All Features articles – Page 222
-
Features
Keeping in with the rating agencies
For companies that depend on the bond markets for financing, the importance of their credit rating cannot be overstated. A satisfactory credit rating in this context means at least single A (the lowest ‘investment grade’ rating) but many issuers aim to achieve AA and a few are AAA. The choice ...
-
Features
Asset allocation game
The asset allocation game was chaired by Karel Stroobants of Akkerman Stroobants in Brussels and focused on how the imaginary ‘Easy Going’ pension fund should handle its asset allocation, on which the attendees were invited to vote. Six asset management executives - Darrell Riley of T Rowe Price, Craig Scholl ...
-
Features
Allocation gap for alternatives
Ever since Gary Brinson’s 1986 publication of a paper demonstrating that asset allocation is the dominant factor in determining the return of a portfolio, strategic asset allocation has been accepted as important. When it comes, however, to including alternative asset classes in an overall asset allocation framework, the industry is ...
-
Features
Positive approach to New Year
IPE asked pension funds in three countries – Germany, Italy and Norway – the same question, ‘What do you hope will happen in 2006, and what do you fear?’ Here are their answers: Dirk Lepelmeier, head of investments at Nordrheinische Ärtzeversorgung (NAEV), which has an AUM of €7.5bn “The ...
-
Features
Corporates aware of 'financial risk'
Treasurers at UK companies may be aware of the call for matching assets to liabilities, but putting this into investment practice is another matter altogether. According to a survey by Mercer Human Resource Consulting, nearly half of treasurers and CFOs at British companies believed investors would prefer them to follow ...
-
Features
Time to take back control
The UK local authority pension fund sector1 has changed enormously over the years and today is characterised by increasing oversight, market complexity and externally managed investment strategies. Once renowned for its in-house approach to investing, the sector has long since delegated active control over the investment process to consulting firms, ...
-
Features
Portability: benefit or burden?
In October 2005 the European Commission published a draft directive on the portability of occupational pension rights in the EU. (Like all other directives, the requirements would be considered minimum standards; member states could maintain or create more favourable conditions for employees.) The Commission has always promoted the freedom of ...
