Very few of our readers will not be affected in some way by the spread of coronavirus and COVID-19.
For IPE and most of its editorial team based in the centre of London, the virus has curtailed travel and meetings. We have also taken the decision to postpone events, including the IPE Real Estate Conference and Awards, which will now take place on 3 September.
Fortunately the impact on my colleagues and their work has been minimal so far, and we continue to work as normal.
But it is now clear that COVID-19 will result in profound changes for pension funds and other long-term investors, as well as for individuals and companies in all sectors and walks of life.
Investors are struggling to determine the impact of the virus on the earnings of companies they own as whole sectors are hit, supply chains are disrupted and consumption patterns are affected. Market dislocations will have implications for pension funding levels and perhaps in due course in long-term investment strategies.
These issues will take time to resolve and markets will take time to return to a semblance of normality.
Perhaps more important in the short term, the virus and necessary actions by European governments will cause dislocations in normal working patterns as staff work remotely.
We recognise that our readership includes institutions large and small across Europe, some well networked with peers and some less well connected.
As the pre-eminent news and information provider to the European institutional investment community, we would like you to help us disseminate information and best practice.
To this end, please contact me on liam.kennedy@ipe.com with practical information for your counterparts around Europe:
- How is the virus impacting day-to-day work in your organisation?
- What stresses do you see in the short to medium term?
- Are you in touch with regulators?
- How are you communicating with members and beneficiaries?
- Can pension funds play a role to help pensioners and the elderly who may be self isolating?
- Are you already sharing information with peers?
- What advice do you have for your counterparts elsewhere in Europe?
We recognise that many readers will be working from home. If you are a print reader, please also inform us if you wish to receive a hard copy of IPE’s April edition at your home address.
You can read all our current print content here.
We are also making the digital edition available to all readers.
IPE has a track record of over two decades of experience of providing information and intelligence to readers. We are committed to remaining an impartial voice for the institutional investment community and we look forward to hearing from you.
Liam Kennedy, Editor
No comments yet