All IPE articles in July 2014 (Magazine)
View all stories from this issue.
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Features
All new IAS19: the verdict
The International Accounting Standards Board issued revisions to its pensions-accounting standard IAS19 in 2011. But has the project delivered the goods? Stephen Bouvier asks KPMG’s Naz Peralta about the evidence
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Features
Focus Group: Do you get what you pay for? (Part 2)
Just half of the participants to this month’s Focus Group think diversity on a pension fund board is important – but three respondents ranked it as “very unimportant”. “[It is important] both in terms of employer representation, member representation, cultures and gender. Diversity is a key aspect of our communication strategy,” said a UK fund.
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Opinion Pieces
On track with 401(k)
Individual retirement savings accounts (IRAs) have been helping US workers navigate the ups and downs of Wall Street since the 2008 financial crisis. IRAs and employer-sponsored defined contribution (DC) plans grew to $6.5trn and $5.9trn (€4.8trn and €4.3trn), respectively, at year-end 2013, up from $5.6trn and $5trn the previous year, according to data in the 2014 Investment Company Fact Book.
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Features
Pension Fund Governance: ABP to the ballot box
For the first time, the €309bn Dutch civil servants fund has held elections for its accountability body. More controversially, pensioners will now sit on the main board, writes Mariska van der Westen
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Features
Can the UK import concepts from abroad?
Government plans for pensions caused ripples in the industry after the official opening of the 2014-15 UK parliamentary session.
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Opinion Pieces
“Italian employees have great need of consistent additional pension coverage”
Assets managed by pension funds in Italy equate to about 6% of its gross domestic product. In a country where the social security system provides an adequate level of coverage at retirement that would not be a concern. But in Italy, after all the recent reforms, this situation represents a relevant risk for both employees and employers. Benefits provided by the social security system have strongly decreased over the last 20 years and the retirement age raised considerably.
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Features
How we run our money: My door is always open
Alfredo Granata and Paola Muratorio tell Carlo Svaluto Moreolo about their fund’s drive to invest in the real economy and its openness to new ideas
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Asset Class Reports
Investment Grade Credit: Any life in long-dated bonds
A recent reform announcement could significantly reduce the UK’s annuity market. Joseph Mariathasan asks what the knock-on effect might be for long-dated sterling bonds
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Country Report
Italy: The search for pension assets
Iain Morse surveys Italy’s custody market, which is undergoing sweeping changes
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Interviews
Success assured
When Russell Büsst was coaxed from Amundi in 2011 to head Conning’s expansion into Europe, he had three objectives: break even and hit $10bn (€7.38bn) under management within three years; use the firm’s insurance-industry relationships as a platform to build the pan-European business; and balance property-and-casualty (P&C) with life-and-pensions (L&P) assets.
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Special Report
Pension Fund Governance: Avoid the bear traps
UK pension funds are increasing governance levels as they implement regulatory guidance on integrated risk management, says Pádraig Floyd. Professional trustees are playing a greater role
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Features
Put the trust back
Italy is a self-perpetuating paradox. Structural and historical forces keep the country under constant pressure; yet they drive a search for innovation to solve long-lasting problems. The pension system is a perfect example.
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Country Report
Italy: In search of the right balance
Further scandals at casse di previdenza highlight the urgent need to promote better governance at Italian pension funds, finds Carlo Svaluto Moreolo
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Asset Class Reports
Investment Grade Credit: Banks or supermarkets
The world’s banks are cutting debt and repairing balance sheets. The world’s non-financial companies are gearing up to take risk. Joseph Mariathasan explores why the choice for bondholders is not as clear as it sounds
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Asset Class Reports
Investment Grade Credit: The last bastion of value
Sluggish growth and subdued corporate confidence persuade sterling and euro credit managers that their asset class remains ‘the best house in a bad neighbourhood’, finds Martin Steward
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Asset Class Reports
Investment Grade Credit: No bears threaten Goldilocks
After the big spread-tightening, managers warn against the shortest maturities and talk up senior bank debt, bottom-up bond-picking and relative value basis trades David Turner explores opportunities in the euro-zone credit sweet spot
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Country Report
Italy: Freedom beckons
Carlo Svaluto Moreolo outlines long-awaited changes that will liberalise investment rules for Italian pension funds
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Features
Pensions cart before the horse
It may come a surprise that the UK, Europe’s leading pension market by assets, has been one of the least innovative in terms of benefit design – something the present government is keen to rectify.
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Features
Risk in emerging markets and beyond
Book review Emerging Markets in an Upside Down World: Challenging Perceptions in Asset Allocation and Investment, Jerome Booth (Wiley, £29.99)
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Features
The big picture
The ECB’s actions and words after its June meeting were met with approval throughout the world’s capital markets. As much of what was announced was already priced in, there was a fairly muted response, which wasn’t sufficient to weaken the euro too much.
