Top stories
PFZW unveils 50% carbon reduction target for 2030
The Dutch healthcare scheme has also for the first time formulated CO2 reduction targets for its real estate, infrastructure and private equity investments
UK firefighters win judicial review over pension costs
FBU issued formal pleadings to the high court, with other unions including Unite and GMB
ATP, AMF, AP funds and Folksam back Northvolt in $1.1bn financing
Large Nordic pension funds up their investments in Swedish battery maker as it seeks to boost production
Rabobank pension fund indexes pensions by 6.2%
The pension scheme is the first Dutch fund to provide indexation based on this year’s inflation figure
Switzerland roundup: Parliamentary committee to tackle second pillar reform
Plus: Cabinet recommends a vote for first pillar reform in referendum; Compenswiss to change accounting standards
IOSCO to rule on suitability of ISSB standards within months
Regulators will decide either late this year or early next year whether to endorse the International Sustainability Standards Board’s (ISSB) reporting standards, Ashley Alder, chair of the International Organization of Securities Commissions’s (IOSCO) board, has revealed.
Spanish funds get back to reality with 2.8% returns to Q1 2022
In Q1 the best performance within alternatives came from commodities and infrastructure
KLP joins carbon accounting group, saying collaboration is key
Norwegian municipal pensions heavyweight subscribes to Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF)
IIGCC calls for ‘ambitious, speedy’ resolutions on key EU climate files
CEO writes to ministers, leaders ahead of EU Council energy and environment meetings
‘Painful’ private equity fees are hard to avoid
The Netherlands’ €551bn ($576bn) civil service scheme ABP paid a record €2.8bn in performance fees to private equity managers in 2021, prompting the fund’s president Harmen van Wijnen to announce an external investigation to assess ABP’s rising asset management costs. The €277.5bn healthcare scheme PFZW paid €1.26bn in performance fees to private equity last year, accounting for two thirds of total asset management costs.
Asset owners need to find the best stock pickers
For pension funds, an asset manager search is a high-stakes exercise. Get it wrong and the scheme could be saddled with an underperforming manager for an extended period of time, dragging down returns and potentially impacting member outcomes.
Important role for securities services firms in ESG metrics
The focus on environment, social and governance (ESG) or sustainability investing is almost always on the front office. Fund flows, strategies and research have been centre stage. Often forgotten are the asset-servicing firms working in the wings developing solutions to help their clients evaluate, validate and comply with rules and regulations, particularly in Europe.
Norway needs another pensions overhaul
It’s official – Norway’s state pension system needs another overhaul. The Pension Commission published its hefty report in June arguing for changes to make it socially sustainable – raising age limits, pegging minimum benefits to wage growth and shielding disability pensions from the effects of life expectancy adjustment.
Let’s not get carried away about ESG ratings
Elon Musk’s reaction to Tesla dropping out of the S&P ESG 500 index and the publication of a high-profile paper on the ‘Aggregate Confusion’ of ESG ratings have helped trigger a renewed discussion about ESG ratings. At a time when the European Commission and UK rule-makers weigh potential regulatory action, it is important to be clear about what the problem is that needs to be solved and for whom.
The cost of high fees
Asset owners’ never-ending quest for better management fees is now at its peak.
How to bridge a most obvious pension investment gap?
Investment luminaries were recently invited by the CFA Institute to give their opinion on the financial system in a publication to mark the quarter century of the institute’s research award to commemorate Jim Vertin.
Viewpoint: Where now for the stock/bond correlation?
This key portfolio parameter may be changing due to challenging market conditions
Norway needs another pensions overhaul
It’s official – Norway’s state pension system needs another overhaul. The Pension Commission published its hefty report in June arguing for changes to make it socially sustainable – raising age limits, pegging minimum benefits to wage growth and shielding disability pensions from the effects of life expectancy adjustment.
Let’s not get carried away about ESG ratings
Elon Musk’s reaction to Tesla dropping out of the S&P ESG 500 index and the publication of a high-profile paper on the ‘Aggregate Confusion’ of ESG ratings have helped trigger a renewed discussion about ESG ratings. At a time when the European Commission and UK rule-makers weigh potential regulatory action, it is important to be clear about what the problem is that needs to be solved and for whom.
Credit: Inflation and the bond markets
Risks look likely to be building in credit as central banks wreak collateral damage on economies in their bid to tame inflation
Quant managers: back with new weapons
As investors show renewed interest in value strategies, quant managers look for better uses of alternative data
Quant managers: Quoniam’s Nigel Cresswell
Liam Kennedy spoke to Quoniam Asset Management’s CEO about the challenges and opportunities faced by a quant boutique
Black Rock
People moves: Gisselbrecht joins Patrizia to strengthen value-add capabilities
Ivanhoé Cambridge, Internos Global Investors, M7 Real Estate, M&G, AXA IM-RA
