Top stories

Interest rates unsettle real estate investors

New German pension valuation rules could raise corporate liabilities

2026-10-05T09:00:00+01:00By

Higher values for underlying securities could increase German companies’ pension provisions and create greater exposure to market fluctuations

Emma Douglas at PLSA

Investment returns should drive DC value-for-money tests, says TPR chair

2026-10-05T08:30:00+01:00By

TPR chair Emma Douglas says investment performance should carry greater weight as regulators reshape DC value-for-money assessments

Asset owner cogs w

Asset owner October insights: asset allocation changes, European investments, debates over pension reform

2026-10-05T08:00:00+01:00By

Dutch pension funds continue to restructure portfolios ahead of the transitions; assets flow towards European SMEs and VC, and the debate over pension reform has intensified 

In focus this week

UK Institutional Market Report 2026

Research

What’s driving the Netherlands’ €2.5trn institutional market? IPE’s exclusive market insight report

Dutch institutional assets have increased for the third consecutive year and are edging towards the €2.5trn mark, while the assets managed on behalf of Dutch pension fund clients are just shy of €2trn, after increasing for the third year in a row

Torsten Bell, UK pensions minister

UK pensions minister shifts focus from providers to employers in growth agenda

2026-10-02T09:30:00+01:00By

‘Employers are sometimes treated as a sideshow in the pension system, but this hugely underestimates their influence’, says Torsten Bell

paris france map

French regulator asks EU to strengthen PAI and transition plan rules in SFDR 2.0

2026-10-02T09:15:00+01:00By

AMF recommends that a credible transition plan should be based on a ‘recognised framework regarding compatibility with the Paris Agreement’

EESC building Brussels

EESC calls for EU committee to monitor pension reforms’ social impact

2026-10-02T09:00:00+01:00By

European Economic and Social Committee wants an EU committee to monitor pension reforms, retirement incomes, inequality and poverty across Europe

More news

In depth

Comment

Olivier D'Assier at SimCorp

The AI leopard changes its spots

By Olivier d’Assier, SimCorp

Equity investors have spent the past 18 months watching the AI leopard change its spots – the latest spot is capex, currently spreading through equity and credit pricing

Carlo Svaluto Moreolo at IPE

It is high time European pension funds raised their allocations to European venture capital

By

If European policymakers are serious about reviving economic growth and securing Europe’s competitive position on the global stage, they urgently need to focus on closing the “innovation gap” with the US.

Liam Kennedy at IPE

Index providers, we have a problem

By

Big tech governance is rightly a shareholder engagement topic of huge importance, and one that investors, including the AP funds’ Ethics Council, Railpen and APG have promoted in recent years. The issue is rapidly moving up the scale for active institutional owners. 

More comment

People Moves

People

People moves: L&G names managing director for European asset management

2026-10-01T08:00:00+01:00

Plus: AllianceBernstein picks president and CEO; Aptia appoints head of corporate pension consulting

Management Board VBV Vorsorgekasse

VBV Group integrates severance and pension funds’ boards

2026-09-28T13:42:00+01:00

As part of the reshuffle, in October, Christian Reiss will assume the position of CEO of the severance fund

Busines meeting - iStock-937920714

People moves: Pensions UK adds quartet to board

2026-09-24T08:00:00+01:00

Rachel Brothwood was appointed chair of Pensions UK’s policy board, succeeding John Chilman, who will continue on the board until the end of his term in October 2027

More People News

Analysis

Interest rates unsettle real estate investors

New German pension valuation rules could raise corporate liabilities

By

Higher values for underlying securities could increase German companies’ pension provisions and create greater exposure to market fluctuations

Asset owner cogs w

Asset owner October insights: asset allocation changes, European investments, debates over pension reform

By

Dutch pension funds continue to restructure portfolios ahead of the transitions; assets flow towards European SMEs and VC, and the debate over pension reform has intensified 

New York City

Climate Week NYC: Resilience takes centre stage as AI raises climate concerns

By

Investors focused on adaptation, resilience, energy security and AI’s growing environmental footprint at Climate Week NYC

big and small gold fish in bowl

Rothesay leads pension risk transfer market in first half with 28% market share

By

Number of insurers bidding on transactions increase by around 50%, says LCP

IPE Netherlands newsletter briefing

IPE Netherlands Briefing: bpfBOUW selects BlackRock as fiduciary management candidate

By

Plus: Dutch court orders ExxonMobil to make additional pension payments; Pensioenfonds Detailhandel hedges 80% of its equity exposure

More Analysis

Interviews

Mirko Cardinale, USS

Universities Superannuation Scheme: climate scenario analysis and long-term investment strategy

By

Head of investment strategy Mirko Cardinale translates environmental change forecasts into fund management decisions for investors 

Markus Aho, Varma

Varma CIO Markus Aho on diversification, geopolitical risk and investing in a resilient bull market

By

Markus Aho, Varma’s deputy CEO and CIO, reflects on market resilience, investor complacency and favouring diversification over ‘idealistic’ exclusions

MIchael Freno, CEO Barings

Barings CEO Michael Freno: "The private credit opportunity extends well beyond direct lending"

By

Barings CEO Michael Freno tells Carlo Svaluto Moreolo about the firm’s strategy to build out its capabilities in public and private credit, insurance solutions, real assets and emerging markets 

IPE Spotlight

Spotlight on UK LGPS: Border to Coast’s £120bn scale opens door to deeper global partnerships

By

Seven new funds take Border to Coast to £120bn, creating scale for investment and global partnerships

Lutz Horstick

ÄVWL CIO Lutz Horstick on change and investment shifts at the German doctors’ pension fund

By

The past 18 months have seen a shake-up at the top of the doctors’ pension fund for the Westphalia-Lippe region. New CIO Lutz Horstick tells Luigi Serenelli how the new management is looking to the future

More interviews

European pension funds join the VC race


  • European startups and scaleups are hungry for patient capital and the continent’s pension funds are expanding their footprint in this strategic market
Read more
IPE Sept-Oct 2026 cover

IPE Magazine September/October 2026

Read the latest issue of IPE Magazine

Browse the digital edition and find highlights from this month's issue below

Digital edition of IPE magazine

September/October Highlights

Pension Funds

Mirko Cardinale, USS

Universities Superannuation Scheme: climate scenario analysis and long-term investment strategy

Head of investment strategy Mirko Cardinale translates environmental change forecasts into fund management decisions for investors 

Markus Aho, Varma

Varma CIO Markus Aho on diversification, geopolitical risk and investing in a resilient bull market

Markus Aho, Varma’s deputy CEO and CIO, reflects on market resilience, investor complacency and favouring diversification over ‘idealistic’ exclusions

More on pension funds

Investment

Oil well - Photo: Joa_Souza, iStock

Emerging market debt outlook 2026: Bottom-up analysis remains critical

By

Many EM countries have improved their macro fundamentals, but rising US Treasury yields pose a challenge

SpaceX rocket launch - Photo- Daniel Hull, iStock

Index providers adapt IPO inclusion rules for SpaceX: the governance trade-offs for institutional investors

By

If the first 25 years of the 21st century will be remembered for the launch of the iPhone, social media, political populism and the rise of retail AI, the IPO of Space Exploration Technologies Corp – aka SpaceX – is a strong contender to be an emblematic financial event of 2026. 

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