All IPE articles in December 2002 (Magazine) – Page 6
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Features
Recognition as market leader highlights drive for
What the judges said: ”Sophisticated and well defined technically.” The judges noted that AP3 had made a clear statement of the problem, which they said was “very difficult to solve”. AP3, however, according to the judges, had come up with “innovative concepts” and an “honesty” in recognising the limitations of ...
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Features
Keeping their edge
Risk is a growing problem that has yet to be properly addressed by many cash investors. At the bottom of the economic cycle, investors would usually be expected to reduce risk, as rising corporate defaults and business failures significantly increase the chances of a loss of capital. But, because of ...
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Features
The end of pension schemes?
The Irish regulatory authority, the Pensions Board, has begun to examine submissions from providers of Personal Retirement Savings Accounts (PRSAs). PRSAs are a new type of investment vehicle, introduced under the 2002 Finance Act. They are intended to be a cheap, flexible and portable alternative for people who would not ...
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Features
Enhanced yield strategies
New lows in global short-term interest rates have rendered investing problematic for yield-seeking investors. While declining rates are good for bond prices, they are not very welcome news for the many investors who rely on a stable or growing stream of income. Weak global economic growth, lurching equity markets and ...
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Features
Europe is going specialist
With global financial markets continuing their struggle, many European pension funds are taking a closer look at their portfolios, and an increasing number are switching their assets into specialist mandates. A recent study by Mercer Human Resource Consulting revealed a 64% increase in specialist mandates in Europe over the last ...
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Features
The standardisation of Europe
One of more comforting features of pension funds around Europe is their national differences but with the forthcoming adoption of International Accounting Standards this is likely to change. This change will arise as the European Union has adopted a regulation requiring publicly traded companies in the European Union to apply ...
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Features
External recognition of quality of revamped plan
The Dublin-based Electricity Supply Board Pension Scheme (ESB) ESB is delighted to have won an IPE Award for the second consecutive year. Last year it was for investment strategy but this year the ESB has picked up the prestigious country leader award for fund structure. “In a defined contribution (DC) ...
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Features
PBU works out to 'get fit'
The Pensionskassen for Børne- og Ungdomspædagoger (PBU) scheme has more than 72,000 members with premium benefits of DKK1.3bn (e175m) a year. Before the end of 2000, PBU had been wholly administered by Sampension. At that time, PBU had been imbued with a defensive attitude, costs that were deemed far too ...
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Features
Very singular focus
It’s been three years now since US west coast bond specialist Pimco was bought out by German giant, Allianz, and around a year since the firm began digesting the subsequent tie-up between Allianz and Dresdner. The firm could be forgiven for feeling a little sluggish on the back of such ...
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Features
Thoroughly 'modern' funds reaps rewards for the second time
What the judges said: “They are a serious player and are developing their strategy. In particular they have developed their reporting system in co-operation with an outside specialist and it is very modern by Finnish standards, for example providing for analysis of performance attribution. Their risk management system is also ...
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Features
Signal for other funds to take same steps
The Basel-based Novartis Pension Fund, the pension scheme of pharmaceuticals and health-care group Novartis, believes it was the novel idea to ‘monetise’ its real estate portfolios that led the IPE Awards judges to pick it as country group investment strategy winner for Switzerland. One judge commended it on the grounds ...
