Latest on Regulation & Reform – Page 390
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Features
Sovereign funds under pressure
Sovereign pension funds (SPFs) have emerged in recent years as part of governments’ moves to ensure they had enough financing to cover state pension obligations without relying on pay-as-you-go tax schemes. In recent months, however, two of Europe’s largest government schemes - Norway’s Government Pension Fund - Global and the ...
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News
BNP Paribas and Belgium reach Fortis agreement
[16:45 CET 30-01] BELGIUM/FRANCE – Belgian-Dutch bancassurer Fortis said today BNP Paribas, France’s largest bank, and the Belgian state had agreed on revised terms on the transactions concluded in October last year.
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Norway rules out investing in gold mining giant
[16:40 CET 30-01] NORWAY – The ministry of finance has excluded two companies from the investment universe of the NOK 2.090trn (€240bn) Government Pension Fund – Global, over concerns relating to cluster munitions and environmental damage.
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Zurich to set up new Royal Mail DC scheme
[16:10 CET 30-01] UK – Royal Mail has appointed Zurich to provide a new defined contribution (DC) scheme starting in April 2009.
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EDHEC sees banking solution in Solvency II-type funding
[16:30 CET 29-01] EUROPE – Applying Solvency II flexible funding rules to banks would have substantially reduced the need for recent government monetary support to the sector, academics from French business school EDHEC have claimed.
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Pensionskassen to be reformed
[16:55 CET 29-01] AUSTRIA – The Austrian government has put in place a reform commission today to discuss changes to the laws on pensionskassen, at the same time as pensioners are demonstrating in Vienna.
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State fund to boost economy through corporate debt
[16:20 CET 28-01] FINLAND – The ministry of finance is to allow the State Pension Fund VER to purchase commercial paper in “significant and solid Finnish companies” as part of a series of proposals to help boost the Finnish financial markets.
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News
Talking Point: The future of DB schemes
TALKING POINT – Research from the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) - suggesting 52%, or 1,000, open defined benefit (DB) schemes could close as a result of the impact of the economic crisis - has raised a debate on whether DB schemes can be saved.
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Finland not 'prepared' for ageing challenges
[15:45 CET 26-01] FINLAND – Finland is still not "adequately prepared" to meet the challenges of an ageing population despite recent pension reforms, according to the Economic Council of Finland.
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News
Complaints rise 43% in 2008
[15:45 CET 23-01] IRELAND – Preliminary figures suggest complaints to the Irish Pensions Ombudsman increased by 43% in 2008, primarily driven by issues over the whereabouts of contributions.
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1,000 open DB plans could switch to DC [updated]
[15:00 CET 23-01] UK – More than 50% of open defined benefit (DB) pension schemes could close to new members as a result of the economic crisis, claims new research by the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF).
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NewsIrish MFS needs increase from 'junk' bond level
[16:00 CET 22-01] IRELAND – The minimum funding standard (MFS) for defined benefit (DB) pensions needs to be revised "as a matter of urgency" as it provides the same level of asset backing as a 'junk' bond, the Statistical & Social Inquiry Society of Ireland (SSISI) has warned.
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DNB to decide on more rescue measures
[14:30 CET 22-01] NETHERLANDS – Dutch pensions minister Piet Hein Donner has said the Dutch central bank and pension regulator DNB will decide in the second half of February whether additional measures need to be taken to help pension funds survive the credit crunch.
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News
Lithuania overrides veto on contribution cut
[13:00 CET 22-01] LITHUANIA – The Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, has overruled a presidential veto of a law that cuts contributions to second pillar pension funds to 3% of a salary from the 5.5% to be paid in 2009 and 2010.
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Second pillar faith not withered yet
[16:30 CET 21-01] CEE – The current credit crisis has yet to damage people’s faith in the recently introduced funded pension systems in the CEE, suggested delegates at a conference on the region today.
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Pensions sector rejects recovery term age proposal
[15:00 CET 21-01] NETHERLANDS - The Dutch pension sector has revealed it is far from enthusiastic about proposals from the ministry of Social Affairs which would give underfunded pension funds leeway on the deadline for recovery plans if they agree to raise the official retirement age of 65.
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Swedish debt office highlights foreign currency demand
[13:00 CET 21-01] SWEDEN – Riksgälden, the Swedish National Debt Office (SNDO), has reported a strong demand for a new foreign currency bond, valued at around SEK 16bn (€1.5bn), the first to be issued by the organisation in two years.
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News
SPK awards IT contracts for pension reform
[15:15 CET 20-01] NORWAY – Statens Pensjonskasse (SPK), the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, has appointed Accenture and Steria to develop a new system for the pension fund portfolio as part of the pension reform project.
