Pomona College - Message Points

1. You actively partner with external managers and even invite direct submissions from prospective managers.

As a small, entrepreneurial, owner-managed hedge fund, we can engage directly with your Investments Office and fit into a specialist allocation alongside your existing external managers.

Evidence

“Rather, we work with nearly 60 external investment managers.” “Prospective Investment Partners: If you are an external investment manager or third-party marketer, please email prospectiveinvestments@pomona.edu.”

2. You run a truly global program benchmarked to MSCI ACWI (in a 70/30 stock/bond blend) and do not exclude regions.

Our global, high-conviction mandate (including emerging markets) can be evaluated against your ACWI-oriented framework and fits your openness to investing worldwide.

Evidence

“The simple benchmark is a blend of 70% MSCI ACWI and 30% Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Indices.” “Beyond the requirements of U.S. law, Pomona’s investment policies do not single out any industry, nation, nationality or region of the world for investment exclusion.”

3. You maintain a dedicated Emerging Markets equity sleeve (~7%) and assess results versus MSCI Emerging Markets.

Our emerging markets capability and concentrated best-ideas approach can complement or enhance your EM bucket that is explicitly benchmarked to MSCI EM.

Evidence

“Emerging Markets Equities 7%” “Our emerging markets portfolio was also a solid contributor to returns this year, with the allocation returning 15%, just slightly lagging its benchmark (MSCI Emerging Markets) by 0.3%.”

4. You favor active, benchmark-beating public equity managers—recently your U.S.-focused managers outperformed and drove results.

Our concentrated, high-conviction stock selection aims to outperform benchmarks and can align with your emphasis on active manager alpha in public equities.

Evidence

“Our U.S.-focused managers drove performance, with all but one beating their individual and asset class benchmarks.” “Public equities remained the primary driver of performance this year, consistent with the past two years.”

5. You value diversifying, low-correlation hedge funds, but systematic strategies were a recent disappointment.

Our discretionary, low-correlation return profile is designed to act as a diversifier without relying on purely systematic exposures that struggled in your portfolio.

Evidence

“By contrast, our diversifying strategies detracted from returns, due to poor performance from our systematic managers who were down double digits this year” “However, they remain a key safeguard — designed to help protect the portfolio when traditional markets come under pressure.”

6. You are comfortable allocating via LP/commingled hedge fund structures valued at NAV, including vehicles with gates and notice periods.

Our fund structure (LP with NAV reporting and prudent liquidity terms) aligns with the vehicles and liquidity provisions you already use.

Evidence

“The investments in private equity, venture capital, absolute return hedge funds, certain real assets, certain investment funds focused on domestic and international equities, and international fixed incomes are held primarily through limited partnerships and commingled funds for which fair value is estimated using net asset value (NAV) reported by fund managers as a practical expedient.” “1 fund has 15% gate 180 days’ notice.”

7. You prioritize long-term, real-return objectives and conduct deep diligence on historical performance, team quality, and risk.

Our long track record and risk-managed, high-conviction process aim to compound real returns and fit your diligence standards.

Evidence

“By maintaining a long-term perspective, we seek to generate risk-adjusted returns that exceed inflation and spending needs, allowing Pomona to provide financial aid, faculty support, and academic excellence without interruption for generations.” “Due Diligence We conduct extensive research, including reviewing drivers of historical performance, evaluating the quality of the team, and conducting on-site visits.”