Meketa Investment Group

Last updated

Meketa Investment Group Inc.
Company type Private
Industry Financial services
Founded1978;46 years ago (1978)
FounderJames Meketa
Headquarters Westwood, Massachusetts, U.S.
Key people
  • James Meketa (Chairman)
  • Stephen McCourt (Co-CEO)
  • Peter Woolley (Co-CEO)
Products
AUM US$35 billion (January 2024)
Total assets US$2.0trillion(under advisement) (January 2024)
Number of employees
Approx. 240 (March 2024)
Website meketa.com
Footnotes /references
[1]

Meketa Investment Group (Meketa) is an American investment management and advisory firm headquartered in Westwood, Massachusetts. The company provides investments in both public and private markets to institutional investors.

Background

Meketa was originally founded in 1974 as an investment partnership by James Meketa before it was incorporated under Massachusetts law in 1978 and became registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as an investment advisor. James previously worked for the Harvard University endowment and Meketa originated by providing investment strategy and systems advice to it. In 1978, the firm was hired by its first pension fund client. Meketa rose to prominence as a purveyor of investment advice to pension funds, financial endowments and foundations. [2] [3] [4]

In 1994, Meketa started advising clients on investments related to real estate. [5]

In June 2014, Meketa expanded outside the U.S. by opening an office in London to establish a presence in Europe. [6]

In July 2015, James Meketa who had been CEO of the firm stepped down from his position and Stephen McCourt and Peter Woolley would succeed him as Co-CEOs. A Co-CEO structure was chosen due to the firm's geographic breath where McCourt would be based in San Diego while Woolley would be based at the firm's headquarters in Boston. James would take on a new position as Chairman of the board of directors for Meketa where both McCourt and Woolley would report to him. In addition the board of directors expanded to include addition employees. [5] [7]

In January 2019, Meketa announced that it would be merging with Pension Consulting Alliance (PCA), a boutique consulting firm based in Portland, Oregon that similarly to Meketa, also advised pension funds. This came at a time the industry had heightened competition and more pressure on fees. The combined firm would keep the Meketa brand name and have $1.7 trillion in assets under advisement and $11 billion in assets under management. While it would continue to manage money for clients as well as provide advice, it had no plans to launch investment funds of its own. Both firms hoped the deal would give them more resources in the private markets. Meketa originally lost out to PCA in 2014 on a five-year contract to advise on a private equity mandate for CalPERS. However, in March 2017, PCA resigned from its position as advisor and Meketa who replaced it. [4] [8]

In July 2021, James Meketa stated that there were three factors that investors should consider when investing. An aging baby boomer generation, the emergence of China as an economic superpower and the effects of climate change. [9]

According to Nasdaq in October 2023, Meketa was the most active investment consultant in the first half of 2023 with regards to private market strategies. It came ahead of its peers, Hamilton Lane, Albourne Partners, Aksia and StepStone Group. [10]

In February 2024, Meketa launched a infrastructure fund from its newly created division, Meketa Capital. While Meketa previously focused on institutional investors this fund was aimed at retail investors. [11]

Meketa is entirely employee owned. Throughout the years, it has expanded its ownership to include more employees. [7]

Related Research Articles

The Carlyle Group Inc. is an American multinational private equity, alternative asset management and financial services corporation based in the United States with $426 billion of assets under management. It specializes in private equity, real assets, and private credit. It is one of the largest mega-funds in the world. In 2015, Carlyle was the world's largest private equity firm by capital raised over the previous five years, according to the PEI 300 index. In the 2024 ranking however, it had slipped to sixth place.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neuberger Berman</span> American financial services firm

Neuberger Berman Group LLC is an American private, independent, employee-owned investment management firm. The firm manages equities, fixed income, private equity and hedge fund portfolios for global institutional investors, advisors and high-net-worth individuals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lazard</span> American investment bank

Lazard Inc. is a financial advisory and asset management firm that engages in investment banking, asset management and other financial services, primarily with institutional clients. It is the world's largest independent investment bank, with principal executive offices in New York City, Paris and London.

An institutional investor is an entity that pools money to purchase securities, real property, and other investment assets or originate loans. Institutional investors include commercial banks, central banks, credit unions, government-linked companies, insurers, pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, charities, hedge funds, real estate investment trusts, investment advisors, endowments, and mutual funds. Operating companies which invest excess capital in these types of assets may also be included in the term. Activist institutional investors may also influence corporate governance by exercising voting rights in their investments. In 2019, the world's top 500 asset managers collectively managed $104.4 trillion in Assets under Management (AuM).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PIMCO</span> US global investment management firm

Pacific Investment Management Company, LLC is an American investment management firm focusing on active fixed income management worldwide. PIMCO manages investments in many asset classes such as fixed income, equities and other financial assets across public and private markets. PIMCO is one of the largest investment managers, actively managing more than $2 trillion in assets for central banks, sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, corporations, foundations and endowments, and individual investors around the world. According to the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute, PIMCO is the 6th-largest asset manager in the world by managed AUM.

Wilshire Associates, Inc. is an American independent investment management firm that offers consulting services and analytical products and manages fund of funds investment vehicles for a global client base. Wilshire manages capital for more than 600 institutional investors globally representing more than $8 trillion of capital. Wilshire is also known for the creation of the Wilshire 5000 stock index in 1974 and more recently the Wilshire 4500 stock index.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bridgewater Associates</span> U.S. based investment management firm

Bridgewater Associates, LP is an American investment management firm founded by Ray Dalio in 1975. The firm serves institutional clients including pension funds, endowments, foundations, foreign governments, and central banks. As of 2022, Bridgewater has posted the second highest gains of any hedge fund since its inception in 1975. The firm began as an institutional investment advisory service, graduated to institutional investing, and pioneered the risk parity investment approach in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perella Weinberg Partners</span> U.S.-based financial services firm

Perella Weinberg Partners is an American global financial services firm focused on investment banking advisory services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Houlihan Lokey</span> American investment bank and financial services company

Houlihan Lokey, Inc., is an American multinational independent investment bank and financial services company. Houlihan Lokey was founded in 1972 and is headquartered at Constellation Place in Century City, Los Angeles, California. The firm advises large public and closely held companies as well as institutions and governments. Its main service lines include mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, restructuring and distressed M&A, fairness opinions, and financial and valuation advisory. As of March 2024, Houlihan Lokey employs more than 2,600 employees worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AIMCo</span> Sovereign wealth fund of Alberta, Canada

Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo) is a Canadian Crown corporation and institutional investor established to manage several public funds and pensions headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta. AIMCo was established by an act of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in 2008 under the government of Progressive Conservative Premier Ed Stelmach.

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, operating as CPP Investments, is a Canadian Crown corporation established by way of the 1997 Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Act to oversee and invest the funds contributed to and held by the Canada Pension Plan (CPP).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Partners Group</span> Swiss-based global private equity firm

Partners Group Holding AG is a Swiss-based global private equity firm with US$149 billion in assets under management in private equity, private infrastructure, private real estate and private debt.

Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC is an independent, privately-held investment management company headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey. Lord Abbett has offices in Jersey City, Dubai, Dublin, London, Montevideo, Singapore, Tokyo, and Zurich.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GCM Grosvenor</span> American alternative asset management firm

GCM Grosvenor is an American alternative asset management firm, with approximately $76 billion in assets under management and approximately 530 professionals as of 2023.

Calamos Investments is a diversified global investment firm offering an array of investment strategies including active growth equity, risk managed, convertible, sustainable equity, fixed income and alternatives. The firm offers strategies through separately managed portfolios, mutual funds, closed-end funds, private funds, an exchange traded fund and UCITS funds. Clients include major corporations, pension funds, endowments, foundations and individuals, as well as the financial advisors and consultants who serve them. Headquartered in the Chicago metropolitan area, the firm also has offices in New York, San Francisco, Milwaukee and the Miami area.

Investment outsourcing is the process whereby institutional investors and high-net-worth families engage a third party to manage all or a portion of their investment portfolio. This arrangement can include functions such as establishing the asset allocation, selecting investment managers, implementing portfolio decisions, providing on-going oversight, performing risk management and other areas of portfolio management.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ardian (company)</span> Private equity investment company

Ardian is a France-based, independent private equity investment company, founded and managed by Dominique Senequier. It is one of the largest European-headquartered private equity funds. The company was originally set up by Dominique Senequier in 1996 as the AXA Group's private equity division, but later gained independence in 2013, and rebranded itself as Ardian. The name Ardian (ar・di・an) was inspired by an ancient European language in which 'hardjan' mean strength, durability, and boldness. Ardian manages assets worth US$150 billion in Europe, North America and Asia, and has fifteen offices. The firm offers a funds of funds, direct funds, infrastructure, private debt and real estate, and manages a direct portfolio of more than 150 companies. Its fund of funds segments owns stakes in over 1500 funds. Ardian's 880 investors include institutional investors, funds of funds, government agencies, sovereign funds, family offices, pension funds and insurance companies). The firm has been ranked one of the largest companies by amount raised in equity by Private Equity International, and was named "Company of the Year" 2013 by the readers of Private Equity International.

Cambridge Associates LLC is a privately held investment firm based in the United States. It provides investment portfolio management and advisory services to institutional investors, including foundations and endowments, pensions, private clients, and corporate and government entities.

Hamilton Lane Inc. is an American alternative investment management and advisory company headquartered in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. The company provides private markets investments to its clients.

Aksia is an American alternative investment management and advisory firm headquartered in New York City. The company provides alternative investments to institutional investors.

References

  1. "Form ADV" (PDF). SEC.
  2. "Finalist Profile Summary" (PDF). CalPERS. 2014.
  3. Soule, Alexander (May 10, 2012). "Mass. firm to take over management of Connecticut pensions from Aon". Norwalk Hour. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  4. 1 2 Lim, Dawn (January 15, 2019). "Investment Consulting Firms Meketa and Pension Consulting Alliance to Merge". Wall Street Journal.
  5. 1 2 Gourntis, Kalliope (June 22, 2015). "Meketa CEO to become chairman". Infrastructure Investor. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  6. Reidy, Chris (June 4, 2014). "Meketa Investment Group is opening a London office". Boston Globe. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  7. 1 2 "Meketa expands staff ownership as part of succession plan". Infrastructure Investor. February 13, 2017. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  8. James, Rod (January 16, 2019). "Advisors Meketa and PCA to merge". Private Equity International. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  9. Singh, Preeti (July 30, 2021). "Meketa Founder Says China, Climate Change and Baby Boomers Will Shape Investment World". Wall Street Journal.
  10. "Understanding the consultant landscape in the private markets". Nasdaq. October 27, 2023.
  11. Cumming, Chris. "WSJ News Exclusive | Meketa Sets Up an Infrastructure Fund Targeting Ordinary Investors". WSJ. Retrieved February 9, 2024.