Pension System – Page 284
-
Country Report
Nordic Region: Lonely hearts club
The government has announced plans to channel pension fund assets into debt financing for SMEs. Rachel Fixsen outlines the various initiatives
-
Features
Keeping tabs on the costs
Pension funds and trustees need to know exactly what different DC pension providers are charging so they can compare them against each other. Gail Moss reports
-
Country Report
Nordic Region: Going long
Sweden, with stable finances and a debt-to-GDP ratio of under 33% is an attractive safe haven for many investors. However, precisely these low debt levels have led to reduced need for longer-dated issuance, currently only 5.6% of debt outstanding. Jonathan Williams looks at reactions to the country’s recent 20-year bond exchange
-
Features
Sentiment undimmed
Frank Schnattinger outlines the key findings of IPE Institutional Investment’s 2012 survey following trends in the German-speaking institutional market
-
Country Report
Germany: Two anniversaries and a critique
Mercer’s November 2011 summary of German corporate pension provision notes that “….supplementary pension plans… typically either adopt a book reserving approach, with or without segregated assets, or an insured pensions approach”. That’s diplomatic language for “not widespread with too little funding”, a situation that contributes to Germany ranking eleventh out ...
-
Country Report
Germany: Ten years of master KAG – an interim assessment
Clemens Schuerhoff and Hans-Jürgen Dannheisig draw on their experience in specialist consulting to assess the achievements and challenges for master KAGs in Germany
-
Country Report
Germany: Providers of liquidity
As banks are withdrawing from project financing in real estate and infrastructure, Versorgungswerke like the BVK are stepping in and actively seeking investment partners, finds Barbara Ottawa
-
Country Report
Germany: Are Pensionsfonds maturing?
Klaus Stiefermann, Sabine Mahnert and Dr Cornelia Schmid argue that a few regulatory adjustments could greatly improve occupational pensions
-
Country Report
Germany: No-man’s- land
Nina Röhrbein analyses how the current financial and interest rate environment is affecting German pension funds’ asset allocation
-
Country Report
Germany: Navigating through stormy weather
When it comes to asset allocation, German pension funds are under increasing pressure from various sources, writes Torsten Köpke
-
Country Report
Austria: Focus on re-emerging Europe
Austrian institutions are finding new ways of dealing with low interest rates but are still waiting for reform, writes Barbara Ottawa
-
Features
Flyweight in benchmark knock-out
Nina Röhrbein spoke with Gregor Hirt, head of investment for the pension fund Vorsorgestiftung Schroder & Co Bank, who explains how it punches above its weight
-
Features
Regulating Europe
Gail Moss reviews pension regulation and law changes under discussion in seven European countries
-
FeaturesEuropean pension supervision
Dirk Broeders, Niels Kortleve, Antoon Pelsser and Jan-Willem Wijckmans assess EIOPA’s holistic balance sheet proposal
-
FeaturesThe impact of Solvency II rules
Jurre de Haan, Agnes Joseph, Siert Jan Vos, Jan-Willem Wijckmans compare Solvency II with the FTK in terms of the likely coverage ratio shortfall
-
Country Report
The Netherlands: Sustainable after the crisis?
Pierre Akkermans outlines recent pension developments in the Dutch pension system
-
Country Report
The Netherlands: Big is beautiful – up to a point
Mariska van der Westen and Miranda Schoutsen report on the growing trend of Dutch pension fund consolidation. What is the optimum size for a pension scheme?
-
Country Report
Belgium: Change on the way
Challenges in the form of regulation and lower expected returns mean Belgian pension funds must seek economies of scale and improved governance, writes Karel Stroobants
