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 Wisconsin Statutes (Last Updated: January 10, 2017)
 Chapter 25. Trust Funds And Their Management

  Section 25.18. Additional powers of board.  

Latest version.
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    (1)  In addition to the powers and duties enumerated in s. 25.17 , but subject to s. 25.183 , the board may:
    (a) Notwithstanding s. 20.930 and all provisions of subch. IV of ch. 16 , except s. 16.753 , employ special legal or investment counsel in any matters arising out of the scope of its investment authority. Section 16.753 does not apply to the employment of legal or investment counsel for the purpose of assisting the board with investments. The employment of special legal counsel shall be with the advice and consent of the attorney general whenever such special counsel is to be compensated by the board. Any expense of counsel so employed shall be borne by the fund for which the services shall be furnished.
    (b) Execute instruments in which it agrees to indemnify against its failure to endorse payments of any kind which may be made upon notes, bonds, debentures or other securities or to indemnify the issuer of securities, whether it be the obligor thereon or a trustee or agent, against any loss which might be incurred as the result of the issuance or reissuance of securities to replace securities which have been lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed.
    (c) Secure insurance against burglary, robbery, theft or any other risks relating to any of the securities, properties or other investments owned or held by the board or any of the funds or trusts under its management. The board shall pay the costs of such insurance from the current income of the funds or trusts benefiting from the insurance.
    (d) Liquidate or cause to be liquidated any corporation 100 percent of whose common stock is owned by the board, or operate such corporation until it can be liquidated to recoup the investment of the board, but such period shall not exceed 5 years.
    (e) Take such action as may be necessary to make investments in mortgage loans or in the purchase of interests in real estate in any other state or in Canada, including but not excluding because of enumeration, qualifying to do business, filing reports, paying franchise, license or other fees and taxes, designating agents, designating an office and subjecting itself to suit.
    (f) Maintain and repair any building or other structure or premises which it owns in fee or in which it owns the beneficial interest and, notwithstanding all provisions of subch. IV or V of ch. 16 , except s. 16.753 , it shall have exclusive authority to make such agreements and enter into such contracts as it deems necessary for such purpose. Section 16.753 does not apply to agreements and contracts entered into by the board for the purpose of assisting the board with investments. All noncapital costs under this paragraph shall be charged to the current income accounts of the funds having an interest in the building, structure or premises.
    (g) Engage in financial transactions whereby bearer securities issued or guaranteed by the federal government or any of its agencies, which are owned by the board, are delivered to reputable and financially responsible dealers in the securities under an agreement which provides:
    1. For the replacement of the securities with securities of the same kind and amount upon demand by the board;
    2. For the payment to the board by the dealer of a commission, based upon the amount of the securities, for the period of time between the delivery of the securities to the dealer and the dealer's replacement of the securities; and
    3. For the pledge and delivery by the dealer to the board of other securities issued or guaranteed by the federal government or any of its agencies, having a market value at the time of the pledge equal to at least the market value of the delivered securities, to guarantee the replacement of the securities.
    (h) Sell stock, debentures or other securities which it has the right to acquire upon the exercise of conversion rights then owned by it.
    (i) Engage in financial transactions whereby securities owned by the board, are delivered to reputable and financially responsible dealers under an agreement satisfactory to the board which provides for cash equal to the full current market value of the security as adjusted from time to time to changes in the market, and for replacement thereof with securities of the kind and amount upon demand by the board.
    (j) Engage in financial transactions whereby securities owned by the board are delivered to reputable and financially responsible dealers under an agreement satisfactory to the board which provides for delivery to the board of other securities as collateral of at least equal value to the current market value of the security as adjusted from time to time to changes in the market, and for replacement of the original securities of the same kind and amount upon demand by the board.
    (k) Engage in financial transactions whereby securities are purchased by the board under an agreement providing for the resale of such securities by the board to the original seller at a stated price together with a payment to the board of interest for the period the board holds the securities.
    (m) Notwithstanding all provisions of subchs. IV and V of ch. 16 , except s. 16.753 , employ professionals, contractors or other agents necessary to evaluate or operate any property if a fund managed by the board has an interest in, or is considering purchasing or lending money based upon the value of, that property. Section 16.753 does not apply to the employment of any person for the purpose of assisting the board with investments. Costs under this paragraph shall be paid by the fund and charged to the appropriate account under s. 40.04 (3) .
    (n) For the purpose of protecting an investment or group of assets aggregated for investment purposes against a risk, to meet nonspeculative objectives relating to rates of return or cash flow requirements or for similar purposes, enter into a contract with any person whom the board considers to be creditworthy to exchange the nature of payments or assets due to be given or received between the parties.
    (o) Invest any of the assets of the permanent endowment fund in any investment that is an authorized investment for assets in the core retirement investment trust under s. 25.17 (4) or assets in the variable retirement investment trust under s. 25.17 (5) .
    (p) Hold any of the assets in the permanent endowment fund in any of the following:
    1. Evidences of indebtedness, including subordinated obligations, that are secured by tobacco settlement revenues, as defined in s. 16.63 (1) (c) , and that are issued by a corporation or company established under s. 16.63 (3) or 231.215 or by the Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority.
    2. Certificates or other evidences of ownership interest in all or any portion of tobacco settlement revenues, as defined in s. 16.63 (1) (c) .
    (2)  In addition to the powers set forth in sub. (1) and s. 25.17 , but subject to s. 25.183 , the board may:
    (a) Nominate employees, members, agents or other representatives of the board to serve as directors of corporations, companies, associations or any other legal entities and allow them to serve as such representing the board. Notwithstanding ss. 19.56 and 25.16 (2) , members, agents or other representatives of the board, except employees, may retain any compensation paid to them as directors. An employee of the board who receives compensation for serving as a director shall deposit the compensation with the board.
    (b) Have its employees, agents or other representatives represent the board in meetings of shareholders, limited liability companies, partnerships or associations.
    (c) Have any of its employees serve as an officer of a corporation in which it owns voting stock, or have any of its employees serve as an officer of a company, joint venture or association, or as a manager of a limited liability company, in which it owns an interest.
    (d) Insure against from the current income of any fund or trust, or pay out of current income of any fund or trust, amounts arising from any acts of employees, members or agents of the board acting as officers or directors of a company in which the board has invested the moneys in the fund or trust.
    (e)
    1. Contract with and delegate to investment advisers the management and control over assets from any fund or trust delivered to such investment advisers for investment in real estate, mortgages, equities, and debt and pay such advisers fees from the current income of the fund or trust being invested. Subject to subd. 2. , no more than 20 percent of the total assets of the core retirement investment trust or 20 percent of the total assets of the variable retirement investment trust may be delivered to investment advisers to manage in accounts in which the board directly holds title to all securities purchased for the accounts. The board shall set performance standards for such investment advisers, monitor such investments to determine if performance standards are being met and if an investment adviser does not consistently meet the performance standards then terminate the contract with such investment adviser.
    2. For the purpose of calculating the 20 percent limit under subd. 1. , the board shall not include any appreciation on assets delivered to the investment advisers. The board shall also not include for this purpose shares or participation in mutual funds, index funds, commingled funds, partnership funds, or other similar collective investment instruments in which the board does not hold title to the underlying investments purchased by the manager of the fund or the collective investment instrument.
    (3)  Notwithstanding s. 19.45 (4) , investment board employees may disclose information to other investment board employees who are also students participating in a program in the School of Business at the University of Wisconsin-Madison related to applied securities analysis, or participating in a comparable program, if the only use of the information unrelated to investment board purposes would be for purposes related to the program.