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MLGW Pension Fund
MLGW Pension Fund was created to serve employees of Memphis Light, Gas and Water. It operates as a defined-benefit plan under the oversight of a pension board...
MLGW Pension Fund
MLGW Pension Fund was created to serve employees of Memphis Light, Gas and Water. It operates as a defined-benefit plan under the oversight of a pension board that includes senior MLGW executives. The fund deploys capital into private equity, real estate, distressed debt and life settlements. Confirmed holdings include Brookfield Infrastructure Fund II-B, TerraCap Partners IV, GoldenTree Distressed Debt Fund III, CCA Black and Vida Longevity Fund. Allocations span the United States and select global markets. Ticket sizes range from $10 million to $30 million. Liquidity for alternatives typically runs two to ten years. The fund reports 1,524 million dollars under management. It retains CBIZ Investment Advisory Services as investment advisor, Forvis Mazars as auditor, Segal Consulting as actuary and Northern Trust as custodian. Board leadership includes Doug McGowen as Vice-Chairman and Rodney Cleek as Secretary-Treasurer as of 2025. Governance ties the pension directly to the utility’s executive team rather than an independent investment office. This structure channels decisions through MLGW’s president and CFO roles.
General information
Firm type
Pension Fund
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Memphis
Corporate office
220 S. Main Street, Memphis, TN 38103, United States
Principals
Doug McGowen
Vice-Chairman of the Pension Board
Rodney Cleek
Secretary-Treasurer of the Pension Board
Dana Jeanes
Former Secretary-Treasurer of the Pension Board
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at MLGW Pension Fund?
The pension board, chaired in part by MLGW President and CEO Doug McGowen, sets policy. Rodney Cleek serves as Secretary-Treasurer. External advisor CBIZ Investment Advisory Services assists with implementation.
Does MLGW Pension Fund participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
The fund commits as a limited partner to commingled vehicles. Holdings include Brookfield Infrastructure Fund II-B, TerraCap Partners IV and GoldenTree Distressed Debt Fund III.
What investment stages does MLGW Pension Fund typically target?
The fund targets private equity across early stage, growth and expansion. It also allocates to secondaries and natural resources. Ticket sizes fall between 10 million and 30 million dollars.
Where does the underlying wealth come from?
Assets derive from employer and employee contributions to the Memphis Light, Gas and Water defined-benefit plan. No family or private wealth source is disclosed.
How is MLGW Pension Fund related to Memphis Light, Gas and Water?
The fund exists solely to deliver benefits to MLGW employees. Its board includes the utility’s president and CFO. Investment policy remains integrated with utility operations.
What is MLGW Pension Fund’s known posture on co-investments alongside external GPs?
No co-investment program is disclosed. The fund invests through limited-partner commitments to third-party funds and vehicles.
Does MLGW Pension Fund maintain philanthropic structures, and how are they separated?
No separate philanthropic vehicle is disclosed. Retirement benefits remain the sole mandate of the pension plan.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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