Funding
In-depth reporting on pension scheme funding for our pension fund and asset management readers from IPE’s award-winning journalists
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News
Inflows to Spezialfonds stagnates as investors eye direct fixed income allocations
Spezialfonds also failed to record higher inflows year-on-year in 2024 from retirement benefit schemes
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News
Gold market, equities up returns for Migros Pensionskasse
The scheme saw assets under management go up by CHF1.2bn year-on-year in 2024 to CHF29.4bn
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News
Fonchim’s sub-fund records return over 10%
Sub-fund ‘Crescita’ returned 10.32% last year, just above its benchmark of 10.11%, surprisingly facing low volatility during the year
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News
Majority of trustees support UK surplus extraction plans
FTSE100 companies have £50bn in surplus on low-dependency level, according to LCP
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News
Swiss BVK closes 2024 with 8.1% returns and 109.3% funding ratio
2024 was an ‘above-average year’ in terms of returns for the fund, says CEO
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News
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
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News
Swiss corporate schemes under stress while risk of persistent low interest rates returns
Corporate schemes’ assets went up by 1.5%, partially offsetting increasing liabilities, but funding ratios fell to 120.9% in December 2024, from 121.1% in September 2024
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Opinion Pieces
Viewpoint: How a DB ‘surplus code’ could support economic growth
David Wrigley, partner at LCP, says supporting the appropriate release of surpluses could provide a shot in the arm to the UK economy
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News
UK regulator urged to support switch to DB surplus focus for growth drive
TPR and other economic regulators have been called in to Downing Street on Thursday to explain how they will support the government’s growth agenda
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News
Profond’s returns climb to 9.4%, funding ratio to 110% in 2024
Board of trustees decides to apply interest rate of 8% on retirement savings
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News
Swiss pension funds see boost in returns, funding ratios in 2024
Consultancy PPCmetrics says schemes saw returns of 8.7% in 2024, while funding ratios reached a 115.5% level
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Analysis
Dutch DC frontrunners reform their interest rate hedges
In DC, pension funds will only hedge interest rate risk for older participants
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News
Germany’s innovation agency calls for pension funds’ backing of tech start-ups
SPRIN-D had €220m available last year, far from enough to turn technological innovation into profitable companies
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News
Dutch inland shipping fund to merge with transport sector fund
Existing accruals will be transferred to Bpf Vervoer on 1 October 2025
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News
Investment in European equities by European asset managers has fallen by a third
Share of listed equities issued in Europe held by investment funds domiciled in euro area has dropped from 37% in 2015 to 27% at the end of last year, says EFAMA
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Analysis
DB schemes indicate growing preference for retaining assets
But buyout remains preferred option, according to UK pensions industry
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News
German Spezialfonds record worse capital inflows since 2008/09 financial crisis
Spezialfonds received net cash inflows of €1.7bn in July, but in August and September stood at almost the same amount, so ‘net new business’ came to only €45m
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News
Swiss schemes apply high interest on savings as yields fall
It will be ‘very challenging’ for pension funds to generate the statutory minimum interest rate of 1.25%, says PPCmetrics
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News
DB schemes with fewer than 1,000 members make up 80% of total funds under PPF
However, these schemes only make up around 10% of total assets, liabilities and members
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News
Pension fund returns could suffer with climate change impact
Transition risks are expected to be dominant climate risk driver compared to physical risks during 2025–2030 for pension funds worldwide, says Ortec Finance