The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg report that Bank of America will be shuttering a $12 billion enhanced cash fund. Note that this was a fund for institutional investors, and not a money market fund. Note that we had reported on a freeze on redemptions at this fund earlier.
Investors who are still in the fund will take a small loss.
From the Wall Street Journal:
Columbia Management has closed a giant enhanced money fund for institutional investors after major clients pulled out amid losses on complex asset-backed securities, the firm says.
Columbia, a unit of Bank of America Corp., says it is shutting its $12 billion Strategic Cash portfolio — which just months ago been a $40 billion fund.
The fund was an enhanced money fund, a short-term investment pool that offered higher yields than a traditional money-market fund. Unlike traditional money-market funds, the Strategic Cash fund didn’t offer investors a guarantee that it would maintain a $1-per-share net asset value, although the fund was managed toward that goal.
The fund’s current net asset value is $0.994, firm officials said.
Large investors in the Strategic Cash portfolio will be redeemed “in kind” –- meaning they will be handed their share of the underlying securities. Smaller investors can be redeemed in cash.
The Strategic Cash portfolio was open to investors with a minimum of $25 million or more.
From Bloomberg:
Columbia Management, Bank of America’s Boston-based investment unit, manages $566 billion in assets. Last month, the bank said it may provide as much as $600 million to prop up Columbia funds that bought debt from SIVs and other assets tainted by mortgages.
It isn’t evident whether any of these reserves have been used in connection with the enhanced cash fund.
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story is moving fast:
PORTLAND, Ore., July 2, 2007 /PRNewswire via COMTEX News Network/ — Standard Retirement Services, Inc. (“The Standard”) a subsidiary of StanCorp Financial Group, Inc. (“StanCorp”) (NYSE: SFG) has agreed to acquire the assets of Portland, Oregon based third-party retirement plan administrators DPA, Inc. (“DPA”), and its associated investment advisor business, MasterPlan Advisors, Inc. (“Master Plan Advisors”).
“We are excited about this addition to our asset management business and look forward to continuing the excellent customer service for which both of our organizations are known,” said Kim W. Ledbetter, senior vice president, Asset Management Group of The Standard. “We will continue to serve DPA’s and MasterPlan Advisors’ clients out of DPA’s existing office in Portland, Oregon, to ensure that the transition will be seamless.”
The assets being acquired include approximately 230 retirement plans with assets under management of more than $1.8 billion, as well as an investment advisor business serving clients in the greater Pacific Northwest. The acquired business will be a part of the Asset Management Group of StanCorp.
About The Standard
StanCorp Financial Group, Inc. (“StanCorp”) (NYSE: SFG) through its subsidiaries marketed as The Standard — Standard Insurance Company, The Standard Life Insurance Company of New York, StanCorp Investment Advisers, Standard Retirement Services, StanCorp Equities, StanCorp Trust Company and StanCorp Mortgage Investors — is a leading provider of financial products and services. The Standard serves approximately 8.2 million customers nationwide as of March 31, 2007 with group and individual disability insurance, group life and dental insurance, retirement products and services and investment advice. For more information about The Standard visit
see; StanCorp Financial Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides group insurance products and services for life and disability insurance needs of employer groups and the disability insurance needs of individuals in the United States. It operates in two segments: Insurance Services and Asset Management. The Insurance Services segment offers group long term and short term disability insurance, group life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance, group dental insurance, individual dental insurance, and individual disability insurance. The Asset Management segment offers full-service 401(k) plans, 457 plans, defined benefit plans, money purchase pension plans, profit sharing plans, 403(b) plans, and non-qualified deferred compensation products and services. This segment also offers investment management services, commercial mortgage loan origination and servicing, individual fixed annuities, retirement plans products, third party brand name mutual funds, and investment advisory services. The company sells its products through sales representatives, agents, employee benefit brokers, consultants, and financial institutions for physicians, lawyers, executives, other professionals, and small business owners. The company was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Portland, Oregon
On August 1, 2005 DPA acquired Columbia Trust Company from the Bank of America and the trust company’s MasterPlan and ProPlan retirement products. The trust company was renamed Crown Point Trust Company.
On July 2, 2007 Standard Retirement Services (“The Standard”), a subsidiary of StanCorp Financial Group, Inc., acquired the assets of DPA. The Standard’s corporate offices and the headquarters for its retirement plan administration services are located close to DPA’s offices here in Portland.
They can run to the fed discount window, but they cant hide the addiction to junk derivatives!
“Large investors in the Strategic Cash portfolio will be redeemed “in kind” –- meaning they will be handed their share of the underlying securities.”
Wow, the big guys are gonna get screwed! BOA is past caring about *anything*!