All Country Reports
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Country Report
Is buyout still the gold standard for UK pension funds?
Improved funding positions mean more DB schemes are considering run-on rather than off-loading their liabilities
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Country Report
Progress report on the UK’s Mansion House capital market reforms
Details of potential changes to the UK’s pension landscape have been thin on the ground
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Country Report
How consolidation might affect the UK’s local government pension sector
There is political consensus on the need for local government pension schemes to merge, but the question of in-house asset management is less straightforward
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Country Report
Solvency UK: tweaks likely to bring only marginal gains
The UK’s reforms of the Solvency II framework are unlikely to be enough to usher in a big wave of investment in domestic productive assets by insurers
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Country Report
Bridging the stewardship gap between companies and investors
Findings of research into how well corporates and investors communicate
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Country Report
Mercer’s upbeat vision for UK pension funds and their investment advisers
James Lewis, UK CIO at Mercer, is optimistic about the future of the UK’s DB and DC industries
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Country Report
Netherlands Country Report 2024: The pension transition dilemma
Dutch pension funds must tread a fine line between protecting funding levels and ensuring sufficient returns as they move to defined contribution
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Country Report
Dutch pension reform opponents running out of time
Political parties struggle to reach agreement on what an alternative pensions system could look like
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Country Report
PFZW moves beyond oil and gas divestment
In a podcast recorded for IPE’s Dutch sister publication Pensioen Pro, Ravien Sewtahal of PFZW and Colin Tissen of the pension fund’s asset manager PGGM reflect on the Dutch healthcare scheme’s engagement programme with fossil fuel firms and PFZW’s next steps in climate engagement
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Country Report
Can DC participants trust the competence of Dutch pension funds?
The authors of a recent paper find that pension boards in the Netherlands have failed to reduce asset-liability risk and advocate for greater accountability of boards, advisers and investment staff
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Country Report
Germany Country Report 2024: Unions take a more active role in pensions
Unions have a new role in determining the shape of occupational pensions but are mindful of their duty to protect workers
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Country Report
German employers use pensions to tackle skills shortage
German companies are reworking HR policies in a changing labour market as they hunt for skilled workers and seek to retain experienced employees
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Country Report
Germany turns its back on sustainability
A recent rightwards pivot has softened Germany’s ambition on ESG both at home and in Brussels
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Country Report
Commentary: Pension funding options for German employers
Pension schemes have a choice of ways in which they can exercise their funding obligations
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Country Report
Germany’s pension buyout market shows signs of life
Companies are increasingly looking to offload their pension liabilities
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Country Report
German pension reforms remain controversial
The governing coalition is running out of time to overhaul the three-pillar retirement system
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Country Report
Ireland country report 2024: A no-nonsense consolidation approach
Ireland’s bid to reduce the number of single-member DC pension funds is succeeding but is not without teething troubles
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Country Report
Irish DB funding level above 100%
The average funding level of defined benefit (DB) pension schemes in Ireland has increased to 108% in 2022.
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Country Report
Viewpoint: Irish pension trustees must heed employer covenant
Sponsors can do more to secure DB member benefits
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Country Report
Viewpoint: Ireland’s pension priorities for 2024
The country’s retirement landscape is changing fast