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FinanceTerm Sheet

New Jersey pension system investigates pay-to-play allegations

By
Dan Primack
Dan Primack
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By
Dan Primack
Dan Primack
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May 22, 2014, 4:14 PM ET
Photo: Boston Globe/Getty Images

FORTUNE — Last week we discussed how venture capital firm General Catalyst Partners may have violated New Jersey pay-to-play laws, by not disclosing a large political donation made by Charlie Baker, an executive-in-residence at the firm who currently is running (again) for Massachusetts governor. At issue is that General Catalyst did not disclose the donation when soliciting what ultimately became a $15 million investment from New Jersey’s public pension system.

Sources familiar with the situation now tell Fortune that the New Jersey Investment Council is asking state attorneys to review the situation, in order to render a legal opinion on whether or not Baker qualifies as an investment manager under state law.

It remains unclear exactly which attorneys will be asked to render the opinion. One option could be to use counsel within a separate NJ Treasury department, or possibly one within the state Attorney General’s office.

Also unknown is what will happen if General Catalyst is found to be in violation of pay-to-play rules. The most likely outcome would be that New Jersey would simply cancel the remainder of its $15 million fund commitment (less than half has been called so far), although it also could choose to sell the entire interest (funded and unfunded) via the secondary market.

A New Jersey Treasury spokesman declined comment.

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By Dan Primack
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