IPE's Nordic Region Coverage – Page 188
-
NewsFinnish insurer's first half assets make slow progress over Q1
FINLAND – Varma's growth slowed in the first half of the year, despite strong returns from private and unlisted equity, as well as hedge funds.
-
NewsCost-cutting sees Danish pension provider weather tough markets
DENMARK – Profits at Danish pension provider Danica showed strong growth at the half-year stage, with business boosted by revenue from Norway and Sweden rather than the domestic market.
-
News
Swedish roundup: SPP, Storebrand, SEB
SWEDEN – Swedish insurer SPP lost SEK206m (€21.7m) in the second quarter, while SPP’s parent, Storebrand, lost NOK39m (€4.8m). Meanwhile, operating profit at SEB Trygg Liv came to SEK349m over the same period.
-
NewsIcelandic pension funds recover from financial crisis, says OECD
GLOBAL – Pension funds reported strong returns last year, with Icelandic funds recovering all losses made during 2008, according to a report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
-
News
Finland's Varma to take on healthcare pension
FINLAND – PlusTerveys, a private healthcare provider, is the latest company to transfer its pension provision to Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Company.
-
News
Icelandic pension assets near €12bn
ICELAND – Net pension fund assets at the end of April increased by ISK16bn (€102m) over the month, following increases in both equity and fixed income investments.
-
News
Industriens gains 15.4% on stocks but uncertainty looms
DENMARK – Industriens Pension, the pension fund for the industrial sector in Denmark, benefited from a 15.4% return on Danish stocks in the first quarter of 2010, with its global equities portfolio delivering half that (7.7%) in total.
-
News
Overseas equities drive up Icelandic pension assets
ICELAND – Net pension fund assets at the end of March increased by approximately ISK44bn to ISK1.846trn (€11.3bn) as the value of foreign equity investments increased, figures from the Central Bank of Iceland have revealed.
-
News
Swedish roundup: KPA, Folksam, Länsförsäkringar, SIFA
SWEDEN - Swedish pension providers have continued to show positive numbers for the first quarter.
-
News
Norway reduces drawdown of oil funds as economy improves
NORWAY – In a revision of Norway's fiscal budget for 2010 the government proposes to reduce the use of petroleum revenues by NOK17bn (€2.18bn) compared to the approved budget as economic activity has picked up.
-
News
Norway’s occupational DB schemes given more time to reform
NORWAY - Defined benefit (DB) occupational pension structures in Norway will be allowed to operate in accordance with existing rules beyond 1 January 2011 when the new legislation for the state old-age pension comes into force.
-
NewsFinnish state pension welcomes EU bail-out
FINLAND - Valtion Eläkerahasto (VER), the Finnish State Pension Fund, has welcomed the €750bn stabilisation package for the EU region, after reporting a first quarter return of 5.3%.
-
NewsSwedish roundup: AP7, solvency levels, Q1 performance, AMF survey
SWEDEN – AP7, the national buffer fund with a mandate to manage assets within the Swedish premium pension system (PPM), will close its premium choice (Premievalsfonden) and default (Premiesparfonden) funds this month and begin managing two new low-cost equity and fixed income funds.
-
News
Finland referred to ECJ over pension tax rules
FINLAND – The European Commission has referred Finland to the European Court of Justice for failing to address legislation that discriminates against foreign pension funds.
-
NewsNorway Global comfortable with Greek debt exposure
NORWAY – The Norway Government Pension Fund Global, which returned 3.9% in the first quarter, has played down concerns about its exposure to bonds "from several heavily-indebted" European governments.
-
News
Swedish and Norwegian business boosts Danica pension premiums
NORDICS – Danica benefited from increased pension premiums in Sweden and Norway during the first quarter, while posting positive returns across its pension products.
-
Country Report
Norway: Active enquiry
The €346bn Norwegian Global Pension Fund lost more than 23% in 2008 but went on to book a stellar 2009 with returns of over 25%. However, transparency also means scrutiny, and an enquiry into active the benefits of active management followed, writes Pirkko Juntunen
-
Country ReportSweden: Liabilities rule
Pirkko Juntunen reviews the activities and performance of Swedish pension funds and companies
-
Country Report
Finland: Temporary rules extend helping hand to long-term plans
An extension of temporary solvency and investment rules has helped pension funds to hold on to their long-term strategies, finds Reeta Paakkinen
-
Country Report
Denmark: Where ATP leads...
The Danish pensions giant is renowned for cutting-edge work in liability-driven investment and separation of alpha and beta. But Martin Steward finds that the reality is different from what the buzzwords imply – and even more pioneering
