Italian pension funds reshape investment options as reforms take effect
New rules are driving membership growth, life-cycle investment strategies and more flexible retirement options across Italy’s supplementary pension system
TPR flags pension trustee oversight gaps as AI adoption grows
Growing AI adoption exposes gaps in pension scheme oversight, prompting fresh regulatory guidance on trustee accountability and governance
PME forecasts 12.6% pension increase on transfer to Dutch system
Rising interest rates have strengthened the Dutch metal sector fund’s financial position despite negative third-quarter investment returns
UK to legislate on pension consolidation and retirement income reforms
Legislation will support defined contribution consolidation, guided retirement and retirement collective DC, including changes to member protections and transfers
New Italian pension fund targets 1.6 million professionals
FondoPro expands beyond healthcare to attract professionals affiliated with Italy’s first-pillar pension funds and grow assets
EIOPA warns of bond volatility and private credit risks for pension funds
Stronger pension funding offers resilience as EIOPA warns of elevated market, credit and cyber risks
People moves: Alecta names head of asset management
Plus: LGT Capital Partners appoints CEO; TPT Investment Management picks CIO
German lawyers’ pension funds merge to create €3bn institution
A merger between two German lawyers’ pension funds highlights growing pressure for scale, stronger governance and closer cooperation
UK government pledges full pension surpluses to former mineworkers
UK Budget changes will give members of two coal industry pension schemes the full benefit of investment surpluses
UK commits extra £20.4bn to public investment institutions
British Business Bank and National Wealth Fund receive extra boost for private investment, to support businesses and drive UK growth
Finns lean into equities as reform loosens the reins
Finland’s Veritas, Elo, Varma and Ilmarinen have seen equity returns in double digits for Q3
Royal Mail transfers £2.45bn DC master trusts to L&G
The transfer represents the largest complete transition into a UK defined contribution master trust to date
M&G launches run-on solution for DB pension schemes with £400m deal
The mandate is the first for this solution and reflects a growing interest by UK defined benefit pension funds in run-on strategies
German church pension funds appoint internal candidate as CIO
Katharina Grisar will succeed retiring CIO Wolfram Gerdes in March 2027, continuing the German funds’ investment strategy
Standard Life enters Irish pension risk transfer market
The insurer will offer scheme trustees and advisers the structural flexibility required to execute full-scheme de-risking and final endgame strategies effectively
Aviva Investors expands tokenised money market fund offering
Asset manager expands its tokenised fund range with a new sterling share class and £50m initial investment
IORP II review: EU Parliament rejects 2% VC rule for pensions
MEPs reject 2% VC allocation requirement as Commission bids to remove national quantitative limits to encourage greater investment into European innovation
City of Westminster stalls on London CIV responsible investment choice
The City of Westminster Pension Fund seeks clarity on defence exclusions and human rights standards before choosing a London CIV responsible investment pillar
Indecap to appeal Swedish pension fund tender ruling
The fund manager is challenging the legality of Sweden’s SEK 200bn global equity fund procurement, risking further delays
UK regulator urges pension trustees to assess hidden AI investment risks
Growing AI investment could leave diversified pension portfolios exposed to hidden concentration risks, prompting new regulatory guidance for trustees
German church pension fund appoints asset management head
Susanne Weitz will succeed Oliver Lang at the €38bn German church pension fund in April 2027
EFAMA calls for changes to SFDR 2.0 proposals as trilogues kick off
The association wants the transition category to be made more flexible by making it easier for corporate issuers to qualify
Pension Protection Fund pauses superfund levy amid framework review
A one-year levy pause and revised valuation assumptions come as regulatory approvals advance for UK superfunds
People moves: Pension Protection Fund names chief actuary
Matt Gurden, deputy government actuary at the Government Actuary’s Department, will join the PPF next year
Mansion House Accord signatories invest £11.1bn in UK private markets
Signatories have invested billions in UK private markets, but providers warn that further growth depends on investable opportunities
Church Commissioners steps up human rights voting action
A more systematic voting approach drove a fivefold increase in human rights-related opposition, alongside revised climate targets
TPT clears regulatory hurdle for DB superfund launch
The provider aims to complete its first transaction in early 2027 as competition grows in the UK superfund market
Netherlands retains top spot in Marsh CFA global pensions ranking
Under new Marsh branding, former Mercer international study of pension systems comes with warning about declining sustainability of pension systems
German parliament backs state-funded pension savings for children
Children will receive monthly state contributions into retirement savings accounts, as Germany seeks to expand capital-funded pensions
Biffa pension fund in £275m buy-in deal with Standard Life
The transaction secures the benefits of 3,070 scheme members
Italy’s metalworking sector challenges portability of employer pension contributions
Employers’ associations and unions challenge rules allowing workers to transfer contributions from Italy’s industry-wide pension funds elsewhere
Pensions UK conference: adequacy and LGPS reform dominate debate
Pensions Commission recommendations, dashboard readiness and LGPS accountability dominated debate, as pensions minister Torsten Bell warned against speculation
Norway’s SWF could start investing in nuclear weapons for first time
Gjedrem Commission proposes changes to GPFG’s ethical framework to keep fund diversified and ward off retaliation
UK pension trustees use AI despite gaps in governance and training
AI is climbing the investment agenda, but gaps in training, oversight and data readiness threaten to undermine its adoption
Danish pension funds hold DKK258bn in companies blacklisted by peers
Data published by independent association Follow my money highlights differences in how institutional investors assess companies on ESG grounds
UK pensions minister defends Value for Money framework despite DC herding risks
Torsten Bell argues narrowing DC returns dispersion could improve saver outcomes, despite risks of investment herding
UK defined contribution schemes could unlock £90bn in private markets, report finds
‘Asset ownership matters, and also it’s never been more important in the UK than it is right now,’ says Dan Mikulskis, chief investment officer at People’s Pension
SFDR opt-out risks fragmented reporting for investors, warns Eurosif
Eurosif and Invest Europe split on whether the EU’s drive to simplify sustainability reporting has gone too far
Pensions UK urges LGPS to put outcomes before structure in reform debate
Zoe Alexander, Pensions UK chief policy officer, urges stakeholders to judge LGPS reform by its impact on members and employers
Investors step up nature efforts as global frameworks and metrics evolve
Flurry of activity comes in run-up to first stocktake of Global Biodiversity Framework
EU supervisor warns of investors’ climate transition and impact claims
ESMA has published two documents explaining its greenwashing expectations
Investment Association outlines actions to scale access to private markets
Report sets out five priority actions for industry, regulators and policymakers
People moves: ESMA appoints new chair
The EU’s financial markets regulator and supervisor has appointed Carlo Comporti as its next chair
Danish teachers’ pension fund eyes DKK100bn private markets allocation
Labour market pension fund plans for years of portfolio expansion, due to relatively young membership
Sweden’s €18bn pension fund tender cleared after court rejects challenge
The ruling removes a legal obstacle to Sweden’s premium pension fund procurement after the asset manager’s challenge failed
AP7 chief joins Germany’s Kenfo advisory board
Swedish pension expertise joins Kenfo’s advisory board as Germany considers a capital-funded addition to its state pension system
PFZW and ING partner on €5bn project finance risk transfer
Dutch pension investor PGGM will share credit risk on project finance loans, freeing up ING capital for further lending
Pension fund defends 1.5°C target as LSE questions investor net-zero pledges
Investors face growing scrutiny over whether portfolio decarbonisation targets deliver real-world emissions cuts amid inconsistent climate policies
Germany’s proposed first-pillar fund could reach €2.18trn by 2060
A SAFE study projects Germany’s proposed capital-funded first pillar could create a €2.18trn fund by 2060
UBS group pension plan completes £1.7bn buy-in with L&G
The £1.7bn deal transfers a longevity hedge, building on L&G’s relationship with both pension plan sections
