Danish pension fund Sampension has returned 16.4 per cent to its high-risk investment customers in the first three quarters of 2021, and 14.7 per cent to those with moderate risk investments, marking itself out as the second highest returner in market this year.

The fund’s market interest rate product, 2 in 1 Livspension, performed best in September among a range of 17 life cycle products in terms of returns it secured savers with moderate risk, and 20 years to go until retirement.

For the first nine months of the year, Sampension customers aged 55 and in high risk strategies received returns of 13.34 per cent, while those in moderate risk categories aged 55 received 11.46 per cent returns.

For those with 15 years to go until retirement, those saving up with moderate risk, Sampension performed second-best in market behind Industriens Pension.

Due to rising interest rates, however, returns on the fund’s bond portfolio dipped, though losses were minimal, according to Sampension investment director, Henrik Olejasz Larsen.

“The loss was limited because the portfolio had a significant underweight of interest rate risk in relation to the broad bond market. Similarly, the equity portfolio yielded only a limited loss. The portfolio has a significant tilt towards value and low-risk stocks, for example, which performed well in a period of rising interest rates and general stock price declines,” said Larsen.

Larsen adds that unlisted investments continued to perform well in September, especially private equity, but also properties and infrastructure.

The fund’s interim results, published last month, revealed that for the first six months of the year, it produced extremely good returns for customers.

The total return for the Sampension group, which includes schemes such as ISP Pension, Arkitekternes Pensionskasse and Pensionskassen for Jordbrugsakademikere & Dyrlæger, was DKK 11.9bn in the first half of the year.

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