Swedish buffer funds take stock after news two will disappear
AP1, the €41.4bn fund facing liquidation after 25 years, ‘will begin implementing the change’, says CEO Kristin Magnusson Bernard
TPR figures suggest government looks to extract surplus on low-dependency level
The government is looking to allow schemes more flexibility to enable surplus from DB schemes to be returned to employers
Allianz GI amends ESG fund investment policies for ESMA compliance
Allianz GI, AXA IM and DWS reveal their plans to comply with ESMA rules
Aon calls for member-centric innovation and transparency in bulk annuity market
Innovation around illiquid assets and transparency in funded reinsurance are also crucial priorities for the UK bulk annuity market, according to Aon
CCLA proposes next steps for asset manager net-zero initiative
Charity investor says asset managers will need flexibility, and clarity from asset owners about their goals
Swiss pension funds’ funding ratios reach highest level in 10 years
Fully funded public pension schemes in particular reached a funding ratio of 114%, exceeding the highest level of 112.9% recorded in 2021
Lufthansa completes three-in-one transaction with Royal London
Lufthansa Group has insured its three UK defined benefit (DB) pension schemes with Royal London in one integrated transaction worth £120m (€145m).
Disinformation could mar DC transition ballots, fear Dutch pension trustees
Pension funds resist a proposal for mandatory fund-level ballots on the DC transition, fearing it will result in a no-vote because of the question’s complexity
Swiss pension fund association calls for change to 1e plans proposal
The government wants to tweak the law regulating vested benefits
Allspring launches two climate transition funds seeded by Aon
The funds apply a climate transition approach to help clients achieve their net-zero ambition while delivering on their financial objectives
Sweden slims pensions buffer system to three AP funds from five
Pensions group backs proposal to axe AP1 and merge AP6 into AP2
DeepSeek’s arrival increases risk for passive investors
But it provides upside for companies that use AI applications, or are keen to start doing so, according to investment experts
Ethos excludes Tesla shares from own funds raising governance issues
‘Musk is now part of an administration that wants to somehow fight Tesla’s own product, it is a contradiction,’ Ethos CEO Vincent Kaufmann says
Schroders’ UK pension scheme commits to running on
Scheme plans on harnessing DB surplus for DC contributions
Generali Italia boosts investments in domestic private assets to €4.7bn
Increasing investments in the domestic economy are linked to the growth of the supplementary pension sector
EIOPA: Pension risk stable, market risks still key concern
Geopolitical tensions are reshaping global dynamics, heightening concerns about declining international cooperation and escalating risks and uncertainties
CEPB leads investor engagement for peace in Goma
The investor engagement initiative follows the capture of the Democratic Republic of Congo city of Goma by Rwandan-backed M23 rebels
Reform of Pensionskassen investment rules could be approved before elections
The second-pillar reform planned by the government is not a game changer, but some of the proposals represent a step forward, says aba’s Georg Thurnes
NEST in talks with managers that exited NZAM, CA100+
Diandra Soobiah, director of responsible investment at NEST, says dialogue around managers’ climate engagement may become less open and consistent
Tangen now being ‘more bureaucratic’ after texts with Musk make headlines
Disclosure of text chat between NBIM CEO and Tesla chief draws intense media attention in Norway
PPF lowers levy to £45m as it expects more flexibility from government
DWP says it will consider giving PPF more flexibility to reduce its levy, supporting DB schemes and their sponsoring employers to drive growth
EU considers role of pension funds in new five-year economic plan
The Commission to introduce an investment programme focused on disruptive technologies such as AI and clean tech
Swiss schemes nudged to cut fixed income amid low interest rates
From 2014 to 2022, Swiss pension schemes’ allocation to fixed income investments fell from 39.2% to 31.7%
SBAI proposes new valuation standards for illiquid private market assets
SBAI also publishes new guidelines on governance, transparency and disclosure in private market valuations
People moves: bfinance appoints continental Europe head
Plus: PMI adds duo to executive team
Norway SWF underperforms index in 2024, hampered by allocation and real assets
‘Insurance is always expensive if your house doesn’t burn down,’ says Tangen
BoE launches repo facility to help tackle severe Gilt market dysfunction
The CNRF will lend to participating insurance companies, pension schemes and LDI funds to help maintain financial stability
Swiss schemes’ investment strategies have margin for higher returns – study
WTW’s research concluded that 25% of pension funds can increase their expected returns by an average of 0.84% per year
Guidance published for buying carbon credits in private markets
Survey shows just four private equity houses offset emissions from their investment portfolios
Italy’s complementary pension schemes records 8.2% assets growth
Assets under management for complementary pension schemes in Italy increased to €243bn in 2024
UK government proposes tapping into DB surplus for economic growth
UK government is determined to encourage DB pension funds to deliver investment and drive economic growth
APG and Rabobank invest €800m in new impact loans
The investment has been made through Colesco Capital, a new Rabobank-owned investment platform with a focus on sustainable corporate loans
CEPB holds investor briefing on Goma fighting
CEPB’s Adam Matthews says situation ‘is relevant to all investors who are exposed to supply chains that use minerals from the region’
Standard Life adopts flatter leadership, merges departments
CEO Andy Curran announces retirement after 35 years with the company
Jerry Moriarty to leave top posts at PensionsEurope, IAPF
Moriarty has been with IAPF for 17 years and a little under two years with PensionsEurope
Sanofi Pension Scheme signs £1.4bn buy-in with Legal & General
All members of the scheme are now insured via buy-ins with Legal & General
Precious metals, equities propel Publica’s returns to 5.9%
Precious metals were among the best-performing asset classes in Publica’s portfolio last year, returning 33%
UK BII opens calls for proposals for emerging economy climate finance solutions
In partnership with Mercer up to three proposals will be identified for funding consideration
FTN expects errors and ambiguities in tender processes to lessen over time
Swedish premium pension procurement agency says goal is to maximise accurately completed tenders, which is best for the industry
ATP launches own external evaluation process; critic rues narrow scope
Danish statutory pensions giant announces former FSA chief will chair panel of otherwise mostly foreign experts to scrutinise its strategy and approach
Finnish pensions reform seen widening equity allocations by 10 points
Ilmarinen and Varma say increased volatility is price worth paying for the higher return potential that newly agreed investment reforms allow
German occupational pensions back streamlined sustainability reporting rules
‘The reporting obligations currently in place make services provided via IORPs more expensive, without offering any significant value in return,’ says WTW
Net-zero asset owner body issues carbon dioxide removal info request
Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance invites asset managers to drive the design of scalable investment vehicles
German government sees room for improvement in second pillar pensions
The take-up of occupational pension plans among low earners is ‘unsatisfactory’, government says
German dentists scheme faces losses on insolvent insurtech start-up
The pension fund is one of the main investors in the Berlin-based start-up, with a 27.14% stake in the company
EU advised to develop ‘checklist’ for investors grappling with climate plan evaluations
PSF said the checklist ‘should be based on existing EU sustainability transparency requirements, and should not lead to additional reporting for companies’
PME reconsiders BlackRock mandates after NZAM exit
Dutch technology industry scheme wrote to the asset manager as it feels increasingly uncomfortable with “BlackRock’s retreat from responsible and sustainable investing”
Cassa Geometri plans €150m private equity investment
The scheme will pursue buy-out and growth capital strategies, investing in primary or secondary markets
EFAMA sets out requests for Commission omnibus initiative
Asset management body’s board discussed the heavily anticipated initiative at a meeting on Wednesday
ERAFP links share buyback approval to Paris alignment impact
French pension fund approves changes to voting guidelines following in-depth review
