 Year Performance: The 3-year return was 5.5%, with 179 basis points of alpha.

Fiscal Year Estimate: As of June 30, the estimated fiscal year return is 9.3%.

RSPN Summit: Discussions included AI, value stocks, emerging markets, and Europe.

Industry Initiative: An initiative to advocate for cash hurdles in hedge fund returns was launched. The proposal has 60 signatories, up from 29 initially.

Work from Home Adjustments: The IMD adjusted work-from-home arrangements to Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, shifting from a 3:2 schedule with a mandatory Monday.

Semi-Annual Reviews: Semi-annual fireside chats and portfolio reviews were conducted, focusing on public and private markets, respectively.

Global Equity Performance: Positive nominal returns of 16.5% for the trailing 1-year period, driven by global equity assets. US equities saw the largest growth at 29%.

Diversification and Asset Allocation: Diversification plan showed varying performances across asset classes, with significant growth from US equities and some pressure on real estate assets.

Investment Earnings: Over the past 5 years, $67 billion in investment earnings contributed to a 40% increase in asset value despite $20 billion in net outflows for benefit payments.

Performance Attribution: The Trust's 1-year return of 9.44% outperformed the benchmark by 298 basis points, mainly due to security selection across asset classes.

Risk-Adjusted Returns: The Trust demonstrated lower volatility for a similar return compared to peers, partly due to its alternative assets exposure.

Private Assets Valuation: Discussion on the challenges of using private asset valuations for risk measurement due to their less frequent revaluation and the impact on volatility.

Peer Group Comparison: The peer group was adjusted to include public pension funds with assets over $1 billion, providing a larger sample size for comparisons.

Success Indicators: Success is measured against the total fund benchmark, assumed rate of return, and CPI plus 5%. TRS has generally met these benchmarks over long periods

Global Equity Performance: Positive nominal returns of 16.5% for the trailing 1-year period, driven by global equity assets. US equities saw the largest growth at 29%.

Diversification and Asset Allocation: Diversification plan showed varying performances across asset classes, with significant growth from US equities and some pressure on real estate assets.

Investment Earnings: Over the past 5 years, $67 billion in investment earnings contributed to a 40% increase in asset value despite $20 billion in net outflows for benefit payments.

Performance Attribution: The Trust's 1-year return of 9.44% outperformed the benchmark by 298 basis points, mainly due to security selection across asset classes.

Risk-Adjusted Returns: The Trust demonstrated lower volatility for a similar return compared to peers, partly due to its alternative assets exposure.

Private Assets Valuation: Discussion on the challenges of using private asset valuations for risk measurement due to their less frequent revaluation and the impact on volatility.

Peer Group Comparison: The peer group was adjusted to include public pension funds with assets over $1 billion, providing a larger sample size for comparisons.

Success Indicators: Success is measured against the total fund benchmark, assumed rate of return, and CPI plus 5%. TRS has generally met these benchmarks over long periods.

Private Markets Annual Update

0:29:44 - 0:30:10

0:29:44 - 0:30:10

0:29:44 - 0:30:10

Adoption of 1 or 30 Hedge Fund Structure: Approximately two-thirds of TRS's assets under management and hedge fund managers have adopted the 1 or 30 fee structure, indicating a significant shift towards more favorable fee terms.

Transparency and Innovation: Emphasis on transparency with partners and trustees, innovative investment models, and industry leadership within the team.

Team Composition and Portfolio Overview: Four teams with offices in London and Austin, managing 745 active investments. The private markets portfolio represents 38% of the trust, totaling $80 billion, with 7,100 holdings across various sectors.

Performance Metrics: As of 12/31/2023, private markets have consistently delivered around 11% return since inception, with E and RI and PE showing positive 1-year IRR, but real estate had a negative return for the first time in 14 years.

FULL TRANSCRIPT

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Teachers Retirement System of Texas
investment committee meeting

Teachers Retirement System of Texas investment committee meeting

Teachers Retirement
System of Texas investment committee meeting


Trustee Corpus: So with that, there being no more business before the benefits committee, the committee adjourns. Subject to the call of the chair, this meeting is adjourned. Thank you.

Chairman Wahl: Thank you, trustee Williams. I'm gonna move straight into Investment Management Committee, but, I encourage you if you need to take a break, if you're not on this committee especially, feel free to take a break. But, with that, Jace I mean, I'm sorry. Trustee Corpus? Sorry I took over your meeting for you.

[ ETC ]

Trustee Corpus: No problem. That's the bad head. Trustee Corpus. Thank you, chairman Wahl. I called the meeting of the Investment Management Committee to order.

[ ETC ]

Trustee Corpus: No problem. That's the bad head. Trustee Corpus. Thank you, chairman Wahl. I called the meeting of the Investment Management Committee to order.

Trustee Corpus: So with that, there being no more business before the benefits committee, the committee adjourns. Subject to the call of the chair, this meeting is adjourned. Thank you.

Chairman Wahl: Thank you, trustee Williams. I'm gonna move straight into Investment Management Committee, but, I encourage you if you need to take a break, if you're not on this committee especially, feel free to take a break. But, with that, Jace I mean, I'm sorry. Trustee Corpus? Sorry I took over your meeting for you.

Trustee Corpus: Trustee Corpus: No problem. That's the bad head. Trustee Corpus. Thank you, chairman Wahl. I called the meeting of the Investment Management Committee to order.

[ ETC ]