bpfBOUW picks BlackRock for €70bn fiduciary mandate despite climate concerns
The Dutch construction pension fund selects BlackRock as preferred candidate to manage €70bn pension assets under fiduciary management mandate
PFA reshapes investment operation
The number of full-time employees in PFA’s investment department has fallen from 136 in 2020 to 91
EIOPA backs Ireland’s pension consolidation but flags member-protection risks
Ireland’s pension consolidation can improve stability, but EIOPA chair stresses governance, costs and member protection during transition
Austria clears occupational pension reforms for final parliamentary vote
Higher-risk investment pools, pension transfers and greater strategy flexibility feature in proposed occupational pension reforms
LCP calls for defined benefit schemes to rethink de-risking in run-on
DB schemes pursuing run-on should rethink traditional de-risking strategies, which could otherwise destroy long-term value, LCP argues
Pension savers seek clearer picture of infrastructure investments
Research by IFM Investors, NEST and Border to Coast shows 82% of pension savers want more information on infrastructure investment
German pension fund chair voted out after dispute over right-wing posts
Members of Hamburg’s lawyers’ pension fund voted overwhelmingly against re-electing its chair after objecting to social media posts seen as close to AfD positions
Asset owner body calls on private market managers to adopt net zero strategies
The Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance says not enough progress has been made since its first ‘Call to Action’ in 2022
Amundi deepens private markets offering with €620m stake in ICG
Amundi will distribute ICG’s private markets products globally through wealth channels under a new 10-year partnership
People moves: Railpen names trustee board chair
Plus: TPT appoints head of trustee services; Danica recruits chief operating officer
BlueOrchard climate fund secures $250m from private and public investors
The blended finance fund has commitments from Aviva Investors and Daido Life Insurance, among others
ESMA flags US private credit risks for European investors
US private credit redemptions are rising, prompting ESMA to warn European investors about potential exposure
UK defined benefit funding strengthens as recovery plans shorten sharply
A stronger funding position is giving UK trustees greater choice over endgame strategies, while recovery plans continue to shorten
New research exposes blind spots in LGPS pension gap reporting
New research shows ethnicity and gender together can significantly widen pension gaps among Local Government Pension Scheme members, raising data concerns
IIGCC launches framework to help investors tackle deforestation
New framework gives investors five actions to press companies on deforestation risks across operations and supply chains
ExxonMobil ordered to make additional pension payment after Dutch court ruling
A Dutch court has ordered additional pension funding after ExxonMobil fell short of agreed indexation commitments
Deutsche Finance faces investor lawsuit after BaFin pressure
German investor sues Deutsche Finance over fund information as regulatory scrutiny and insolvency concerns mount
Scottish LGPS target £3.4bn allocation to local investments
Based on the funds’ combined assets of around £67bn at 31 March 2025, the allocation would be worth around £3.35bn
Railpen launches AI governance benchmark following portfolio assessment
Corporate AI adoption is outpacing governance, exposing gaps for investors assessing risks and engagement priorities
European Parliament votes on SFDR negotiating position
Members of European Parliament push for flexibility around sovereign bonds, carve-outs for certain funds, and more transparency on engagement strategies
Dutch public trust surges in pension funds and new DC system, DNB poll shows
High transition bonuses distributed by pension funds in big transition wave on 1 January could have boosted trust
UK Nuclear Liabilities Fund selects Brookfield to manage initial $1bn
The mandate is designed around the multi-decade nature of the fund’s liabilities associated with decommissioning eight of the UK’s nuclear power stations
People moves: UK’s People’s Partnership names fixed income co-head
Daniel Spencer joins People’s Partnership from Brunel Pensions Partnership, where he spent eight years leading a multi-asset credit portfolio
NBIM urges stronger board accountability in German governance code
Norwegian SWF manager takes proposed simplification of rules as opportunity to push for more frequent board changes at German companies
NEST delivers on Mansion House commitments, urging signatories to follow
NEST delivers on Mansion House’s Compact and Accord commitments, with CIO Liz Fernando calling on other signatories to start delivering on their commitments
UK pensions industry urges rethink of general levy as costs rise
Pensions UK warns proposed levy increases could undermine consolidation, member outcomes and value-for-money assessments across pension funds
Dutch retail scheme changes mind and buys put option for 80% equities hedge
Pensioenfonds Detailhandel reveals 2025 study resulted in decision to hedge most of equity risk in run up to January 2027 transition to new pension system
Norfolk Pension Fund makes leadership hires to meet LGPS reform requirements
Appointments strengthen fund’s governance arrangements and provide clear senior leadership alongside independent oversight, says fund
Swiss pension funds bolster reserves as market volatility persists
Investment gains have lifted funding ratios, enabling pension funds to rebuild buffers against future market turbulence
Claus Stampe to retire after 23 years as CIO at PensionDanmark
Stampe to step down in February; says cannot remember a ‘more exciting and unpredictable period than the one we are in now’
Investors warn UK reporting reforms could weaken shareholder rights
UK government launches consultation on streamlined corporate reporting, including virtual-only AGMs
Aviva Investors, Jupiter reshape equity teams with senior hires
Aviva Investors consolidates its equity capabilities while Jupiter rebuilds its UK small-cap team around two River Global hires
Austria pitches €100bn sovereign wealth fund to bolster pensions
The proposal would channel state-owned company dividends into a long-term investment fund designed to ease first-pillar pension costs
Gildi and Festa merger creates second largest Icelandic pension fund
Merged pension fund would have almost as many assets as number one fund LSR, and nearly six times the number of participants
Warwickshire pension fund appoints Northern Trust as asset servicer
Northern Trust will support the fund with asset servicing capabilities that bring custody data, reporting and performance information together
TPT Retirement Solutions expects up to 14,000 members for CDC scheme launch
TPT has been developing its CDC proposition for around three years and plans to launch in mid-2027
PensionsEurope names Sibylle Reichert as new secretary general
Matti Leppälä is retiring after 15 years of service
Zurich faces ongoing FINMA probe into occupational pensions business
At least 12 staff have been dismissed following an ongoing FINMA investigation into occupational pensions business
Dutch fund almost doubles hedge fund exposure
Stichting Pensioenfonds Mars significantly increases investments in hedge funds last year, from 11% to 21%, while cutting equities from 14% to 5%
Swiss pension commission recommends raising minimum interest rate to 1.75%
Strong market performance and pension fund finances have prompted a recommendation for a higher minimum interest rate
Standard Life awards £3bn emerging markets equities mandate
The mandate will be invested across Ninety One’s emerging markets equity and Asia ex-Japan strategies
NBIM urges Principles for Responsible Investment to refocus on stewardship
The Norwegian firm calls on PRI to prioritise stewardship and investor collaboration, criticising its proposed expansion into wider sustainability policy
Deutsche Finance sues €122bn German pension fund over US real estate losses
Legal action has intensified a dispute over responsibility for losses from BVK’s US real estate investments, estimated at €853m
Aon launches run-on solution aimed at smaller DB schemes
The solution is part of Aon’s Future DB services launched in early August
People moves: Hymans Robertson named head of collective defined contribution
Lauren Branney will lead the continued development of Hymans Robertson’s CDC proposition
IPE Top 1000: Europe’s pension asset growth slows
Top 1000 pension funds’ assets increase by 5.4% since last year’s IPE study
Norway’s SWF could shift €100bn out of government bonds
NBIM advises acceptance of listed equities geopolitical and concentration risk, but urges ministry to consider allowing GPFG more private assets
Sweden’s AP2 outshines larger peers in H1 as trio navigate buffer fund reform
Alecta’s Heimstaden Bostad holding loses value again; ATP’s bonus potential grows 14.5% despite difficult year for Danish equities
Industry calls for practical, proportionate approach to DB surplus flexibility
The 12-week consultation on releasing surplus closed on 2 September
NBIM responsible investment chief Smith Ihenacho to step down
Carine Smith Ihenacho will leave NBIM after nine years, having built its active ownership function
