All IPE articles in July 2009 (Online) – Page 8
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NewsReal estate dominates in alternative assets
[17:00 CEST 06-07] GLOBAL – Real estate investments still make up over half of the alternative assets managed by external managers on behalf of pension funds, and despite the economic downturn, suggests a study conducted by Watson Wyatt.
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NewsABN Amro limited losses through rebalancing
[16:00 CEST 06-07] NETHERLANDS - The €8.8bn pension fund of ABN Amro managed to limit its losses to 1.6% in 2008 thanks to the introduction of ‘dynamic rebalancing policy’.
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NewsSwiss gov’t looks abroad for supervision
[15:45 CEST 06-07] SWITZERLAND – The Swiss government is searching for researchers to conduct a comparative study of pension supervision and to check the applicability of Solvency II as part of a project to collect ideas for pensions reform.
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NewsNorth Yorks funding level drops to 35%
[15:00 CEST 06-07] UK – North Yorkshire Pension Fund saw its funding level drop to 35% in March 2009 compared with 68.8% two years earlier.
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NewsIrish investment strategy 'too risky'
[14:15 CEST 06-07] IRELAND – The investment strategy of many Irish pension funds was "too risky" and is why around 90% of schemes failed to meet the funding standard last year, the Pensions Board has claimed, and why some are unable to meet liabilities of existing pensioners if the scheme ...
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NewsEuropean pensions see profound changes - EIAMS 2009
[10:00 CEST 06-07] EUROPE - European institutional investors are changing the way they allocate assets and interact with external service providers, according to the latest European Institutional Asset Management Survey, conducted by IPE.
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NewsPension scheme investment hits £2bn in Q1
[17:05 CEST 03-07] UK – Net investment by self-administered pension funds increased by £14.8bn over the first quarter of 2009 to show a net result of £2bn (€2.33bn), the Office of National Statistics (ONS) has revealed.
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NewsKenny accepts another term as Ombudsman
[17:00 CEST 03-07] IRELAND – Paul Kenny has been reappointed for another term as the Pensions Ombudsman, the government has confirmed.
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NewsLancashire fund drops below £3bn
[17:00 CEST 03-07] UK – Lancashire County Council has revealed the value of its pension fund dropped more than £730m in the year to March 2009 to £2.93bn (€3.43bn).
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NewsDentists' scheme extracted 3.7% return in 2008
[16:55 CEST 03-07] NETHERLANDS - The €1.3bn pension fund for dentists and dentist-specialists (SPF) returned 3.7% on investments last year, thanks to an extensive derivatives-based hedge.
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NewsIrish performance sounded a ‘flat’ note in June
[16:45 CEST 03-07] IRELAND – Rubicon Consulting has delivered an interpretation of Irish group managed pension fund performance which is lower than calculated by rival consultancies, as the firm has claimed funds just skimmed a positive return in June.
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NewsUWV reviews its asset allocation
[15:45 CEST 03-07] NETHERLANDS – The €3.1bn pension fund of UWV, the Dutch employment and benefits agency, has substantially shifted the focus of its asset allocation and is considering further changes in light of recent market turbulence.
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NewsPGGM to pursue ESG terms for real estate
[15:30 CEST 03-07] NETHERLANDS – PGGM Investments, the Dutch pensions asset manager, will in future scrutinise all real estate investments under environmental, social and governance (ESG) terms as part of its strategy to encourage all companies to abide by responsible investment principles.
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NewsESG reaching out beyond plain equities
[14:00 CEST 03-07] GLOBAL – While the financial crisis may have slowed the development of traditional financial products, it seems to have encouraged new environmental, social and governance (ESG) products.
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NewsIrish managed funds post fourth consecutive gain
[17:05 CEST 02-07] IRELAND – Irish managed pension funds returned an average of 0.5% in June, resulting in an overall positive six months for the sector, Hewitt Associates has revealed.
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NewsCLG consults on funding target changes to LGPS
[17:05 CEST 02-07] UK – The government is proposing two alternative approaches for local government pension schemes (LGPS) to meet solvency requirements from the 2010 valuation instead of relying on a 100% funding target, an informal consultation from the department for communities and local government (CLG) has revealed.
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NewsDirective could increase systemic risk, warns ex-SEC chairman
[17:00 CEST 02-07] GLOBAL - Harvey Pitt, chairman of the SEC from 2001-2003 and during the 9/11 and Enron years, has warned that the European Commission’s draft directive on alternative investment fund managers could end up exacerbating the systemic risks it is supposed to regulate if it leads to hedge ...
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NewsPrivate equity 'well ahead' of regulatory thinking - State Street
[16:55 CEST 02-07] GLOBAL - Investors remain committed to private equity and are already benefiting from a “fundamental shift” in power away from general partners (GPs), according to State Street.
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NewsTrustees should be involved in refinancing deals - Mercer
[16:45 CEST 02-07] GLOBAL – Mercer has claimed banks and other lenders should “give greater consideration” to the demands of defined benefit pension scheme trustees when firms are looking to negotiate restructuring or refinancing terms.
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NewsRabobank agrees new terms with Syntrus Achmea
[13:30 CEST 02-07] NETHERLANDS - The €11.7bn pension fund of Rabobank will maintain its contract with pension provider Syntrus Achmea, after agreeing new conditions for improved service.
