Latest from IPE Magazine – Page 429
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Special ReportOutperformance claims in doubt
Recent research into the French SRI market finds no evidence of outperformance, says
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Asset Class ReportsA nuclear winter?
Managers are working out when and how to position their portfolios to benefit from an eventual economic recovery,finds Joseph Mariathasan
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Special Report
Take a position
The UK buyout market is providing good opportunities for consultants with the right experience. But there is room for more players. Gill Wadsworth reports
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Special Report
New advice rules
Nina Röhrbein asks consultants how they see their relationship with investors changing to meet the challenges of a new financial environment
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Special ReportIn the mix
Asset managers hire specialists dedicated to getting closer to them, their forays into multi-management have been the source of interest and controversy. Liam Kennedy assesses the new mix of services in the investment consulting industry
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Country ReportFunds see risk in a different light
Lessons are being learned from the crisis and painful questions are being asked. Mariska van der Westen examines what they are
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Country ReportWeathering the storm
Although Dutch pension funds have all seen their funding ratios decline in the wake of the credit crisis, some have managed to limit the damage. Three funds share their strategies with Mariska van der Westen and Leen Preesman
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Country ReportBoost for new formations
The financial freeze is certain to speed up the trend towards consolidation in the pensions arena as costs soar and companies seek to hand over pension liabilities, finds Mariska van der Westen
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Country ReportOpting not to rebalance
Pension funds see their key asset managers forced to ask for government bailouts and many funds are holding new contributions in cash, finds George Coats
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Country ReportRefocusing on the first pillar
Belgium’s new pensions minister has set up a National Pensions Conference to re-examine the whole issue. But she is not an admirer of the second pillar, finds George Coats
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Features
Uprating benefits
Recent falls in interest rates have also affected pension funds that enhance members’ benefits through indexing or guarantees. Gail Moss charts how funds in the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland are affected
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FeaturesMake the portfolio sweat
Liam Kennedy spoke to the BVK’s Daniel Just and André Heimrich about the progress they are making with their diversification programme
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Features
In-house tactics
Nina Röhrbein spoke to Timo Ritakallio, deputy CEO and head of investments at Ilmarinen, Finland’s oldest mutual insurance company, about how its investment strategy is coping with the financial crisis
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FeaturesDeath of common sense
In his final article on a new report, Amin Rajan concludes that without a sea change in the existing practices, pension funds will continue to stumble from one crisis to another
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Features
The OCI trap
At its 23 January meeting, the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) voted to scrap the options in IAS19 that allow pension plan sponsors to defer the recognition of what are often referred to as actuarial gains and losses in a entity’s profit or loss account.
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Features
Returns: looking bleak
Evidence is now emerging of just how tough a year 2008 was for pension funds. Individual schemes have begun to report their investment results and the division between those who favour equities over bonds and liability-driven investment strategies is becoming all too apparent.
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FeaturesConvertibles: why now?
Convertible bonds as an asset class had one of the worst years in their history in 2008.
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Features
How convertible securities are valued
Convertibles’ hybrid nature presents valuation challenges and trading opportunities, says Joseph Mariathasan
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FeaturesInvestor case study: APG
The Dutch giant is not about to turn away from convertibles as a way to tap into equity upside while retaining some downside protection in a falling market, says Lynn Strongin Dodds
