Top stories
Swedish agency gives early details of €12.5bn Swedish equities tenders
Funds lobby warns reducing the number of domestic equity premium pension funds offered could harm liquidity on local stock market
What do ESMA’s sustainable fund-naming rules mean for asset managers?
New guidelines apply to all EU funds and could lead to divestments and rebrands for thousands, as well as SFDR shake-up
Telereal Pension Plan completes £130m buy-in with Aviva
The deal covers the defined benefit liabilities for around 500 members of the plan
Swiss BVK expands voting rights policy for global and EM equities
The fund has also established a working group to start reporting on ESG investing in government bonds
LGPS funds ‘must’ provide clear evidence of compliance with TPR’s general code
With each fund having its own specific actions to show that robust governance processes are in place, ongoing monitoring will be vital, says Hymans Robertson
Iceland’s Almenni sees Q1 global equity returns boosted by krona weakness
Pension fund reports local currency slide almost doubled foreign equity returns, while most domestic stock prices fell in first quarter
Swiss cabinet plans to increase contributions to finance 13th month of pension
A consultation on proposals to finance the 13th month of pension is open until 5 July
Previmoda reshuffles investment options for members
Scheme also reviews life cycle option
Swedish employers, unions consolidate occupational pensions admin to cut costs
Four-year-old platform Avtalat to encompass Collectum and Fora by end 2026
Pensions industry concerned over delays to regulations by upcoming UK election
The anticipated funding code, which is expected to come into effect on 22 September, could be affected by election
Brunel frees up stewardship resources with help of AI
£35bn pension asset pooling company introduces AI in stewardship evaluation
People moves: PGGM Vermogensbeheer picks statutory director
Plus: Swedish Fund Selection Agency appoints new business developer; Fondo Cometa names president
People moves: NOW: Pensions names investment director
Plus: New head of private markets for Phoenix Group; Hymans Robertson names head of investment risk transfer
Robeco poaches EMD team from Candriam
The addition of a sovereign emerging market debt strategy ‘is an important step in addressing market demands’, according to the Dutch asset manager
Striking the right balance on pension funds and fiduciary duty
Pension fund investment principles, strategies and decision-making have all become more complex in the wake of the growth of sustainability factors in general and climate change in particular. This has made the interpretation and practice of trustee ‘fiduciary duties’ more vexed and challenging than ever. A recent review of fiduciary duties in the UK by the Financial Markets Law Committee (FMLC) put it this way: “It is sometimes easier to state the duties than it is to apply them.”
The importance of board decisions in an uncertain world
In the foreword to this new book, the CIO of CERN Pension Fund, Dr Elena Manola-Bonthond, says that, in her experience, investment alpha is scarce and very often difficult to access. It can be costly and its persistence is sometimes questionable. But there are other types of alpha that are more accessible and governance alpha is definitely one of them.
Australia faces up to the cost of pandemic pension early release
Four years after Australians were allowed to withdraw superannuation savings to deal with the economic shock of the COVID-19 pandemic, they now know emergency measures will cost the nation A$85bn (€51bn) in future pension payments.
Tensions mount at oil & gas majors ahead of AGMs
Aegon has called on its asset managers to snub Shell’s climate plan but NBIM says it meets expectations
AGM 2024 stocktake: Key themes and lessons so far
Industry stakeholders say this year feels much the same as 2023 with the added rise in companies pushing back against shareholders
Mansion House Compact: spotlight on Aon
Jo Sharples, CIO for Aon’s DC solutions, spoke to IPE about Aon signing up to the compact and how it plans on embarking on a private markets journey
Young pension employees clamour for learning and interaction
Many young professionals are deterred from pursuing careers in pensions due to insufficient knowledge and a perceived lack of career progression
Modelling shows net-zero investing can be profitable
Since the acceptance of the Paris Agreement in 2015, which bound nations to a legal commitment to reduce global temperatures, there has been a clear shift towards net-zero investing. While socially responsible investments are crucial for the mitigation of climate change, recent calls to row back on ESG funds suggest some hesitation.
Thematics Asset Management’s CIO on themes and investment challenges
Out of the 19 boutiques businesses belonging to the Natixis Investment Management franchise, Thematics Asset Management is by no means the smallest, but it is not exactly a juggernaut, managing €3.3bn of assets at the end of last year. Yet, it is actively contributing to what could be a crucial evolutionary step for global investors.
Sweden’s AP3 pension fund and its quest for alpha
Jonas Thulin, recently appointed CIO of Sweden’s Tredje AP-Fonden (AP3), talks to Carlo Svaluto Moreolo about his approach to asset allocation and portfolio management
Merseyside pension fund dials down domestic bias
Scheme’s strategic ambition is to move closer to the MSCI World index weightings
IPE Magazine May 2024
Read the latest issue of IPE Magazine
Browse the digital edition and find highlights from this month's issue below
Digital edition of IPE magazine
May Highlights
Is buyout still the gold standard for UK pension funds?
Improved funding positions mean more DB schemes are considering run-on rather than off-loading their liabilities
European high yield stands its ground
Investors flocked to the European junk bond market last year and despite a strong US economy, there is still appetite for European issuers
Young pension employees clamour for learning and interaction
Many young professionals are deterred from pursuing careers in pensions due to insufficient knowledge and a perceived lack of career progression
Merseyside pension fund dials down domestic bias
Scheme’s strategic ambition is to move closer to the MSCI World index weightings
Pension funds revisit allocations to China
European pension funds have reduced their allocations to China as the outlook for the country’s economy becomes more uncertain
European high yield stands its ground
Investors flocked to the European junk bond market last year and despite a strong US economy, there is still appetite for European issuers
IPE Quest Expectations Indicator - May 2024
EU parliamentary elections are approaching fast. Current polls predict a shift to the right, with the current centrist parties remaining dominant and the extremist right overtaking the Eurosceptics. US President Donald Trump is still liable to be convicted in a criminal case, but his poll figures are rising.
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