Investor Strategy – Page 196
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ECB warns of pension speculation amid low rates
EUROPE – The European Central Bank has warned that the current low interest rates may lead to “reckless or speculative” investing by pension funds.
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OECD global pension forum postponed
GLOBAL – A forum on global pensions organized by the OECD and the new International Organisation of Pension Supervisors has been postponed.
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ATP named best European pension fund 2005
EUROPE – Denmark´s ATP has been named overall Best European Pension Fund in 2005 at the annual IPE Awards in Berlin. It was also named Best European Public Pension Fund as well as scooping the top award for Denmark and risk management.
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MEAG targets third-party growth
GERMANY – MEAG, the asset management arm of reinsurance giant Munich Re, plans to expand its third-party business by between 25-30% annually, according to Robert Helm, managing director at MEAG responsible for third-party business.
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Metzler posts 28% rise in institutional assets
GERMANY – A mix of mandates for institutional funds and one for a so-called ‘master fund’ has enabled Metzler Asset Management to lift its institutional assets to above €20bn – an increase of 28% from the end of 2004.
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PIMCO boosts its Swiss team
SWITZERLAND – Specialist fixed-income manager PIMCO has appointed Joachim Suter to the position of Swiss head of institutional business development.
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Levensloop for self-employed reconsidered
NETHERLANDS – Dutch Social Affairs minister Aart Jan de Geus is again to look at the possibilities of creating a ‘levensloop’, or life course, scheme for the self-employed.
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KarstadtQuelle denies pension trust report
GERMANY – KarstadtQuelle, Germany’s second-biggest retailer, has denied that it is tapping its own contractual trust arrangement (CTA) for €200m in capital to reduce long-term debt.
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MSIM hires ex-GSAM European equities co-CIO
EUROPE - Hywel George, former co-chief investment officer of European equities at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, has joined rival Morgan Stanley Investment Management.
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UK calls for national pension scheme proposals
UK – UK pensions minister Stephen Timms today challenged the industry to come up with an alternative model to the National Pensions Saving Scheme outlined in last week’s Turner Report.
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Dutch experts split over pensions body
NETHERLANDS -- Opinion on the need for a specialised Dutch pensions ministry is sharply divided.
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Uncertainty over BaFin real estate stress tests
GERMANY – BaFin, the German financial services regulator, has yet to make a decision on whether to include real estate investments in the so-called “stress tests” that it requires German lifer insurers and insurance-tied pension funds to undergo.
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BASF’s Belgian pension director steps down
BELGIUM – Sven Van Wichelen, director of the Belgian pension fund for German chemical giant BASF, is stepping down as of 1 December, the fund has confirmed.
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Julius Baer facing client attrition – Moody’s
SWITZERLAND – Bank Julius Baer & Co. could be facing client “attrition” as it seeks to absorb the three Swiss banks and the GAM arm it is buying from UBS, Moody’s Investors Service says.
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Italy’s Previcooper looking for asset managers
ITALY - Previcooper, the €70m complementary pension fund for employees of Italy’s distribution cooperatives, is looking for at least three asset managers.
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BGI’s Groenendijk joins Pensioenfonds Vervoer
NETHERLANDS – Barclays Global Investors principal Patrick Groenendijk has left to become head of investments at the €5bn Pensioenfonds Vervoer, the industry-wide transport sector pension fund.
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Demand for Germany’s Riester pensions surges
GERMANY – Demand for the Riester-Rente, a government-subsidised private pension launched in 2002, has increased dramatically this year, the German finance ministry has reported.
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Dutch employers critical of portability plan
NETHERLANDS – Dutch employers organisation VNO-NCW has criticised the European Commission’s proposed directive on pensions portability – saying it could threaten the Dutch pension system.
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Watson Wyatt hires Russell’s Penfold
UK – Consulting firm Watson Wyatt has hired Russell Investment Group’s Robin Penfold as a senior investment consultant.
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Ireland’s NPRF starts private equity programme
IRELAND – The €14.5bn National Pension Reserve Fund has initiated its new investment programme with a €75m private equity commitment with independent buy-out firm CVC Capital Partners.
