IPD says better EU growth framework could bring pension assets back from US
‘Much-needed focus’ on ensuring Europe’s competitiveness is vital to attracting the necessary investments, says IPD chief
EU approves delays to sustainability laws
Companies in the second and third phase of CSRD’s roll-out will have an extra two years to comply with the law
Funding resilience and strategic reallocation drive German pensions
WTW estimates that DAX companies faced a combined cost of €250m in 2024 to adjust pensions for inflation
ESAs call for vigilance amid rising geopolitical and cyber risks
ESMA, EIOPA and EBA are pressing for proactive risk management, stronger cyber resilience and close monitoring of global financial linkages, including currency risks
Austrian banks add pension contribution increase to collective agreement
For years, the minimum rate for employer pension contributions was set at 2.70%, but now an increase by 0.15 percentage points is being negotiated
TPR ‘right’ to hold professional trustees to account as it extends regulatory oversight
The UK regulator’s market oversight team will establish ongoing supervisory relationships with professional trustee firms
Managers launch platform to harmonise assessment of climate solutions’ impact
Platform calculates avoided emission factors for 65 climate solutions across eight sectors
Aberdeen takes on pension policies worth £3bn from Phoenix Life
The transfer relates to a specific book of business, which includes UK DB and DC pension funds, as well as UK Local Government Pension Schemes
People moves: CEO and multi-asset CIO at Newton IM to step down
Plus: Rothesay picks non-exec director; The People’s Pension adds to board
APG AM chief vows improvement after ‘below standard’ 2024 returns
The Dutch asset manager’s actively managed concentrated portfolios especially underperformed, posting returns less than half of those of their benchmarks
Frankfurt public prosecutor fines DWS after greenwashing investigation
A €25m fine has been issued against DWS Group and DWS Investment
SOKA-BAU’s chief investment officer to step down
Gregor Asshoff will leave the German pension fund after almost 10 years
Number of funds adopting SDR label stands at just 80, according to Morningstar
New report published on deadline for managers of UK-domiciled funds to comply with SDR rules shows 325 have not adopted labels
Local Pensions Partnership launches climate solutions fund
Local government pension plan investment pool sees ‘secular tailwinds’ for climate solutions investing
Danica adjusts investments towards defence industry
The Danish pensions provider says around 30 companies will be removed from its restriction list
SOKA-BAU tweaks strategy as new investment rule comes into force
Construction industry pension fund will increase allocations to infrastructure, private equity, equities, and ‘riskier’ fixed income
UK defined benefit trustees favour sponsor loans as part of de-risking
Sponsor loans are favoured by 64% of DB trustees looking at buy-in and buyout
Lloyds Banking Group pension funds strike two more longevity swaps
The third and fourth longevity hedging transactions protect in aggregate a further £5.1bn of scheme liabilities
German consultant takes over Heubeck
‘The idea is to expand the offering for the clients in all areas of occupational pensions and continue to improve technology and services,’ says Matthias Edelmann
EIOPA looking for ‘pragmatic’ outcome to IORP II review
Chair of the pension fund supervisor comments on the Commission’s Savings and Investments Union strategy
Savings and Investments Union: European Semester framework to the fore
The European Commission’s strategy emphasises the shared responsibility of member states for delivering on the strategy’s goals
Almenni and Lífsverk eye merger to create Iceland’s fifth-biggest pension fund
Negotiations at early stage, say funds, aiming to complete talks by the summer
UK local authority pension fund trio invest in local growth
Teesside and Avon pension funds along with South Yorkshire Pensions Authority have all made investments
Confusion clouds ISSB’s SASB plan
Proposals pushed to mid- and late-2025
Velliv to shift more equities exposure to Europe, after €500m US sell-off
Denmark’s fifth-largest pension fund targets smaller European firms which don’t depend on exports to US
Asset owner coalition challenges UK retailers over ‘poverty wages’
‘The UK’s biggest retailers are failing to support their workers with a real living wage,’ says ShareAction’s Catherine Howarth
Swiss pension funds unmoved by political scrutiny of US banks
Erratic or aggressive behaviour by US government poses investment risk for Swiss pension funds dealing with increasing market volatility, says Complementa
Shell doubles down on LNG plans ahead of shareholder resolution
Investors argue that Shell’s LNG growth plan contradicts the oil major’s climate targets
Stronger focus on transition alignment among UK pension schemes
Consultancy also finds that credibility of net zero targets has improved
Delaware moves forward on changes to shareholder rights
AP7 CEO says he is ‘deeply concerned’ about the proposals
People moves: AP Funds appoint new chairs
Plus: JPES Partners appoints duo; GSAM hires CIO for the Netherlands
Drop in asset owners including responsible investment clauses manager contracts
Latest PRI figures also show a growing emphasis on managers’ voting behavior
UK DC master trusts anxious about government’s pressure to invest in ‘productive assets’
UK government is in discussions with Mansion House compact signatories for next steps
Pension fund for German auditors and accountants eyes 5% infrastructure new foray
Move is a step in the right direction to having a uniform set of rules across Germany, says WPV
UK launches nature finance-standards to prevent greenwashing
New nature finance-standard is hoped to build confidence among businesses that nature-investments are making a real difference
Insurance group to buy consultancy Barnett Waddingham
Combined business will offer full range of employee benefits and pensions advisory services to corporate clients
Swiss asset managers cheer cost-transparency rebuff, shift focus to returns
Swiss asset management association AMAS says net return is most important criterion for determining performance and efficiency of a pension fund, not costs
JPMAM, QBE in fresh exits from net-zero finance initiatives
JP Morgan Asset Management’s move comes after it had already quit Climate Action 100+ and its parent had left the Net Zero Banking Alliance
Sacked Velliv CEO Erichsen now under investigation by Danish police
Danish FSA reported Steen Michael Erichsen to police, but details remain scant
Sweden names duo to oversee Stockholm, Gothenburg AP fund mergers
Eva-Lena Norgren, Niklas Johansson appointed as coordinators of the complex upcoming national pension fund fusions
Investors must rethink private markets allocations, says bfinance
Report from consultancy suggests investors ‘must rethink private asset modelling and allocation strategies’
Dutch regulator embraces pension fund criticism
DNB introduces AI tool ChatDNB
Arkwright warns of AP7’s concentration risk and limited tools to stem downturns
Officially-commissioned report on AP funds criticises AP2 for lacking return target and calls for more resources for buffer funds’ illiquid investment teams
BT Pension Scheme completes two longevity swaps totalling £10bn
The arrangements cover BTPS pensioner liabilities of £5bn with Swiss Re and increase existing cover with RGA by £5bn
TELA defends pension fund principles amid calls for home-turf investment
Risto Murto-chaired report on spurring growth in Finland gets country talking about investing in domestic businesses
Pension providers expect delay to Dutch pension transition
Two thirds of pension providers believe the deadline for pension funds to move to a new defined-contribution arrangement will be delayed by at least one year to 2029
Leading German pension fund brands infrastructure rule changes ‘useless’ without stress test
Rule changes also allow five percentage points extra headroom for equity, private equity and riskier debt
US equity value funds must remove more holdings to meet ESG standards
New analysis finds that, on average, value funds face greater challenges in aligning with ESG criteria than growth funds
UK DB funds rethink endgame amid surplus extraction plans
One in five DB pension funds say their investment adviser or consultant suggests they change their approach to endgame
Anglo American insures three pension funds with L&G
The combined £785m buy-in transactions secure benefits of over 5,100 retirees and 2,500 deferred members
