Investing In Infrastructure – A Natural Fit For Pension Funds

Much Better Return Profile Than Gilts!

by Dr. Ros Altmann

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Government can underwrite inflation-linked future returns to give win-win for all

UK pension funds hit by QE, low rates and high inflation – bond investing can’t fix these deficits: UK pension funds have suffered serious damage from recent policies to stimulate growth – in particular low interest rates coupled with quantitative easing (QE) have led to significant increases in pension liabilities, which have been further compounded by the sharp rise in inflation in recent years. As their liabilities grow, so do their deficits and funds have been trying to reduce risk by investing in bonds, but bonds cannot overcome the deficits.

Pension funds have huge gilt holdings but also trying to diversify some investments, but commodities, hedge funds or overseas infrastructure won’t help UK economy! Billions of pounds of pension fund assets are languishing in gilts or being invested in commodities, hedge funds and even infrastructure funds (many of which invest largely in overseas infrastructure rather than the UK), whereas investing directly in UK infrastructure projects could be a huge benefit to both the funds themselves and to the economy.

Government needs to stimulate the economy but hasn’t got money for big projects, while pension funds need long-term returns and have billions in assets: Given that Government policy itself has so badly damaged pensions, and given that public sector (local authority) pension funds are desperately in need of better returns, coupled with the fact that the Government needs to stimulate the economy and UK infrastructure urgently requires modernisation, it seems only sensible that we should harness the power of pension fund assets to boost long-term growth potential and boost pension fund returns.

Public pension funds are in serious deficit and Government would have to make up shortfalls anyway, so why not try to help in a ‘win-win’ way: Local authority pension schemes are in serious deficit and, if they cannot return to full funding, the Government would have to bale them out anyway. Recent estimates suggest that there is a shortfall of around £60billion in local authority pension funds, with assets of around £140billion, so they clearly need extra returns to help bridge this gap. Therefore, it makes much more sense for the Government to help these pension funds invest in domestic infrastructure projects, which will generate potentially higher returns and better income than conventional assets such as gilts or other bonds while also helping long-term domestic economic growth. This could be a win-win for all.

It also makes sense for Government to incentivise pension funds to invest their assets in domestic infrastructure – e.g. underwriting inflation-linked future returns: Given that the Government would have to underpin local authority pension deficits anyway, it even makes sense for the Government to incentivise public pension funds to provide billions of pounds for infrastructure investing. Incentives could include underwriting an inflation-linked income stream in the future, which would provide comfort for pension trustees that this money would at least perform like long-term inflation-linked gilts (which are currently in such seriously short supply).

Return profile of infrastructure is well suited to pension funds – long-term growth and inflation linked income: Investing in infrastructure can offer an ideal type of return profile for pension funds – especially if the returns are underwritten by the Government. Indeed, local authority pension funds already invest an average of 1% of their asset in infrastructure funds, but using funds incurs higher charges (and therefore lowers potential returns) as well as investing overseas rather than just in the UK, thereby meaning they will not be helping just UK long-term growth. By helping pension funds invest directly in infrastructure projects (obviously managed by experienced companies!) and also underwriting some of the long-run returns for them, they will be better able to help their own funding position as well as the UK economy. And if this investment stream does help growth and reduce the fiscal deficit, it will be far cheaper for the Government than having to spend billions in future on making up the public pension fund deficits.

Private sector pension funds should also be helped in the same way – giving even more money for infrastructure investing: The case for helping local authorities to invest their assets in long-term infrastructure projects can also be extended to private sector pension funds. While local authority schemes have around £140 billion in assets, private sector schemes have many hundreds of billions more. Harnessing this money as well, by providing incentives or underwriting inflation-linked long-term returns (say guaranteeing an inflation-linked income stream in 10 years’ time) could help employers struggling with their deficits and also help increase UK long-term growth. This could be a great investment opportunity that can improve diversification and help reduce the risks of bond investing.

ENDS
Dr. Ros Altmann
07799 404747

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

Current asset allocation for local authority pension funds:

As at 30th June 2011:

UK Equities	31%
Overseas Equities	34%
UK Bonds	19%
Other bonds	1%
Property	6%
Private Equity	3%
Hedge funds	2%
Cash	4%

Total assets invested in UK pension schemes approximately £140billion

If they put 5% into infrastructure, that would be £7bn.