European Pensions - covering pensions and investment news for European pension professionals pension funds

ATP posts strong H1 profits

ATP, Denmark's largest pension fund, saw returns of 4.2% in the first half the year after four out of five of the risk classes in its investment portfolio netted the fund a profit of DKK 11.7bn (€1.57)

IoM government partners with local business to offer employee benefits

The Isle of Man (IoM) government has teamed up with industry experts to provide a one-stop-shop for employee benefits of international companies that have employees in various locations across the globe. The government has brought together existing services and packaged them as an employee benefits solution, which includes pensions, as well as life insurance, captive insurance, accountancy services, banking, legal and trust services. The Island is home to a range of major global companies who can provide these services

EFRP calls for EU wide Stewardship Code

A leading European pensions body has called for the development of an EU-wide Stewardship Code, which would encourage shareholder engagement and adherence to responsible investment principles on a ‘comply or explain’ basis

Multi stakeholder approach key to tackling longevity issues

With over $17trn of pension assets exposed to longevity risk across Europe, UK and the US, governments and key stakeholders have been called upon to take action to help tackle risks

Fund managers will be forced to increase shareholder engagement

Shareholder engagement must be boosted by fund managers, according to two thirds of respondents to a survey of the European investment industry. Client pressure will compel managers to increase their level of shareholder engagement, found Penrose Financial in its second annual survey on the future of the pensions and investment industry. Of the over 100 senior figures questioned, almost half said environmental factors pose a significant portfolio risk, and four in five see multi-strategy and specialist boutiques thriving over the next 18 months

CEIOPS produces QIS5 exercise spreadsheet

The Committee of European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Supervisors (CEIOPS) has published a spreadsheet to support the QIS5 exercise relating to Solvency II

Shareholder engagement tops the agenda

An increased focus on shareholder engagement and a likely boost in multi-asset and alternative investments were some of the key findings from a recent survey on the future of the European pensions and investment industry

BNY Mellon enhances reporting services

BNY Mellon Asset Servicing has extended its reporting services to clients in the Netherlands to help pension fund clients address recently tightened risk management regulations in the country.

AIMA responds to OTC derivatives reforms

The Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA) is urging European Union policymakers to move ahead with reforms relating to over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives, as the benefits will outweigh increased costs

Investors hungry for European equities

The global economy will improve in the next year, predict fund managers, with the bearish sentiment that has long existed among investors beginning to ease, says Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Investors move to fixed income ETFs

Fixed income exchange traded funds (ETFs) are in demand, with 23 per cent of all inflows in the European market attributed to these products in the first half of 2010, says iShares

BP share fall hits Norwegian pension fund

Concerns over high sovereign debt coupled with the dramatic fall in BP’s share price have taken their toll on Norway's Government Pension Fund Global, which returned -5.4% in the second quarter of 2010, pulled down by the decline in global equity markets. The result was in line with the return on the fund’s benchmark portfolio

Opportunities in DC soar alongside asset growth

DC assets in Europe look set to reach a figure of €2.5 trillion by 2014, opening up significant opportunities for fund managers who are prepared to create innovative and viable solutions for this market

Investment assets hit €17trn

Investment fund assets increased by 6.5 per cent to almost €17trn by the end of Q1 2010, according to statistics released by the European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA)

Mandates - August 2010

A round-up by European Pensions

Spanish banks to benefit from clearing for bonds and repos

Clearing for Spanish government bonds and repos will be launched by LCH.Clearnet Group, the largest clearer of bonds and repos in Europe, on 9 August

Funds braving risk for higher returns

Sentiment amongst European pension funds has continued to improve, with investors increasingly shifting from cash to alternative assets, says Invesco

Currency’s time to shine

Currency as a stand-alone asset class alongside alternative strategies should be considered by asset owners for its ability to provide alpha independent of market conditions, says Principal Global Investors

Products - August 2010

A round-up by European Pensions

News in Brief - August 2010

A round-up by European Pensions

Strong BRICs continue to perform

Russia continues to hold the top spot as the most attractively valued BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) market, but all four countries will continue to experience strength thanks to strong domestic consumption, says HSBC Global Asset Management

ABP returns 4.6% for H1 2010

The ABP pension fund has posted returns on investment of 4.6 per cent for the first half of 2010

CEBS stress test finds seven banking failures

The Committee of European Banking Supervisors (CEBS) EU-wide stress testing exercise report shows that most banks are well placed to handle further occurrences of economic stress

OECD recommends counter-cyclical funding to support DB schemes

Defined benefit (DB) pension scheme closures could be prevented by counter-cyclical funding regulations, making them more attractive to plan sponsors, says the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

Soc Gen to provide administration services to Credit Suisse (Deutschland)

Societe Generale Securities Services (SGSS) will provide fund administration services to Credit Suisse (Deutschland) AG, following the signing of a partnership

Alitalia enters buy-in with PIC

Alitalia Italian Airlines Pension and Assurance Scheme has entered into an insurance buy-in with Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC) to stabilise the scheme’s funding position