Switzerland: Pensions and Investment News and Analysis
Latest news and analysis of pensions, asset management, regulation and trends in Switzerland from our award-winning journalists.
Swiss pension funds increase equity, cut real estate investments
Schemes will likely continue to anchor Swiss and foreign real estate to investment strategies
FINMA defines key team to supervise new UBS bank
Dedicated team to supervise UBS after takeover of Credit Suisse will focus on capital, liquidity, risk management
Swiss asset management association to launch stewardship code with SSF
AMAS and Swiss Sustainable Finance will publish the Swiss Stewardship Code in October
Country Report – Pensions in Switzerland (November 2022)
Our report on Swiss pensions also looks at the growing demand for so-called 1e plans, additional pension vehicles for higher earners. The 1e sector is ripe for consolidation, like the market for multi-employer pensions (Anlagestiftungen), where the federal regulator is concerned about a build-up of complexity and supervisory risks. We also cover the annual survey of the consultancy Complemeta and assess Swiss pension funds’ asset allocation plans.
Swiss Employers’ Association backs second pillar pension reform
The reform would make an important contribution to support the three-pillar pension system model, the association says
Swiss pension funds over invested in real estate, alternatives
PPCmetrics recorded for the first time rise in average technical interest rate
Swiss cabinet favours political intervention linking retirement age to life expectancy
Government report rejects automatic mechanisms, prepares ground for further reform
Minimum interest rate rise a ‘sustainable challenge’ for Swiss pension funds
Federal occupational pension commission wants to send the message that ‘1% is flexible’, says president
Swiss pension funds topped up rates despite losses, assets fall – study
Complementa also says one in five pension funds plan to increase their bond allocation
Analysis: UBS/Credit Suisse pension funds merger
To protect beneficiaries of both pension schemes, a precondition for the merger is that the pension funds have at least in principle an ‘equal’ funding ratio
Pension funds on the record: The investors developing their own index methodologies
FRR and PUBLICA are among the growing number of European pension funds developing proprietary benchmarks to achieve their sustainability objectives
Switzerland: Heated debate ahead of second-pillar referendum
The workplace pension system reform must clear the final hurdle of a national referendum and Pensionskassen will have to start to follow new guidelines on ESG
Swiss pension funds consider high costs as main obstacle to invest sustainably
Regulations currently in place in the second pillar pension system should not be changed to create incentives for sustainable investments
Canton of Aargau parliament approves APK’s pension plan changes
The level of benefits continued to fall, from 58% to 55% of the insured salary, below the original level of 65%
Pensionskasse Post boosts infrastructure, real estate investments
The scheme allocated CHF100m for impact investments in infrastructure
DACH roundup: German portfolio managers lose ground
Plus: Swiss scheme to increase bond investments; BaFin strips asset management licence fom Adrealis; German pension dashboard adds three providers
Nest Sammelstiftung reconsiders private markets approach
High fees, questionable added value and governance among reasons for the rethink
DACH roundup: FCA gives go-ahead for GAM takeover by Liontrust
Plus: Universal Investment starts US equity fund with Montrusco Bolton; Ecclesia buys Pension Solution Group
BVK’s new pension plan could set trend towards flexible pay-outs
From next year, members of the pension fund can receive a pension benefit at age 65 that exceeds the normal level of pensions by around 15%
Nestlé pension fund considers private equity impact investments top priority
It will also establish a climate risk-management framework for investment opportunities that will be integrated in its sustainable investment policy
DACH roundup: Returns on equities boost Swiss pension schemes’ funding ratios
Plus: BaFin lays out classification method for pension funds’ assets according to SFDR
DACH roundup: AllianzGI partners with DBR for pension transfer services
Plus: Pension schemes’ funding ratios of DAX, MDAX companies continues to rise; BaFin shows shortcomings on risk reporting; Swiss fund market’s volume shoots up
CERN pension fund on path to integrate climate risks in investment portfolio
The scheme completed a climate impact analysis in addition to a carbon footprint and transition pathway study to gauge climate risks
DACH roundup: Swiss pension funds returns 4.6% in H1
Plus: WTW warns of liabilities for Swiss corporate schemes; GDV’s report on occupational schemes, insurers; Institutional investors back KKA Partners fund
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