All IPE articles in March 2009 (Magazine) – Page 3

  • Features

    The old ways are out

    March 2009 (Magazine)

    Convertible bond issues have been thin on the ground in this recession, but sooner or later even highly-rated large-caps may tap the market for refinancing, says Lynn Strongin Dodds

  • Opting not to rebalance
    Country Report

    Opting not to rebalance

    March 2009 (Magazine)

    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

  • Special Report

    Take a position

    March 2009 (Magazine)

    The UK buyout market is providing good opportunities for consultants with the right experience. But there is room for more players. Gill Wadsworth reports

  • Strategy refuses to be written off
    Features

    Strategy refuses to be written off

    March 2009 (Magazine)

    Unexpected market events may have once more severely affected convertible arbitrage but the strategy continues to hold attractions for institutional investors, finds David White

  • Weathering the storm
    Country Report

    Weathering the storm

    March 2009 (Magazine)

    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

  • Big in Japan – ready for Europe?
    Interviews

    Big in Japan – ready for Europe?

    March 2009 (Magazine)

    Having been through its own painful credit crunch during the ‘lost decade’ of the 1990s, Japan entered the current global version with government, corporate and household debt at relatively healthy levels.

  • “A long-term average interest rate will improve the solvency position of Dutch funds”
    Opinion Pieces

    “A long-term average interest rate will improve the solvency position of Dutch funds”

    March 2009 (Magazine)

    The pension sector is in dire straits. In the Netherlands, a majority of funds show a funding ratio lower than ever, indicating that they cannot fulfil their liabilities in the long term (their funding ratio is below 100%).

  • Opinion Pieces

    Physician, heal thyself

    March 2009 (Magazine)

    Are pension funds victims of the current financial meltdown or are they part of the problem?

  • Features

    Bearish sentiments dominate

    March 2009 (Magazine)

    Our Sovereign Lord the King chargeth and commandeth all persons, being assembled, immediately to disperse themselves, and peaceably to depart to their habitations, or to their lawful business, upon the pains contained in the Act made in the first year of King George, for preventing tumults and riotous assemblies. God ...

  • A horror year for the German fund market
    Features

    A horror year for the German fund market

    March 2009 (Magazine)

    The year 2008 will go down in history as the worst ever for the German fund business. The financial crisis created not only created a catastrophic climate on the financial markets but with it a poor environment for inflows to retail mutual funds and institutional Spezialfonds.

  • Special Report

    Microfinance reaches crossroads

    March 2009 (Magazine)

    Not yet significantly hit by the global financial crisis, there are signs that the microfinance sector may be about to enter a period of slower growth, finds Nina Röhrbein

  • Country Report

    Coping with stress

    March 2009 (Magazine)

    Life insurers are France’s largest institutional investors. Alain Lemoine assesses how they are responding to the current crisis

  • Start of consolidation wave?
    Country Report

    Start of consolidation wave?

    March 2009 (Magazine)

    The SGAM/CAAM merger is expected to trigger a shakeout among French asset managers. George Coats examines why it is happening and what the new landscape might look like

  • A Napoleonic view of sovereign wealth
    Country Report

    A Napoleonic view of sovereign wealth

    March 2009 (Magazine)

    Last October president Nicolas Sarkozy surprised a European Parliament meeting in Strasbourg by announcing that France was to have a sovereign wealth fund. Subsequently, government officials spoke of a €100bn fund.

  • Country Report

    Forced to settle for a draw

    March 2009 (Magazine)

    The FRR has looked vulnerable for some time and the market downturn has not helped its cause. But it has fought off the immediate threats to its future, finds George Coats

  • Country Report

    Flying a flag for the Perco

    March 2009 (Magazine)

    In 2004 Christel Bapt and Benoît Magnier saw an opening in the market. At the time they were both working for bfinance, but they decided to branch out on their own and formed Altedia Investment Consulting.

  • Country Report

    RAPF: allocating for the long term

    March 2009 (Magazine)

    The past year has been a busy one for RAFP, the €6.3bn French civil service supplementary pension scheme that was established in 2005

  • Country Report

    Missed opportunity

    March 2009 (Magazine)

    Employee savings plans could have been the next big thing in French financial services but they have failed to take off. Alain Lemoine examines why

  • It’s all a matter of timing
    Country Report

    It’s all a matter of timing

    March 2009 (Magazine)

    Market downturns and French pension reforms appear to co-incide. George Coats assesses the issues

  • Features

    New rules

    March 2009 (Magazine)

    Gail Moss assesses key regulatory and legislative changes across Europe