EUROPE – The first ever pan-European awards to recognise pension scheme excellence in investment and fund structure/administration has reached its preliminary stages by naming the ‘Country Leaders’ in each category before they go ahead to a glittering Brussels ceremony to find the continent’s most professional funds.

The IPE Awards, inaugurated by Investment & Pensions Europe magazine and judged by a prestigious panel of over 60 pensions experts across Europe, has named 25 of the ‘Country Leaders’, representing pension funds in 13 countries, as being the leading lights in their field.

Amongst the funds selected by the judges as winners in the ‘Investment Strategy’ section is Europe’s largest pension plan, ABP in the Netherlands, alongside Spain’s Fonditel and Aventis in France. (See table below).

The ‘Country Leaders’ shortlist for ‘Fund Structure & Administration’, includes Belgium’s Belgacom plan, Diageo’s UK fund and the Nestlé scheme in Switzerland (See table below).

The country winners now go forward to be judged for the title of Europe’s best scheme in each category at the IPE-Awards & Dinner in the Hotel Le Plaza, Brussels, on November 27.

The 25 Country Leaders will receive their IPE-Awards in front of an audience of more than 100 senior European pension fund executives as well as a host of industry leaders.

The highlight of the evening will be the announcement and presentation of the ‘European Leaders Awards’. The winners of these awards will be selected from the Country Leaders Awards winners by a specially invited panel of judges.

Further information on the IPE-Awards can be obtained from Tony Hay:
Tel: +44 (0)20 7261 0666
Fax: +44 (0)20 7261 1666
http://www.ipe-awards.com