The European Pensions Awards consist
of 22 categories plus three special awards.
Any firm working with pension funds
in one or more European country is eligible to enter.
New catgories this year include Fiduciary
Management Firm of the Year; and Transition Management Firm of
the Year.
1) European
Pensions Consultancy of the Year
Awarded to the pensions/investment/actuarial consultancy
firm that the judges believe has consistently delivered outstanding
service to its pension fund clients, has shown a dedication
to the delivery of pension scheme consultancy in its respective
market, has demonstrated a superior understanding of the market's
needs and has shown a commitment to helping clients through
the pensions maze.
2) Investment
Manager of the Year
This award will recognise excellence in investment
management at one of the most challenging times in European
pensions history. When rising longevity rates coupled with investment
market turmoil has put the pressure on investment managers to
perform, innovation, dedication, sophistication and foresight
have become the essential tenets of any investment manager hoping
to succeed. This award will recognise the best of the best.
3) Equities
Manager of the Year
This award will celebrate those managers who have led
the way in managing equities in the past 12 months. The winner
who is finally chosen will be the firm that has proved itself
to be the most exceptional player of all entrants in the industry
with its excellence in managing equities, and has proved itself
truly invaluable to European pension funds today.
4) Fixed
Income Manager of the Year
European pension funds
rely on fixed income for a reliable revenue stream, and as a
result the fixed income market is now as diverse and sophisticated
as any other. This award will recognise managers that offer
a real specialisation in this key area and can offer their European
pension clients a variety of solutions to meet the ever changing
market conditions.
5) Alternatives
Investment Manager of the Year
As
alternatives play an ever greater role in the majority of European
pension fund portfolios, this category aims to reward the leaders
in the provision of hedge funds, hedge funds of funds, private
equity funds and other alternative investment classes. The winner
will be the nominee that has proved itself the best of the best
in their field and has shown a commitment to the European pensions
market with its product offerings. Please note we have separate
categories for property and commodities investment (please see
below).
6) Property
Manager of the Year
Property
has gained true recognition as an essential asset class for
pension funds across Europe seeking to diversify their portfolios,
with managers seeking out returns from both the traditional
and less accessible property market across the world. This award
will recognise those managers that have proved themselves in
the field of property investment, have shown innovation in their
product offerings, and have displayed an excellence and consistency
in their management of this diverse and exciting asset class.
7) Emerging
Markets Manager of the Year
Seeking
out potential in the less developed markets is a challenging
role at which only the best can succeed; yet for those that
do, the rewards for European pension funds investing in this
area can be great. This award recognises those managers that
have shown a dedication to the emerging markets space with a
view to achieving performance often in areas where information
flow is in short supply.
8) Commodities
Manager of the Year
With
commodities increasingly in the spotlight and proving to be
more an ever more popular asset class for European pension funds,
we look to reward those managers that have provided innovative
and rewarding routes to this increasingly important market.
9) Risk
Management Firm of the Year
Effective
risk management is now high up on the agenda for European pension
funds bearing the burdens of increased risk, more stringent
regulation, and a
brighter spotlight on governance.
We reward those firms that have assisted European pension funds
in their quest for better risk management in this ever unpredictable
economic landscape.
10) Currency
Manager of the Year
For
pension funds, it is becoming increasingly recognisable that
their currency exposure works as hard as the other asset classes
in their portfolios. This category will highlight those currency
managers who have displayed a capability and an expertise in
this sector.
11) LDI Manager of
the Year
As
longevity increases and markets continue to be unpredictable,
Liability Driven Investment (LDI) / has become one of the most
popular buzzwords in pension scheme investment in today’s
market. We reward those players who have excelled in their LDI
offerings in an effort to assist European pension funds better
match their assets with their liabilitiesgoing
forward.
12) Index Provider
of the Year
Indices are undoubtedly an essential tool
for pension funds in the European space. This award will recognise
those index providers offering the highest quality of relevant
products and excellent service to European pension funds today.
13) SRI
Provider of the Year
European pension funds are becoming
increasingly aware of the impact Socially Responsible Investment
(SRI) can have on their portfolio returns. This award will recognise
the leaders in this significant and increasingly sophisticated
market.
14) Multi-Manager
of the Year
The roles of the multi-manager and the manager of manager
have become essential in the European Pensions space, helping
European pension funds seek out the most appropriate managers
to meet their needs from a range of offerings across the world.
Our judges will be looking for the elite in this growing market
of expertise.
15) Fiduciary
Management Firm of the Year
The concept of Fiduciary Management has taken the
Dutch pensions market by storm, and is now penetrating
other parts of Europe. This award will commend those firms that
have led the way in the fiduciary management space, tailoring
their offerings to today's pension funds' needs.
16) European
Pensions Law Firm of the Year
Many legal firms across Europe offer services for pension
funds, but not all show a dedication to understanding the complexities
facing pension funds in these challenging times. This award
will award the firm that stands out in its dedication to understanding
the complexities of pensions legislation, and works with its
clients to see them through the legal maze.
17) Custodian of the
Year
The role of the Pension Fund Custodian is an ever changing
one, as products and services evolve to match changing pension
fund needs. This award will recognise those custodians that
have proved themselves as leaders in this market with their
excellence, innovation and dedication to meeting their European
pension funds’ demands in today’s market.
18) Transition
Management Firm of the Year
The role of the transition manager has become more
acute as pension funds seek help in negotiating the minefield
of moving to more complex investment strategies in order to
meet increasing market demands. This award will reward those
firms that have proved themselves experts in the transition
management space and are a cut above the rest.
19) Pension
Provider of the Year
This award aims to recognise those
providers (including life companies, investment companies etc)
providing pensions and operating in the European pensions space.
Judges will be looking for those firms that offer quality,
relevant and (where necessary) innovative products in today's
European pensions market.
20) Pension
Scheme Accountants of the Year
With the growing burden of pensions and accounting regulation
and the increasing need for transparency and governance, the
challenges for accountancy firms and auditors looking to effectively
serve European pension funds is greater than ever – we
reward those that excel at these challenges.
21) Pension
Scheme Administrator of the Year
The key role of the administrator is often overlooked
but without an excellent administration service the pension
fund member could not receive the level of service they deserve.
This award recognises those administration firms that have gone
beyond the minimum standards required to offer a truly value
added service to their clients.
22) Pensions
Technology Provider of the Year
Effective and reliable pensions technology is essential for
the successful running of any pension fund. This award will
recognise those firms that are leaders in the field of pensions
technology, and ultimately reward who is the best of the best.
Special categories
23) Pension
Pooling Award of the Year
Pensions pooling is currently one of the hottest topics in the
European pensions space. This award will recognise those firms
that have proved themselves to be leaders in the areas of pensions
pooling / asset pooling / risk pooling, cross border or otherwise.
24) European
Breakthrough Firm of the Year
This award will recognise those firms that have managed to integrate
their services throughout Europe or broken into a challenging
market but have displayed a sensitivity to the individual pension
market needs.
25) European Pensions Personality
of the Year
Nominations are now open for the European Pensions ‘Personality
of the Year’ award which, nominated and chosen by our
readers, aims to recognise those individuals that have truly
made their mark in the European pensions space in recent years.
To make your nomination please send the name and
job title of the person you wish to nominate and a description
(in no more than 100 words) of why you think they deserve to
win this prestigious award to francesca.fabrizi@europeanpensions.net.
Nominations will close on 20 June.
The winner will be announced on the night.
