- KPA Pension has agreed to acquire a new residential development in Gothenburg from Skanska for SEK 497m, as part of its strategy to expand its portfolio of sustainable property investments.

The acquisition covers the Göteborg Backa 210:7 property at Sankt Jörgen, which will comprise 142 rental apartments with approximately 10,100sqm of lettable area. The project is expected to be completed and ready for occupancy in spring 2029. The property will be certified under the Miljöbyggnad Silver environmental standard and is located close to local amenities and public transport links. Folksam Group property director, Jonas Bjuggren, said the investment represented KPA Pension's first residential property acquisition in Gothenburg and aligned with the group's long-term strategy of investing in sustainable assets in attractive growth locations.

- Austria's Valida Vorsorgekasse has received the ÖGUT Gold Certificate for the 14th consecutive year, retaining the highest sustainability rating available for company pension funds.

The award from the Austrian Society for Environment and Technology (ÖGUT) recognised Valida's continued expansion of sustainable investments and its strict exclusion criteria, which cover areas such as controversial weapons, serious human rights violations and, most recently, inadequate biodiversity protection. Valida said its sustainability framework is independently reviewed twice a year by sustainable investment specialist Rfu Research GmbH. Commenting on the award, Valida CEO, Martin Sardelic, said the pension fund had outperformed an international benchmark portfolio across key sustainability metrics, including carbon footprint, contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance.

- The TyEL insurance contribution rate in Finland will increase from 2.65 per cent to 2.70 per cent for the period from 1 July to 31 December 2026.

The rate applies to earnings-related pension insurance contributions and may be adjusted twice a year. TyEL contributions are due on the final day of the month following salary payments, although employers can defer payment by up to one month, with interest applied. The current late payment interest rate stands at 10.5 per cent for the first half of 2026. The rate for the second half of the year will be confirmed by the Bank of Finland at the end of June. Meanwhile, the YEL insurance contribution interest rate remains unchanged at 2.2 per cent.

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