MINUTES KANSAS PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM BOARD OF TRUSTEES January 17, 2014 The meeting was chaired by Chairperson Doug Mays and called to order at 1:11 p.m. on January 17, 2014, in the Retirement System Board Room, Topeka, Kansas. Board Members present: Doug Mays, Chairperson Terry Matlack, Vice Chairperson Kelly Arnold Ernie Claudel Lois Cox Ron Estes Todd Hart Chris Long Suresh Ramamurthi Mr. Mays welcomed all participants. Public Comment Dennis Phillips, Chair of the Kansas Coalition of Public Retirees, presented members of the Board of Trustees with a publication that outlines the Coalition s recommendation to legislators for a cost-of-living (COLA) increase for State of Kansas retirees. Consent Agenda The Consent Agenda included the Minutes of the November 15, 2013 meeting, Appointments of Hearing Officers for Darla Denton and Billie White, the Sudan Divestment Report, the Annual Proxy Voting and Disclosure Report, and New Employer Affiliations. Vice Chairperson Terry Matlack moved that the Board of Trustees adopt the Consent Agenda. Todd Hart seconded the motion. The motion passed. Executive Director s Report The Chairperson recognized Alan Conroy, Executive Director. Mr. Conroy reported on several agency activities, including 2014 legislative activities, the 2013 KPERS Financial and Performance Audit Reports, and the mailing of the 2013 1099-R tax forms to members.
Mr. Conroy also reported that Phyllis Chambers, Director of Nebraska Public Employees Retirement System, spoke at the House Pensions and Benefits Committee meeting on Wednesday, January 15 to discuss Nebraska s experience with their cash balance plan. Investment Operations Chairperson Mays recognized Liz Miller, Chief Investment Officer. Ms. Miller reviewed the November 30, 2013 Performance Report. She reported that the Retirement System had a total return of 9.7 percent (not annualized) for the fiscal year-to-date and 16.0 percent for the calendar year-to-date, and responded to questions. Investment Market Risk Metrics The Chairperson recognized John Burns of Pension Consulting Alliance. Mr. Burns reviewed PCA s Investment Market Risk Metrics Report and responded to questions. Custodial Bank Search Recommendation The Chairperson recognized Alan Conroy, Executive Director. Mr. Conroy noted that BNY Mellon has been KPERS custodial bank since 1992, that the last RFP was conducted in 2002, and recommended that the Board approve a Procurement Negotiating Committee to issue an RFP to ensure KPERS is getting a competitive value in the System s custodial bank and securities lending services. Mr. Conroy and Elizabeth Miller, Chief Investment Officer, responded to questions. Ron Estes asked whether or not the custody and securities lending parts of the RFP could be split and Mr. Conroy responded that they could. Terry Matlack requested a brief review of KPERS current securities lending program, which Ms. Miller provided. Ron Estes moved that the Board of Trustees appoint a Procurement Negotiating Committee composed of Alan Conroy, Diana Komarek, Mitchell Fick, Elizabeth Miller and Bruce Fink for the purpose of working with the Board s consultant, Pension Consulting Alliance, to conduct a competitive Request for Proposals process for global master custody and securities lending services. Terry Matlack seconded the motion. The motion passed. Investment Committee Report The Chairperson recognized Lois Cox, Chairperson of the Investment Committee. Ms. Cox provided a report on the Committee meeting of January 17, 2014. Ms. Cox moved that the Board of Trustees authorize a commitment of up to $75 million to Vista Equity Partners Fund V, L.P. and authorize staff to proceed with the investment pending a satisfactory and final legal review of corresponding partnership documents. Terry Matlack seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Ms. Cox moved that the Board of Trustees authorize a commitment of up to $40 million to Exeter Industrial Value Fund III and to authorize staff to proceed with the investment pending a satisfactory and final legal review of corresponding partnership documents. Terry Matlack seconded the motion. The motion passed. Ms. Cox moved that the Board of Trustees approve the initiative to have AEW Capital Management, LP, engage brokers to market Rosedale Square Shopping Center for sale and proceed with disposition as long as the gross sales price meets or exceeds the reserve price. Ernie Claudel seconded the motion. The motion passed. Audit Committee Report The Chairperson recognized Ron Estes, Chairperson of the Audit Committee. Mr. Estes provided a report of the Committee meeting of January 17, 2014 including KPERS financial audit by Cochran Head Vick and Company. The report provided an unqualified opinion on the financial statements of KPERS. Personnel Committee Report The Chairperson recognized Kelly Arnold, Chairperson of the Personnel Committee. Mr. Arnold provided a report of the Committee meeting of January 17, 2014, which noted the investment staff incentive survey results and the issue of the KPERS unclassified position limitation. Monthly Operations Report The Chairperson recognized Mary Beth Green, Chief Benefits Officer. Ms. Green reviewed the activities and performance of Benefits and Member Services and responded to questions. Monthly Financial Report The Chairperson recognized Diana Komarek, Chief Fiscal Officer. Ms. Komarek reviewed the preliminary December 31, 2013, financial statements and responded to questions. Cash Balance Plan Project Implementation The Chairperson recognized Jeanette Branam, Project Manager. Ms. Branam reported on the progress of KPERS new cash balance project and responded to questions. Self-Funded Cost-of-Living Adjustment Options for KPERS 3 (Cash Balance) The Chairperson recognized Aland Conroy, Executive Director. Mr. Conroy explained that the self-funded cost-of-living adjustment options for KPERS 3 would be implemented at a later time, but they required Board action now because it was necessary to begin information system programming at this time. He also explained that the goal of KPERS consulting actuary s recommendation for the self-funded cost-of-living adjustment is based on minimizing
complexity and limiting applicability. Pat Beckham of Cavanaugh MacDonald prepared the actuarial recommendation. Lois Cox asked why absolute percentages were being used to figure the cost-of-living adjustments rather than base them on an inflation index. Mr. Conroy pointed out that the statute uses a fixed percentage. Ron Estes asked if special actuarial calculations would be used, or if the annual report assumptions would be used in determining the cost-of-living adjustments. Mr. Estes expressed his concern about the use of the table at the current point in time and what differences there might be at the time a person actually retires. After a brief discussion, Terry Matlack moved that the Board of Trustees approve the following self-funded cost-of-living adjustment options as a benefit option for KPERS 3 cash balance plan retirees: (1) a 1.0 percent annual benefit increase on each July 1, beginning no less than 12 months following the member s date of retirement; (2) a 2.0 percent annual benefit increase on each July 1, beginning no less than 12 months following the member s date of retirement. Ernie Claudel seconded the motion. The motion passed. Mortality Table for KPERS 3 (cash Balance) Monthly Benefit Payments Alan Conroy, Executive Director presented information on establishing of mortality rates for the KPERS 3 - cash balance plan. Mr. Conroy explained that staff was beginning to develop information system and communications. Therefore, the rates needed to be set now for later use. Mr. Conroy explained that the KPERS actuary will need two months to develop actuarial numbers before everything would be ready for use by the KPERS Information Technology division. Board members were referred to the actuary s letter in their materials, which provided more explanation on the process. Terry Matlack questioned the use of this particular table. Mr. Conroy explained that this is the table recommended by the KPERS actuary. Faith Loretto added that the table is also the one used for the valuation, which keeps things consistent. Ron Estes asked how the table is used in the calculation and it was agreed that the actuary would provide additional information and explain the table at a later board meeting. Terry Matlack stated that for purposes of KPERS 3 cash balance benefit calculations and estimates, he moved for the adoption of the recommendations of Cavanaugh Macdonald as contained in their letter dated January 10, 2014, which provides for a mortality table based on the following blend of the mortality tables used in KPERS valuation, as based on the RP-2000 Healthy Annuitant table, with mortality improvements projected to 2030. Ron Estes seconded the motion. The motion passed. Other Business Chairperson Doug Mays reported that there might be a need to have a conference call sometime in the next month regarding issues in the current legislative session.
Information Items The Chairperson called the Board s attention to the informational items behind Tab K in the Board book. Board Self Evaluation The Board briefly discussed the meeting and other items of general interest. Chairperson Mays suggested that perhaps KPERS staff might consider moving action items to the beginning of future agendas to avoid running into time issues if meetings run long. Meeting adjourned at 2:48 p.m.