Thailand's pension fund earmarks $11.6b for global investment overhaul

BANGKOK, Sept 29 (Reuters): Thailand's underperforming $77 billion social security fund will invest $11.6 billion in a new foray into global private assets, an executive told Reuters, part of a strategic overhaul to address its poor returns amid rising demand from an ageing population.
Thailand's biggest state fund, which supports healthcare, unemployment benefits and pensions for 25 million workers, has seen an average return of under 3 per cent over the past 10 years, far below its potential, and seeks to rectify that from next year by diversifying away from its domestic-focused strategy, investment board member Petch Vergara said in an interview.