FINLAND – The e12bn local government pensions institution responsible for pension cover of Finnish municipal employees has put out to tender an Asia Pacific ex Japan equities mandate worth up to e200m.

The fund is looking for one or two investment managers “capable of managing a portfolio of all country Asia pacific ex Japan equities as a segregated account.”

The total value of the portfolio is expected to be in the range of e100m-e200m.

The deadline for applications is 24 April 2003.

The Finnish local government pensions institution is the biggest employment pensions institution in Finland, when assessed on the basis of the active population insured.

Its current investment strategy comes out at 40% to 60% of investments in listed equities, 35% to 50 in fixed income investments, 10% in real estate and a maximum of 5% in alternative investments.