- Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB) federal managing director, Helene Schuberth, has argued that discussions about raising Austria’s statutory retirement age will not solve the country’s labour market problems, but the introduction of a bonus-malus system is the solution.

Such a system would reward employers for hiring and retaining older workers while penalising those that fail to do so. Schuberth noted that workers over 50 often struggle to find new employment despite being qualified. She said until a bonus-malus system is introduced, any debate about raising the statutory retirement age is “simply detached from reality”.

-Norway’s Folketrygdfondet, responsible for the management of the Government Pension Fund Norway, has signed the Women in Finance Charter.

The charter is an industry initiative aimed at increasing the proportion of women in senior leadership positions in Norway's financial sector, owned by the financial industry through Finance Norway, the Norwegian Mutual Funds Association, the Norwegian Securities Dealers Association, and the Norwegian Venture Capital Association. Folketrygdfondet said that by signing the charter it is committing to setting concrete targets for gender balance, ensuring clear leadership accountability for achieving those targets, linking executive remuneration to progress made, and reporting annually on its objectives and results. It has also set a long-term goal of achieving 40 per cent gender balance at both management and specialist levels.

-Pori Energia, part-owned by Swedish infrastructure investment company Polhem Infra, has agreed to acquire Finnish electricity network company Leppäkosken Sähkö Oy from Leppäkoski Group.

Polhem Infra, which is jointly owned by Sweden's AP3 and AP4 pension funds, holds a 49 per cent stake in Pori Energia, with the City of Pori owning the remaining 51 per cent. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval and the purchase price has not been disclosed. Following completion, Leppäkosken Sähkö will become a subsidiary of Pori Energia. Pori Energia said the deal will expand its electricity network business from being among Finland's 20 largest distribution network operators to one of the country's 10 largest.

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