GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2013

S                                                                                                                                                    2

SENATE BILL 558

House Committee Substitute Favorable 7/18/13

Short Title:        Treasurer's Investments.	(Public)
Sponsors:
Referred to:

April 1, 2013

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to amend the law governing the state treasurer's investment authority with regard to special funds held by the treasurer.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 147-69.2(b) reads as rewritten:

"(b)      It shall be the duty of the State Treasurer to invest the cash of the funds enumerated in subsection (a) of this section in excess of the amount required to meet the current needs and demands on such funds. The State Treasurer may invest the funds as provided in this subsection. If an investment was authorized by this subsection at the time the investment was made or contractually committed to be made, then that investment shall continue to be authorized by this subsection, and none of the percentage or other limitation on investments set forth in this subsection shall be construed to require the State Treasurer to subsequently dispose of the investment or fail to honor any contractual commitments as a result of changes in market values, ratings, or other investment qualifications. For purposes of computing market values on which percentage limitations on investments in this subsection are based, all investments shall be valued as of the last date of the most recent fiscal quarter.

(1)        Investments authorized by G.S. 147-69.1(c)(1)-(7).

(2)        General obligations of other states of the United States.

(3)        General obligations of cities, counties and special districts in North Carolina.

(4)        Obligations of any company, other organization or legal entity incorporated or otherwise created or located within or outside the United States, including obligations that are convertible into equity securities, if the obligations bear one of the four highest ratings of at least one nationally recognized rating service when acquired.

(5)        Repealed by Session Laws 2001-444, s. 2, effective October 1, 2001.

(6)        Asset-backed securities (whether considered debt or equity) provided they bear ratings by nationally recognized rating services as provided in G.S. 147-69.2(b)(4).

(6a)      In addition to the limitations and requirements with respect to the investments of the Retirement Systems set forth in this subsection, the State Treasurer shall select investments of the assets of the Retirement Systems such that investments made pursuant to subdivisions (b)(1) through (6) of this section shall at all times equal or exceed twenty percent (20%) of the market value of all invested assets of the Retirement Systems.

(6b)      Investments pursuant to subdivisions (b)(1) through (6) of this section may be made directly by the State Treasurer or through contractual arrangements in which the investment manager has full and complete discretion and authority to invest assets specified in such arrangements in investments authorized by subdivisions (b)(1) through (6) of this section, provided for each indirect investment, the investment manager has assets under management of at least one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000).

(6c)      With respect to Retirement Systems' assets referred to in subdivision (b)(8), they may be invested in obligations and otherobligations, debt securities, and asset-backed securities, whether considered debt or equity, includingdebt obligations and securities convertible into other securities, that do not meet the requirements of any of subdivisions (b)(1) through (6) of this section nor subdivision (b)(7) of this section, provided such investments are made through investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, individual, common, or collective trust funds of banks and trust companies, group trusts and limited partnerships, limited liability companies or other limited liability investment vehicles that invest primarily in investments authorized by this subdivision and through contractual arrangements in which the investment manager has full and complete discretion and authority to invest assets specified in such arrangements in investments authorized by this subdivision, provided the investment manager for each investment pursuant to this subdivision has assets under management of at least one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) and provided that the investments authorized under this subdivision shall not exceed five percent (5%) seven and one-half percent (7.5%) of the market value of all invested assets of the Retirement Systems.

(7)        With respect to Retirement Systems' assets referred to in subdivision (8) of this subsection, (i) insurance contracts that provide for participation in individual or pooled separate accounts of insurance companies, (ii) group trusts, (iii) individual, common, or collective trust funds of banks and trust companies, (iv) real estate investment trusts, (v) investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940,and (vi) limited partnerships, limited liability companies, or other limited liability investment vehicles;vehicles, and (vii) contractual arrangements in which the investment manager has discretion and authority to invest assets specified in such arrangements in investments authorized by this subsection; provided the investment manager has assets under management of at least one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000); provided such investment assets are managed primarily for the purpose of investing in or owning real estate or related debt financingfinancing, excluding asset-backed financing, located within or outside the United States; and provided that the investments authorized by this subdivision shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the market value of all invested assets of the Retirement Systems.

(8)        With respect to assets of the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System, the Consolidated Judicial Retirement System, the Firemen's and Rescue Workers' Pension Fund, the Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System, the Legislative Retirement System, the North Carolina National Guard Pension Fund, and the Retiree Health Benefit Fund (hereinafter referred to collectively as the Retirement Systems), and assets invested pursuant to subdivision (b2) of this section, they may be invested in equity securities traded on a public securities exchange or market organized and regulated pursuant to the laws of the jurisdiction of such exchange or market and issued by any company incorporated or otherwise created or located within or outside the United States; provided the investments meet the conditions of this subdivision. The investments authorized for the Retirement Systems under this subdivision cannot exceed sixty-five percent (65%) of the market value of all invested assets of the Retirement Systems.

The assets authorized under this subdivision may be invested directly by the State Treasurer in any equity securities authorized by this subdivision for the primary purpose of approximating the movements of a nationally recognized and published market benchmark index. No more than one and one-half percent (1.5%) of the market value of the Retirement Systems' assets that may be invested directly under this subdivision can be invested in the stock of a single corporation, and the total number of shares in that single corporation cannot exceed eight percent (8%) of the issued and outstanding stock of that corporation.

So long as each investment manager has assets under management of at least one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000), the assets authorized under this subdivision may also be invested through any of the following:

a.         Investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940; individual, common, or collective trust funds of banks and trust companies; and group trusts that invest primarily in investments authorized by this subdivision.

b.         Limited partnerships, limited liability companies, or other limited liability investment vehicles that are not publicly traded and invest primarily in investments authorized by this subdivision. Investments under this sub-subdivision shall not exceed six eight and one-half percent (6.5%)(8.5%) of the market value of all invested assets of the Retirement Systems.

c.         Contractual arrangements in which investment managers have full and complete discretion and authority to invest assets specified in such contractual arrangements in investments authorized by this subdivision.

(9)        With respect to Retirement Systems' assets, as defined in subdivision (b)(8) of this subsection, they may be invested in interests in limited partnerships, limited liability companies, or other limited liability investment vehicles that are not publicly traded if the primary purpose of the limited partnership, limited liability company, or other limited liability investment vehicle is (i) to invest in private equity, or corporate buyout transactions, within or outside the United States or (ii) to engage in other strategies not expressly authorized by any other subdivision of this subsection. The amount invested under this subdivision shall not exceed seven and one-half percent (7.5%) eight and three-quarters percent (8.75%) of the market value of all invested assets of the Retirement Systems.

(9a)      With respect to Retirement Systems' assets, as defined in subdivision (b)(8) of this subsection, they may be invested in inflation-linked bonds, timberlands, commodities, and other assetsinvestments that are acquired by the Treasurer for the primary purpose of providing protection against risks associated with inflation, provided such investments are made through investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, individual, common or collective trust funds of banks and trust companies, group trusts and limited partnerships, limited liability companies or other limited liability investment vehicles that invest primarily in investments authorized by this subdivision and through contractual arrangements in which the investment manager has full and complete discretion and authority to invest assets specified in such arrangements in investments authorized by this subdivision, provided the investment manager for each investment pursuant to this subdivision has assets under management of at least one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) and provided that the investments authorized under this subdivision shall not exceed five percent (5%) seven and one-half percent (7.5%) of the market value of all invested assets of the Retirement Systems. Notwithstanding anything in this subsection to the contrary, the investments authorized by this subdivision shall not be included in any subdivision other than this subdivision for purposes of the percentage investment limitations therein or otherwise.

(10)      Recodified as part of subdivision (b)(9) by Session Laws 2000-160, s. 2.

(10a) With respect to Retirement Systems' assets, as defined in subdivision (8) of this subsection, the market value of any of subdivision (6c) or (7), sub-subdivision b. of subdivision (8), or subdivision (9) or (9a) of this subsection shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the market value of all invested assets of the Retirement Systems; and the aggregate market value of all assets invested pursuant to subdivisions (6c) and (7), sub-subdivision b. of subdivision (8), and subdivisions (9) and (9a) of this subsection shall not exceed thirty-five percent (35%) of the market value of all invested assets of the Retirement Systems. The quarterly report provided by the Treasurer pursuant to G.S. 147-68(d1) shall include a specific listing of all direct and indirect placement fees, asset fees, performance fees, and any other money management fees incurred by the State in the management of subdivisions (6c) and (7), sub-subdivision b. of subdivision (8), and subdivisions (9) and (9a) of this subsection. In the event that the market value of any of subdivision (6c) or (7), sub-subdivision b. of subdivision (8), or subdivision (9) or (9a) of this subsection increases during a fiscal year by an amount greater than three percent (3%) of the market value of all invested assets of the Retirement Systems as of the prior fiscal year end, then the quarterly report provided by the Treasurer pursuant to G.S. 147-68(d1) shall describe how that increase complies with the duties described in G.S. 147-69.7 and the consequent expected impact on the risk profile of the Retirement Systems' assets.

(11)      With respect to assets of the Escheat Fund, obligations of the North Carolina Global TransPark Authority authorized by G.S. 63A-4(a)(22), not to exceed twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000), that have a final maturity not later than October 1, 2014. The obligations shall bear interest at the rate set by the State Treasurer. No commitment to purchase obligations may be made pursuant to this subdivision after September 1, 1993, and no obligations may be purchased after September 1, 1994. In the event of a loss to the Escheat Fund by reason of an investment made pursuant to this subdivision, it is the intention of the General Assembly to hold the Escheat Fund harmless from the loss by appropriating to the Escheat Fund funds equivalent to the loss.

If any part of the property owned by the North Carolina Global TransPark Authority now or in the future is divested, proceeds of the divestment shall be used to fulfill any unmet obligations on an investment made pursuant to this subdivision.

(12)      With respect to assets of the Escheat Fund, in addition to those investments authorized by subdivisions (1) through (6) of this subsection, up to twenty percent (20%) of such assets may be invested in the investments authorized under subdivisions (7) through (9) of this subsection, notwithstanding the percentage limitations imposed on the Retirement Systems' investments under those subdivisions."

SECTION 2.  G.S. 147-69.7 reads as rewritten:

"§ 147-69.7.  Discharge of duties to Retirement Systems.

(a)        The Treasurer shall discharge his or her duties with respect to the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System, the Consolidated Judicial Retirement System, the Firemen's and Rescue Squad Workers' Pension Fund, the Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System, the Legislative Retirement System, and the North Carolina National Guard Pension Fund (hereinafter referred to collectively as the Retirement Systems)Retirement Systems enumerated in G.S. 147-69.2(b)(8) as follows:

(1)        Solely in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries.

(2)        For the exclusive purpose of providing benefits to participants and beneficiaries and paying reasonable expenses of administering the Retirement Systems.

(3)        With the care, skill, and caution under the circumstances then prevailing which a prudent person acting in a like capacity and familiar with those matters would use in the conduct of an activity of like character and purpose.

(4)        Impartially, taking into account any differing interests of participants and beneficiaries.

(5)        Incurring only costs that are appropriate and reasonable.

(6)        In accordance with a good-faith interpretation of the law governing the Retirement Systems.

(b)        In investing and managing assets of the Retirement Systems pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the Treasurer:

(1)        Shall consider the following circumstances:

a.         General economic conditions.

b.         The possible effect of inflation or deflation.

c.         The role that each investment or course of action plays within the overall portfolio of the Retirement Systems.

d.         The expected total return from income and the appreciation of capital.

e.         Needs for liquidity, regularity of income, and preservation or appreciation of capital.

f.          The adequacy of funding for the Retirement Systems based on reasonable actuarial factors.

(2)        Shall diversify the investments of the Retirement Systems unless the Treasurer reasonably determines that, because of special circumstances, it is clearly prudent not to do so.

(3)        Shall make a reasonable effort to verify facts relevant to the investment and management of assets of the Retirement Systems.

(4)        May invest in any kind of property or type of investment consistent with the provisions of Article 6 of Chapter 146 of the General Statutes.

(5)        May consider benefits created by an investment in addition to investment return only if the Treasurer determines that the investment providing these collateral benefits would be prudent even without collateral benefits.

(c)        Compliance by the Treasurer with this section must be determined in light of the facts and circumstances existing at the time of the Treasurer's decision or action and not by hindsight.

(d)        The Treasurer's investment and management decisions must be evaluated not in isolation but in the context of the portfolio of the Retirement Systems as a whole and as part of an overall investment strategy having risk and return objectives reasonably suited to the Retirement Systems."

SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.