All IPE articles in April 2007 (Magazine)
View all stories from this issue.
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Features
France's elephant in the larder
Beneath the political rhetoric for May’s presidential election lies a ballooning public debt problem and an unsustainable pension system, says Hugh Wheelan
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Features
PERE and PERCO funds on growth path
There are reasons to be optimistic about the French DC market. Jean Kimmel looks at developments since the Loi Fillon pensions reform three years ago
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Features
Trends fuel growth of professionalism
The investments of caisses de retraites are evolving to cope with a changing landscape, as Jean-Claude Angoulvant and Frédéric Petiniot explain
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Features
Solvency II causing consternation
Imposition of the proposed Solvency II rules would force pension funds to shun riskier assets. Rachel Fixsen polls three schemes
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Features
Pensions panacea
Pension Revolutionby Keith Ambachtsheer ISBN 13/978-0-470-08723-7 Price: $80 (€60) hardcover 336 pages hardback John Wiley & Sons n his preface, Keith Ambachtsheer dedicates his third book to the idea that the adverse events of the first half of this decade have finally created the conditions to realise the pensions vision ...
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Features
Swiss moves to tighten regulation
Better late than never. After months of scandals involving Swiss pension funds, the Berne government has finally woken up. This summer it plans to unveil legislation to improve regulation and corporate governance of Pensionskassen.
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Features
What will scare Goldilocks?
How long can the benign corporate credit market continue? Joseph Mariathasan asks whether surprises may be around the corner
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Features
On track for a new future
Last month Johan Vanbuylen retired as director of FBZ Electriciens, the industry-wide pension plan for the Belgian electrical sector, which he had headed since its inception in 2002. The scheme has 40,000 members and €32m under management. George Coats talks to him
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Features
Europe shows on Robeco radar
Robeco, a Netherlands-based asset manager with global ambitions, has set itself three broad objectives for 2007 and beyond - to invest in Europe, to grow in the US and to seed in the emerging markets. George Möller, who moved from Euronext to become Robeco’s chief executive in 2004, says investment ...
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Features
US pension funds on private equity roll
What might US pension funds reply to Britain’s Trades Union Congress (TUC) about the dangers of private equity? Ahead of June’s G8 summit, the TUC’s general secretary, Brendan Barber, is going to ask pension funds from other countries to rethink their investment policy and stop fuelling buyout fever. Barber said ...
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Features
Turning private equity into a public enemy
As private equity deals get bigger, opposition to activities of buy-out firms has grown. Pension funds’ duty is to achieve the best returns through a diversified investment strategy, which may include private equity. But the jobs of pension members can be harmed by the activities of private equity firms
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Features
Margins holding up despite high-yield dip
Yield curve/duration Government bonds and other top quality credit have benefited from sharp rise in volatility and subsequent ‘flight-to-quality’ moves. Short-dated bond yields have fallen to such an extent in Europe that the market is not pricing in more European Central Bank (ECB) rate hikes this year. Although most investors ...
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Features
IORP opens door but demand is key
France’s implementation of the IORP directive last year has not spurred new schemes or trends so far. Denis Campana looks at the many issues that need resolving
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Features
Quaker values keep DB flag flying
In retaining its defined benefit scheme, the family-owned Musgrave Group is reflecting the ethical values that are the bedrock of its attitude towards its employees. David White spoke with Noel Keeley
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Features
Counting the cost
The government may have saddled itself with greater pensions liabilities than it thinks, writes Nick Silver