Insurer seeks ‘evergreen’ private equity, infra funds via IPE Quest [updated]
A total of $80m is up for grabs in two separate tenders being conducted by a Swiss consultant
ABN Amro scheme expects ‘limited effects’ from Brexit
The €29bn pension fund sees market volatility, declining sterling and the ability to settle transactions as big risks, and has analysed suppliers’ ability to continue through multiple Brexit scenarios
Swiss investor hunts for private equity manager via IPE Quest
The unnamed pension fund is seeking bottom-up managers for a $5m-$10m mandate, while two more mandate searches are closing this week
CERN gains from real estate revaluations to post 1.3% 2018 return
Northern Trust’s appointment as custodian helped address an ‘operational constraint’ in real asset investments for the scientific research institute’s pension fund
GAM completes wind-up of suspended absolute return bond funds
Investors due to receive equivalent to an “average” of 100.5% of portfolio value after a 10-month process to liquidate the CHF7.3bn fund range
Swiss government sets out state pension reform plans for autumn debate
Parliament to decide in the autumn on proposed increase to women’s retirement age, new first pillar funding and other reform measures
Switzerland edges closer to cutting conversion rate
Swiss employer representatives and unions have agreed on a reform package including changes to second-pillar pension law BVG/LPP
Swiss pension fund looks to allocate more than €3bn to EMD, high yield
An unnamed Swiss investor has launched six manager searches for active and passive fixed income allocations
New fund category to boost Swiss marketplace moves a step closer
The Swiss government has launched a consultation on legislative changes that would allow certain funds to be offered without prior authorisation
Swiss cabinet to form sustainable finance working group
Assessments by inter-departmental working group to inform decisions about potential financial market regulation
Pension fund ESG integration ‘dangerous’, claims economist
Economist Henrique Schneider splits the audience at a Swiss conference by speaking out against sustainable investment as a fiduciary duty
Swiss pension vehicles secure greater investment flexibility
New rules coming into effect in August will expand investment foundations’ opportunities, including higher equity allocations and access to alternative assets
Investors urge support for Swiss human rights due diligence law
Legislation drafted in response to NGO campaign will be debated in the lower house of Switzerland’s parliament this week
German, Swiss and Austrian investors report spike in ESG investments
Sustainable investments volume increased by 50% across Germany, Austria and Switzerland, says FNG
Swiss pension fund exploring options for CHF2.1bn equity overlay strategy
Investor is seeking to implement an equity protection strategy across global developed and emerging markets as well as domestic Swiss equities
ESG roundup: LSE buys analytics provider Beyond Ratings
Also: Exclusions lead sustainable investment surge in Switzerland; EIOPA consults on climate change and Solvency II; UK minister says schemes ‘doing the right thing’ on climate change
Swiss authorities consider ban on pension broker commission
Pension fund association Asip has supported plans to overhaul the country’s rules on fees paid to brokers for promoting second-pillar funds
Switzerland: In need of a reformist zeal
The Swiss pension system needs reform but consent is needed in a federal referendum. Have politicians learnt from campaigning during the rejected Altervorsorge 2020 proposals?
Werner Hug: Less complexity, more solidarity
The Swiss second pillar has become too complex and lost sight of its original principle of employer patronage towards employees
Asset Management: Fit for purpose
The globalisation of asset management means that Swiss managers have to broaden their product range and service different regulatory regimes
ESG: Still the ugly duckling
ESG is still an unpopular investment strategy in Switzerland. How will it overcome this lack of enthusiasm?
Risk Management: Is everything still good?
Swiss pension funds have coped well with the financial crisis, but appearances can be deceptive
Illiquid Investments: Challenges ahead
Illiquid investments should appeal to pension funds because of their long-term benefits, but are opportunities equal?
Mortality: How a year makes a difference
Swiss longevity assumptions have substantial effects on key technical figures in Pensionskassen
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Brussels People: Europe’s conservatives eye Africa
Describing himself as “the most senior elected Brit in Brussels” and speaking ahead of 29 March when he and the UK’s 72 other MEPs were set to relinquish their mandate in the European Parliament, Syed Kamall is keen to speak about matters other than Europe.
Firebrand targets supervision
One of the knottier issues in Brussels at the moment is the future of the European supervisory authorities
Banking on life after politics
At 49, Brian Hayes is young man by political standards. Having started in Irish politics early with his appointment to the Irish Senate in the mid 1990s, Hayes was elected to the Dáil, the lower house, before he was 30, taking a seat for the Fine Gail party.
Brussels People – Lieve Wierinck: Building on Europe’s scientific base
Lieve Wierinck’s main political passion is ensuring the EU takes full practical advantage of Europe’s excellent scientific base
Brussels People: Sven Giegold, MEP
While he derives some satisfaction from advances in green energy and the like, Sven Giegold is unhappy that most global investment can still be classed as environmentally unsustainable.
Letter from Brussels: Brussels seeks to bolster secondary market in non-performing loans
Are non-peforming loans an investor’s dream come true? Or do they represent immeasurable risks?
Letter from Brussels: Focus on pension products and supervision ahead of elections
Tensions are rising in Brussels as the EU institutional mandate approaches its end ahead of the Parliamentary elections in May 2019, and the Commission has already ceased issuing new proposals in the absence of legislative time.
Letter From Brussels: CMU urgency mounts
The race is on to complete the EU’s flagship Capital Markets Union project before the mandates of the Commission and Parliament elapse next year
Letter from Brussels: Campaign to boost pan-EU distribution of UCITS and AIFs
Another step by Brussels to ease financing to business across the EU comes with measures to facilitate the cross-border distribution of investment funds
Letter from Brussels: Who cares about our €3.5trn?
PensionsEurope is concerned about a Brexit ‘no deal’ and is calling for negotiators to pay heed to the €3.54trn sector’s interests
Letter From Brussels: Corporate tax reform in view
Radical upgrades to the EU’s corporate tax base norms have never been so close to fruition
Letter From Brussels: Default guarantee option dominates debate on PEPP
Europe’s asset management industry is lobbying against any mandatory guaranteed default option in the third-pillar PEPP proposal
Letter From Brussels: Brexit focus moves to pensions
As the risk of a no-deal Brexit comes into focus, attention is turning to ways to mitigate the damage across financial services, including asset management and pensions
Letter from Brussels: Easier securitisation on the horizon
The EU’s securitisation package has finally passed through the European Parliament and Council. However, the new rules will not be applied until January 2019
Letter from Brussels: Opposition to mission creep
The EU’s controversial mandate for a radical shake up of financial supervision has received a cool reception from the pensions sector as well as smaller EU members
Letter From Brussels: Court for international investor disputes on the horizon
International investors in the EU have for decades been suffering from woeful dispute settlement proceedings when involved in cases against public authorities
Letter From Brussels: Pension rights for posted workers
Discussions over the payment of social costs for workers from central and eastern European countries posted temporarily to wealthier EU countries are playing a major role in the attempt to update existing directives
Letter from Brussels: Tax threatens PEPP proposal
At first sight, the benefits of the European Commission’s Pan European Personal Pension (PEPP) regulation proposal seem clear. But it did not take long for commentators to point out the considerable hurdles
Letter from Brussels: Reboot for Capital Markets Union
The European Commission’s “further steps to drive forward the Capital Markets Union (CMU)” outline nine new priority legislative actions to solve the EU’s long-term cross-border investment challenge
Letter from Brussels: EU seeks to avert Brexit arbitrage
Strong words on Brexit are flying in political circles. But behind the theatre, concerns about the future of London’s fund management sector are emerging