All IPE articles in December 2005 (Magazine) – Page 4

  • Features

    The poisoned chalice?

    December 2005 (Magazine)

    Germany’s got a new minister responsible for pensions – which is interesting for two reasons. First is the scale of the problem, then there is the minister himself. Out of the turmoil of the election and the horse-trading behind the grand coalition, the SPD’s Franz Muentefering has emerged in the ...

  • Features

    Structured CDOs: keeping track of the overlap?

    December 2005 (Magazine)

    The growth of structured credit markets in Europe and across the world seems pretty much unstoppable. According to the British Banking Association, at the end of 2003 the global market for credit derivatives (excluding asset swaps) accounted for $3.5 trn (e2.9trn) and could reach $8.2 trn by 2006. Collateralised debt ...

  • Features

    Spain catches PE fever

    December 2005 (Magazine)

    Compared with the rest of Europe, Spain’s involvement with private equity has soared over the past year or two. Last year, according to the European Venture Capital Association. private equity investment equalled 0.246% of the country’s gross domestic product, placing it fifth in the European rankings, ahead of countries such ...

  • Features

    Confidence and diversity builds portfolio that protects

    December 2005 (Magazine)

    Given its innovative and efficient approach to building its portfolios, it’s no wonder Inarcassa continues to be one of Italy’s leading pension funds and has won the IPE Award 2005 for portfolio construction. The objective behind the €3bn self-employed engineers’ and architects’ fund is generating maximum returns with minimum risk, ...

  • Features

    ING's CEE boost

    December 2005 (Magazine)

  • Features

    Limits set by risk budget help to boost funding rating

    December 2005 (Magazine)

    Over the past year, Danish pension fund ATP has amended its approach to liability-driven investments, splitting the investment portfolio into separate alpha, beta, and liability hedge portfolios. This approach has won it the themed award for risk management. Risk management has been a cornerstone in the fund’s investment management for ...

  • Features

    Henkel to issue bonds for pensions

    December 2005 (Magazine)

  • Features

    Focus on liabilities that safeguards future benefits

    December 2005 (Magazine)

    To win an individual country or themed IPE Award for pension fund excellence sets you up as something of a benchmark. To walk away with overall Best European Pension Fund Award 2005, however, means you are defining your industry. There can be no doubt Denmark’s ATP fund won this highly ...

  • Features

    Belgium sets IORP January deadline

    December 2005 (Magazine)

  • Features

    Behind the curve

    December 2005 (Magazine)

    September was a good month for funds of funds all round, with the Eurekahedge indices returning upwards of 1% across almost all strategies and regions. The month saw a departure (positive) from August’s shallower returns, and a return to the more robust pre-August rising trend. The Eurekahedge Global Fund of ...

  • Features

    Basque fund develops venturesome role

    December 2005 (Magazine)

    Geroa EPSV is a defined contribution pension fund which was set up to complement the Spanish state pension scheme. It covers employees in Gipuzkoa, one of the three provinces making up the Basque Country region. The fund has 100,000 contributing members and is currently worth about €500m. Geroa was started ...

  • Features

    Balancing risk and return to protect value of benefits

    December 2005 (Magazine)

    In recent years, liability-side issues have had a very substantial influence on Danish pension fund ATP’s investments. During the past year, therefore, ATP has radically changed its approach to liability-driven investments. Its work in splitting the investment portfolio into separate alpha, beta and liability hedge portfolios has helped ATP carry ...

  • Features

    Benefiting from backlash

    December 2005 (Magazine)

    In the wake of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigation of potential conflicts of interest in consulting firms, small independent consultants are finding themselves in vogue – and they are determined to hold on to their position in the long term by proving that they offer superior service. Since ...

  • Features

    Don't look back

    December 2005 (Magazine)

    The Finnish pension system is still over-regulated and not structured in way that meets the long-term interests of pension funds. Lobbying has had some impact but as yet this is insufficient . It appears that the market has yet to convince its regulator that the idea that taking a forward-looking ...

  • Features

    Outsourcing maestro axed

    December 2005 (Magazine)

    The sudden removal of veteran executive Ramy Bourgi and head of securities Neil Henderson from their posts at JPMorgan Worldwide Securities Services (WSS) was perhaps inevitable following the long telegraphed collapse of the custodian’s flagship outsourcing arrangement with Schroders Investment Management. That said, given the retirement of Tom Swayne, head ...