Latest on Regulation & Reform – Page 363
-
News
Debate on Polish second pillar transfers fails to resolve row
POLAND – The Polish social ministry believes the current second pillar pensions regime is still too expensive, but officials are still struggling to reach a consensus on how to cut these costs.
-
News
Dutch pensions industry warns of 'communications bottleneck'
NETHERLANDS - The Dutch pension sector is becoming increasingly worried about the effectiveness of pensions communication when it comes to explaining new pension contracts to their participants.
-
NewsDutch pension bodies call on government to limit reforms
NETHERLANDS - The Dutch pension fund lobbying organisations have called on a new Dutch government to hold back from adding further pension regulations, as fundamental system changes would be seen as risky to an already under pressure sector.
-
NewsTPR eyes admin and employer covenant as key targets
UK – Pension administration and the employer covenant are two of the key areas of focus for the Pensions Regulator (TPR) in 2010.
-
News
Donner seeks to dissuade from allowing pensioner board members
NETHERLANDS - Social affairs’ minister Piet Hein Donner has advised Parliament against allowing pensioners onto the board of industry-wide pension funds at this time.
-
NewsECJ-triggered Riester changes passed
GERMANY – The German parliament has passed a government bill which will ensure that discrimination against migrant workers receiving Riester subsidies is eliminated and that employee share-ownership becomes more attractive.
-
NewsUK roundup: PPF, Taylor Wimpey, GP Noble fraud charges, ONS
UK – The Pension Protection Fund (PPF) has initiated a search for a panel of infrastructure investment managers and Taylor Wimpey has awarded a global custody mandate for its UK scheme.
-
News
UK regulator to unveil auto-enrollment enforcement strategy
UK – The Pensions Regulator (TPR) is planning to issue a consultation on its enforcement strategy in relation to employer compliance with the 2012 pension reforms later this year.
-
News
UK industry maintains concerns over tax changes
UK – Industry commentators have attacked the lack of any government climbdown over plans to restrict tax relief on pension contributions for higher earners.
-
News
Dutch associations want one-step retirement age jump
NETHERLANDS – If the tax-facilitated retirement age is to be raised it should be carried out in a single step, rather than as a gradual rise, the Dutch pension fund organisations VB, OPF and UvB have argued together with the insurers representative body, VvV.
-
News
UK roundup: DWP on default funds, Northumberland Council and ECM
UK – The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is scrapping plans for a charge cap on default funds in workplace personal pensions (WPPs) following industry feedback, while Northumberland County Council is seeking a UK bond manager for its pension scheme following concerns about its current manager, ECM.
-
News
Irish Ombudsman scrutinises audit failings
IRELAND – Paul Kenny, the Pensions Ombudsman, has warned he intends to place more focus on the actions of auditors when signing off financial accounts in cases where companies have failed to pass on pension contributions deducted from employees' wages.
-
News
French pension contribution period expected to rise
FRANCE - France’s leading pension advisory body is expected to recommend increasing the country’s pension contribution period in an effort to tackle its increasing pension deficit.
-
News
Pension funds must step up engagement - Eumedion
NETHERLANDS - Institutional investors must increase their involvement as long-term shareholders by exercising their voting rights, according to the corporate governance platform for institutional investors Eumedion. They must also engage with companies.
-
News
Imminent EC corporate governance code raises pension hackles
EUROPE – The European Commission is understood to be preparing a green paper on corporate governance in the wake of the financial crisis, but pension fund bodies are concerned that investors will be subject to onerous legislation.
-
News
Audits and financial reporting key issues for investors
UK – Financial reporting by companies should meet the needs of owners, which means that the role of company audits and related disclosure to shareholders are key governance issues, the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF) has claimed.
-
News
MEPs press on with AIFM despite EU postponement
EUROPE – MEPs on the European Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) Committee have continued discussions on a set of draft compromise amendments to the AIFM Directive despite the issue being postponed by the Spanish Presidency of the European Union earlier in the week.
-
News
Swiss pension funds to name managers under tighter disclosure
SWITZERLAND – Pension funds will in future be required to name their asset managers and advisers in their annual reports, as part of a range of structural governance reforms of the mandatory Swiss second pillar pensions regime.
-
News
EC seeks changes to Belgian and French tax rules
BELGIUM – The European Commission has begun the first stage of proceedings against the Belgian and French governments to try and reform their tax terms on pensions.
-
News
IMF calls on Latvia and San Marino to do more on pensions
LATVIA SAN MARINO – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has urged both Latvia and San Marino to make further pension reforms to help tackle fiscal deficits, particularly as Latvia's attempt to reduce pensions last year was overruled in the constitutional court.
