EUROPE – Stichting Pensioenfonds ABP, the largest pension fund in Europe, was tonight named the best pension fund in Europe at the annual IPE Awards in Zurich – winning for the second year in a row.

“ABP who, like other pension funds around Europe, has gone through turbulence, has wasted no time redesigning its DB plan and preparing the pension fund for the future,” was the verdict of one awards judge.

The judges praised not only the cohesion of the e150BN Dutch civil service scheme’s policy – but also the speed of implementation and the manner of communication with participants, pensioners and members.

All this comes against the background of a weakening of the scheme’s financial position due to lower markets and unexpectedly higher salaries.

Alan Pickering, former chairman of the European Federation for Retirement Provision, won the Gold Award for Outstanding Industry Contribution – an award voted for by readers of IPE.

“He steps down from the EFRP this year after three years as chairman and there is no doubt that his contribution to the pensions directive and the subsequent promotion of the European Institutions for Retirement Provision will have been the reasons why he attracted pan-European support,” said IPE Editor Fennell Betson.

The Silver Award for Best Industry-wide Pension Fund went to Finland’s Ilamarinen, while Barclays won the Silver Award for Best Corporate Pension Fund.

The Awards had entries from 14 countries - with the number of themed awards rising to 12 from seven in 2003. There were 26 winners in total. "But it is not just quantity, quality is up too in 2004's range of entries," said Betson.

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