NETHERLANDS - Dutch corporations will no longer be faced with high redemption fees if they decide to move their pension fund from one insurer to another.

Pieter Omtzigt, a politician for the Dutch Christian Democrats party who pleaded for the change, told IPE the Dutch second chamber has amended the new pensions law in mid-December.

"Every administration agreement - the agreement between the pension fund management and insurers - now has to have an exit clause," said Omtzigt.

If a pension fund decides it wants to transfer to another insurer - perhaps because it dissatisfied with the performance of its current provider - the insurer will now have to permit the fund to do so under "reasonable and fair conditions".

According to Omtzigt , insurers were previously claiming a redemption fee worth 20% of the scheme's actuarial value if the fund decided to transfer to another provider.

But calling the amendment a breakthrough, Omtzigt added: "[The previous situation was] not a fair functioning of the market in the pension sector; people were stuck in their pension arrangement."

According to Omtzigt, this amendment has created the right of collective value transfer of a fund from one insurer to the other.

If you have any comments you would like to add to this or any other story, contact Carolyn Bandel on +44 (0)20 7261 4622 or email carolyn.bandel@ipe.com