All articles by Barbara Ottawa – Page 55
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NewsBosnia scraps second pillar plans
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA – Creating a second pillar is no longer part of the pension reform plans for Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH), the country’s government has told the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
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Country ReportSwitzerland: A never-ending road
With impeccable timing, yet another scandal has hit Swiss pensions just as the country is finalising a reform of second pillar supervision. Barbara Ottawa assesses the state of Swiss pension regulation and governance
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Country ReportSwitzerland: A never-ending road
With impeccable timing, yet another scandal has hit Swiss pensions just as the country is finalising a reform of second pillar supervision. Barbara Ottawa assesses the state of Swiss pension regulation and governance
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Country ReportSwitzerland: BVK rises from the ashes
The head of asset management is new, the CEO remains in place for stability and a package of recovery measures should take care of the deficit. Barbara Ottawa asks whether all is really well at the Zurich canton pension fund
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NewsSwitzerland sets February deadline for comment on pension reform
SWITZERLAND – The Swiss public will have until 28 February 2011 to comment on a bill aiming to overhaul supervision of the second pillar.
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NewsEstonia passes pension fund law
ESTONIA – The Estonian government has approved a bill aiming to increase transparency in the second pillar and adding a number of new investment rules.
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NewsGerman institutional investors seeking stability in real estate
GERMANY – The majority of German institutional investors are employing a core or core-plus investment style for their indirect real estate portfolios and increasing risk management for those investments, according to a survey by kommalpha.
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NewsSwiss city to plug pension hole by New Year
SWITZERLAND – The regional government of the Swiss city of Basel has committed to plugging the hole in its pension scheme by the end of this year.
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NewsGerman institutional investors stick with equities, but worry about double dip
GERMANY – More than 60% of German institutional investors believe equities will generate returns over the coming year, yet 51% fear there will be a double dip in the markets, according to a poll conducted by German asset manager Union Investment.
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NewsSwiss pensions authority should focus on solvency, communication, academics say
SWITZERLAND – The new Swiss supervisory authority and its regional subsidiaries will have to focus on solvency questions and ensure good communication among all market players, according to researchers at the University of St. Gallen.
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NewsContributions to German Pensionsfonds rebound, treble in 2009 - Towers Watson
GERMANY – After a major drop in contributions to Pensionsfonds in 2008, Germany's newest occupational retirement scheme is back in favour with companies –with Towers Watson predicting growth to continue.
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NewsZurich canton rules against BVK outsourcing
SWITZERLAND – The Zurich Canton administration has dismissed a motion to outsource the asset management of the scandal-ridden BVK Pensionskasse from the financial department.
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NewsDAX pension returns eclipsed by steeper liability increase, says Towers Watson
GERMANY – German companies in the DAX stock exchange index reported an average 2.6% return on their pension plans for the third quarter 2010 but this was offset by a 4.4% rise in liabilities, according to consultancy Towers Watson.
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NewsEven re-insured companies must pay insolvency levy, German court rules
GERMANY – A German court has ruled that companies must pay a levy to the insolvency fund PSV even if they re-insure their pension schemes.
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NewsGerman provinces consider suspending pension fund contributions
GERMANY – The German province of Bavaria and its northern neighbour Thuringia want to halt contributions to their civil servants pension funds to save money.
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NewsGerman pension insolvency fund slashes levy
GERMANY – The German Pensions-Sicherungs-Verein (PSV), which takes on insolvent companies' pension liabilities, has set its 2010 levy at 1.9/m.
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NewsCzech Republic facing EU penalty over IORP
EUROPE – The European Commission has rapped the Czech government for failing to comply with a court ruling from January on the implementation of the IORP pension fund directive.
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NewsGerman investors targeting 'risk-less returns', says Complementa
GERMANY – Risk management in Germany has improved in the wake of the financial crisis, and institutional investors are now focusing on 'risk-less returns', according to consultancy Complementa.
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NewsGerman institutional investors 'unaware' they are under-diversified
GERMANY – Only 19% of institutional investors have a broad enough diversification across asset classes to mitigate risks, according to a risk management study commissioned by Union Investment.
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NewsSwiss roundup: SAP fund, funding levels, PKZH
SWITZERLAND – The Swiss subsidiary of SAP Group is reducing the buffers in its Pensionskasse and will allow its members participate directly in capital markets.
