Chart of the Week: Dutch schemes bounce back with Q1 gains of up to 8.5%
Strong equity markets and rising government bonds help recovery from weak end to 2018
Commission launches infringement action against 17 states over IORP II
Proceedings launched for “non-communication” of transposition measures after January deadline
Netherlands roundup: PNO picks Kempen as fiduciary for DC plan
Plus: Construction company scheme to liquidate; Metal industry schemes increase lobbying against rights cuts
Dutch investors set out expectations for oil and gas sector
Investor expectation statement comes after Follow This withdraws Shell resolution
Dutch watchdog wants new rules for pension funds’ DC products
AFM warns its current remit is limited and wants to make sure customers are protected
Rules for sector schemes and insurers ‘hamper innovation’, says lawyer
Cutting limitations for Dutch industry-wide schemes and insurers could make consolidation easier and cheaper
Number of Dutch pension funds will soon fall to 200, regulator says
DNB says 29 schemes out of 230 are in liquidation, while several others are considering their options
Netherlands roundup: Schemes ‘must reclaim mistakenly paid benefits’
Also: KLM’s cabin staff scheme opts for two-tier board in governance shake-up
Vervoer replaces Robeco with Achmea for fiduciary management
Dutch sector scheme expects continuity to be better guaranteed at Achmea
Supermarket scheme to up risk exposure with indexation in mind
Pension fund lost 0.8% last year and funding did not improve
Dutch group seeks solution for early retirement stalemate
Government should offer tax-friendly savings options to workers in demanding jobs, expert group says
Members are ‘willing to sacrifice some returns’ for ESG investment
66% willing to forgo on part of their pension benefits if their pension fund has already adopted ESG approach
Pension funds falling short on cybersecurity, regulator warns
De Nederlandsche Bank says schemes’ monitoring of internal and external IT security is insufficient
Dutch pension rules undermine funding and confidence, says DNB
FTK allows for insufficient contributions and benefit payments that are too high, regulator warns
Dutch regulator criticises unions for delaying pensions reform
DNB president Klaas Knot says worker groups are asking too much of the Dutch government
Dutch minister rejects flexible retirement age for state pension
Measures would be bad for government finances and too complicated to implement, Koolmees says
Aon relaunches bid to transfer Dutch scheme to Belgium
Move subject to approval by two thirds of participants and pensioners
Dutch retail sector scheme divests 500 firms for ESG reasons
Detailhandel partners with FTSE Russell for new index, halving carbon footprint and fossil fuel stocks exposure
Economists warn investment ‘groupthink’ could hurt pension outcomes
Schemes hiring the same actuaries often made the same strategic investment choice
Dutch regulator ‘world’s first’ to sign up to PRI [updated]
Central bank says it will investigate options regarding target allocations to green bonds and impact investing projects
The Netherlands: Pensions reform poses IT puzzle
Dutch pension managers will need to significantly adjust their IT systems if a pensions contract with individual accrual becomes the key element in a new Dutch pensions system
Asset Allocation: State of play
A look at the top five Dutch pension funds
Multi-sector magnet
Since 2011, PGB has almost doubled its number of participants to 235,700 from pension funds from a diverse range of sectors
German chemicals company de-risks with lump sum payments
Employees respond positively as Henkel offers one-off payment to reduce DB liabilities
Accounting roundup: Guidance issued on pension equality costs
Plus: Hybrid pension plan accounting; Politicians call for break up of ‘big four’; FRC publishes draft plan and budget
IFRS committee rules on DC refunds for plan sponsors
IFRS Interpretations Committee says discounts on overpayments to DC plans shouldn’t mean DB treatment is necessary
Resist the scourge of presentism
It has become fashionable to insist on the importance of taking a long-term view but few achieve it in practice
Deviate at your own risk
The recent controversy about factor investing has probably not caused any distress to the investment industry, let alone the wider public, but it is a fundamental one
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