State retirement system looking at Aldus investments

The Louisiana State Employees Retirement System is analyzing its investments with a firm that is under investigation in several states for an alleged kickback scheme. LASERS currently has about $125 million invested with Aldus Equity Partners, says Robyn Ekings, a spokeswoman for the system. Aldus founder Saul Meyer faces criminal and civil charges in New York for reportedly paying to get access to invest public retirement funds. Law enforcement officials in several states are investigating Aldus, and the state of New Mexico has taken away its investments, the Wall Street Journal reports. LASERS has its money in two private equity funds which Aldus controls, including about $70 million with Louisiana private investments, Ekings says. “These are good investments, and they’re meeting all the appropriate returns,” she says. But Ekings says LASERS is obviously concerned and closely following the situation.—Timothy Boone