California-based Pacific Corporate Group settles NY pension probe for $2 million

October 15th, 2009 Calpers reviewing fees paid to outside managerNEW YORK — The nation's largest pension fund, the California Public Employees' Retirement System, says it is investigating fees paid to an outside manager that directed the fund's investments. Calpers said late Wednesday it is reviewing payments of $50 million over a five-year period to Arvco Financial Ventures, which is headed by former Calpers board member Al Villalobos.

October 13th, 2009 Corporate Executive Board acquires TowerGroupARLINGTON, Va. — Business consultant The Corporate Executive Board Co.

October 8th, 2009 Sea turtles to get critical habitat in PacificFederal fisheries managers have agreed to designate critical habitat for threatened leatherback sea turtles in the Pacific ocean off Oregon and California. NOAA Fisheries officials said Thursday they will have the critical habitat designation done by Dec.

October 6th, 2009 Calif. city settles officers' claimsLOS ANGELES — A southern California city agreed Tuesday to settle a lawsuit brought by current and former police officers who said they were discriminated against and harassed because of their connection to two local Hispanic leaders. The $7 million settlement ends years of litigation by 14 officers who claimed that they were harassed, unfairly disciplined and denied promotions, because of their association with former Police Chief Rick Lopez and former City Treasurer Albert Robles.

August 7th, 2009 Union Pacific settles alleged water violationsLAS VEGAS — The federal government says Union Pacific Railroad Company has agreed to settle alleged violations of the Clean Water Act in Nevada. The Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday the company will restore 122 acres of mountain-desert streams and wetlands and implement storm water controls at its construction sites.

July 15th, 2009 AP source: NY AG may press for Rattner settlementNEW YORK — A person familiar with a New York investigation into the state's public pension fund says officials may press for a settlement with ex-White House auto czar Steven Rattner over possible civil charges in a pay-to-play scandal. Attorney General Andrew Cuomo (KWOH'-moh) is investigating the payment of millions of dollars in kickbacks from investment firms trying to raise money from the fund.

July 1st, 2009 Pension adviser settles NY kickback probe for $2MNEW YORK — The Pacific Corporate Group, a company that helps big government pension funds decide how to invest their money, has agreed to pay $2 million to extract itself from a corruption investigation in New York. The settlement, announced Wednesday, will spare the firm from criminal or civil charges in a sprawling pension investigation led by state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.

June 12th, 2009 Rambus settles EU antitrust probe, avoids finesBRUSSELS — Memory chip company Rambus Inc. said Friday that European Union antitrust regulators had provisionally agreed to drop a probe and any fines if the company reduced its royalty rates for DRAM patents.

June 11th, 2009 Firm settles over its role in NY pension probeNEW YORK — The private equity firm Riverstone Holdings has agreed to pay $30 million and abide by a new code of conduct to resolve its role in a corruption scandal at New York's giant government pension fund. Riverstone, which invests in energy and power companies, was among several investment firms that embraced improper "pay-to-play" tactics while trying to persuade state officials to let them manage hundreds of millions of dollars in retirement system assets, according to an investigation led by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.

June 9th, 2009 Massachusetts settles with mortgage lenderBOSTON — A bankrupt California-based subprime mortgage lender has agreed to pay $10 million to settle allegations of unfair practices that contributed to the current spike in Massachusetts home foreclosures. Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley said Tuesday that Fremont Investment & Loan and its parent company, Fremont General Corp., will pay $8 million in consumer relief, $1 million in civil penalties and $1 million in costs, including attorney fees.

May 14th, 2009 Carlyle Group to pay $20M in NY pension probeNEW YORK — The Carlyle Group, one of the nation's largest private equity funds, has agreed to pay $20 million and make other reforms to resolve its role in an influence-peddling scandal at New York's public pension fund. The settlement will bring an end to the possibility that the company, its executives or employees would face charges in the case, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said.

May 12th, 2009 Businessman pleads guilty in NY pension probeNEW YORK — A California businessman has pleaded guilty to securities fraud in connection with an investigation of alleged corruption at New York's public pension fund. The attorney general's office said Tuesday Julio (HOO'-lee-oh) Ramirez entered into a corrupt agreement with a top political aide to former New York Comptroller Alan Hevesi (HE'-vuh-see) to ensure that his company's clients got a slice of pension fund investments.

May 8th, 2009 Political agents get subpoenas in NY pension probeNEW YORK — Investigators probing influence peddling at the state pension fund have subpoenaed a number of politically connected New Yorkers who picked up big paychecks lobbying former officials at the retirement fund. State officials on Wednesday released a list of dozens of agents who acted as middlemen between investment firms and pension fund officials during the tenure of former comptroller Alan Hevesi.

April 22nd, 2009 NY comptroller bans agents in pension investmentsNEW YORK — Amid a growing corruption scandal, New York's comptroller on Wednesday barred investment firms soliciting business from the state pension fund from employing lobbyists known as placement agents. The move comes about a month after state and federal investigators accused two top aides to former comptroller Alan Hevesi of using their positions to pressure investment firms into paying millions of dollars to politically connected placement agents.

February 15th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The government Monday announced two new pension schemes for widows and physically disabled in the interim budget 2009-10. The Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme will provide a pension of Rs.200 to widows in the age group of 40-64, while the Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme aims to provide pension to 'severely disabled persons', acting finance minister Pranab Mukherjee said in his budget speech in parliament.