All Country Report articles – Page 52
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Country Report
Nordic Region: Going long
Sweden, with stable finances and a debt-to-GDP ratio of under 33% is an attractive safe haven for many investors. However, precisely these low debt levels have led to reduced need for longer-dated issuance, currently only 5.6% of debt outstanding. Jonathan Williams looks at reactions to the country’s recent 20-year bond exchange
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Country Report
Germany: Two anniversaries and a critique
Mercer’s November 2011 summary of German corporate pension provision notes that “….supplementary pension plans… typically either adopt a book reserving approach, with or without segregated assets, or an insured pensions approach”. That’s diplomatic language for “not widespread with too little funding”, a situation that contributes to Germany ranking eleventh out ...
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Country Report
Germany: Ten years of master KAG – an interim assessment
Clemens Schuerhoff and Hans-Jürgen Dannheisig draw on their experience in specialist consulting to assess the achievements and challenges for master KAGs in Germany
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Country Report
Germany: Providers of liquidity
As banks are withdrawing from project financing in real estate and infrastructure, Versorgungswerke like the BVK are stepping in and actively seeking investment partners, finds Barbara Ottawa
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Country Report
Germany: Are Pensionsfonds maturing?
Klaus Stiefermann, Sabine Mahnert and Dr Cornelia Schmid argue that a few regulatory adjustments could greatly improve occupational pensions
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Country Report
Germany: No-man’s- land
Nina Röhrbein analyses how the current financial and interest rate environment is affecting German pension funds’ asset allocation
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Country Report
Germany: Navigating through stormy weather
When it comes to asset allocation, German pension funds are under increasing pressure from various sources, writes Torsten Köpke
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Country Report
Austria: Focus on re-emerging Europe
Austrian institutions are finding new ways of dealing with low interest rates but are still waiting for reform, writes Barbara Ottawa
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Country Report
The Netherlands: Sustainable after the crisis?
Pierre Akkermans outlines recent pension developments in the Dutch pension system
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Country Report
The Netherlands: Big is beautiful – up to a point
Mariska van der Westen and Miranda Schoutsen report on the growing trend of Dutch pension fund consolidation. What is the optimum size for a pension scheme?
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Country Report
Belgium: Change on the way
Challenges in the form of regulation and lower expected returns mean Belgian pension funds must seek economies of scale and improved governance, writes Karel Stroobants
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Country Report
Belgium: Working longer
An Van Damme analyses Belgium’s attempt to raise the age of retirement through incentives rather than legislative decree
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Country Report
The Netherlands: The bigger, the better?
Pension fund consolidation is generally welcomed in the belief that big equals beautiful. Our sister publication, IPNederland conducted an in-depth analysis based on comprehensive data on Dutch pension funds
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Country Report
The Netherlands: ‘Modular’ management gains ground
In the Netherlands, the classic model of fiduciary management has been losing ground since the crisis of 2008. Trustee boards are taking back control. André de Vos reports
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Country Report
The Netherlands: Reforms on track
With as much as 40% of the Dutch population likely to face retirement benefit cuts of 1-3% from next year, the issue of pension provision has become a top priority in the portfolio of Minister Henk Kamp. He presides over the department of social affairs and labour, “but from the ...
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Country Report
The Netherlands: Pensions turmoil
Changes to Dutch pensions could mean greater interest in DC structures, such as premium pension institutions (PPIs), argue Gerard Roelofs and Michel Iglesias del Sol
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Country Report
Belgium: Clarity after deadlock
After more than a year of political deadlock, Belgium’s new government has pensions in its sights. Christine Senior reports
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Country Report
Ireland: Beyond bailout
Ireland should not lose its perspective on long-term issues like pensions, argues Jerry Moriarty
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Country Report
Ireland: Borrowing to buy
Will vendor finance get pension funds investing in the Irish property market? Shayla Walmsley reports
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Country Report
Ireland: Work extension
Employers will need to consider the impact of the change in state pension age on their HR policy and occupational pension schemes, writes Aisling Kennedy
