ABP leaves equity risk unhedged in countdown to DC transition
Dutch €518bn pension fund says derivatives ‘of limited feasibility’ given its size
IAPF consults on launching Ireland-focused long-term fund
Irish Association of Pension Funds says proposed fund would be a return-led investment proposition
OAK BV seeks stronger powers as Swiss pension fund consolidation gathers pace
Swiss supervisor proposes legal reforms to strengthen oversight as consolidation reshapes the country’s occupational pension landscape
Italian, German pension funds warn against compulsory SIU investment
Adepp and ABV reject mandatory pension fund allocations under European Union’s Savings and Investments Union
People moves: bfinance picks DACH director
Plus: Industriens Pension adds to pension board; NEST reappoints chair
Universities fund consults on cutting contribution rate to 16.4% after funding improves
USS’s improved funding position opens consultation on lower contributions while prompting debate over scheme’s long-term direction
UK targets first digital Gilt issuance by early 2027
Central bank will work to make DIGIT eligible as collateral in its market operations
Industry presses Pensions Commission for ambitious auto-enrolment reforms
Industry bodies urge phased auto-enrolment reforms, higher contributions and broader coverage to improve long-term retirement adequacy
Iceland’s pension fund investment rules shift to prudent-person principle
Pension funds gain more flexibility under the law to invest in unlisted companies, infrastructure
LAPFF, Sarasin rebut academic criticism over banks’ climate accounting
LAPFF and Sarasin defend investor demands for banks to better recognise climate-related risks in financial accounts
Regulatory roadmap aims to steer UK pensions through reforms
The Pensions Regulator’s five-year strategy focuses on sustainable income in retirement
Pensions regulator data shows modest private markets allocations across UK master trusts
Most UK master trusts have private market exposure, but few allocate more than 5% of default assets
UK government proposes phased implementation of Value for Money framework
Master trusts and large schemes will undergo first VfM assessment in 2028, with smaller schemes to follow in 2029
Metzler targets Germany’s emerging pension buyout market
Germany’s emerging pension buyout market is attracting new entrants with competing approaches to de-risking liabilities
UK government launches consultation process on £25bn DC scale rules
Department for Work and Pensions seeks industry feedback on implementing £25bn DC scale requirements before consulting on detailed regulations in 2027
Swiss pension funds reassess equity allocations as concentration risks mount
Consultants see Swiss pension funds refining equity allocations as concentration risks climb and rates remain low
UK outlines roadmap for DC assessments, scale reforms and DB changes
Government confirms timelines for DC value-for-money assessments, consolidation reforms, guided retirement and DB surplus measures
Danish pension funds’ home bias still heavy, despite 2025 trim
IPD analysis also reveals Danish pension funds reduced US bonds exposure by a quarter last year
German pension reform member warns against politicising first pillar investments
Pension commission members stress independent governance, low costs and swift implementation of Germany’s proposed funded first pillar
Covip eases life-cycle investment rules for Italy’s auto-enrolment pensions
Italian regulator lowers minimum equity allocation requirements and gives domestic pension funds more time to comply
Brunel Pension Partnership to enter liquidation this year as it ceases trading
UK-based investment pool is going through process of winding down, with a view to handing over to a liquidation partner later in the year
CalPERS on board investor consortium buying Russell Investments
California pension fund says shared vision between Russell and the investor consortium ‘creates compelling opportunity’
Dutch regulator tries to calm pension sector ire over cost transparency plan
Pensioenfederatie now in multi-pronged talks after presentation of AFM’s plan for pension cost transparency under reform sparked “heated debate”
EthiFinance and ESG Book merge, STOXX takes over Scientific Beta
EthiFinance and ESG Book bid to create European ratings agency ‘champion’; STOXX hopes deal will boost asset owner expansion
People moves: Alecta appoints chief legal officer
Plus: Aptia hires Ian Burns as head of investment consulting; Tumelo picks head of stewardship solutions
Danish pension funds post 9% gains in H1 as green products outperform
High equity allocations and unhedged currency exposure rewarded in first six months of 2026, says consultant
Germany’s changing pension buyout market sparks foreign investors’ interest
Plans to reform Germany’s pension regulatory and policy system that are expected to boost the country’s pension buyout market have sparked the interest of foreign investors, say industry experts.
NEST commits £200m venture capital with Schroders Capital
The master trust expects the allocation to grow over time and reach £1bn by 2030
ATP evaluators warn of reputational risk for Danish statutory scheme
Trio of experts, hand-picked by ATP for external evaluation of its controversial business model, praise ‘strong investment organisation’ but advise rethink on illiquids, risk levels and better communication
UBS proposes overhaul of Swiss pension system with fully funded first pillar
A proposed overhaul of Switzerland’s pension system has sparked debate over funding, member choice and transition costs
Pension groups welcome EC withholding tax proposal but timeline a concern
Dutch pension federation says Commission’s proposal rightly recognises special position of pension funds and aligns with OECD principles
BaFin, consumer group and lawyers increase pressure on Deutsche Finance
German financial supervisory authority BaFin escalates oversight of Deutsche Finance as consumer watchdog highlights weaknesses in public alternative investment funds
European Commission publishes updated sustainability reporting standards
Commission retains the regime’s double materiality principle, despite pressure to adopt the same approach as global sustainability standards
Belgian regulator calls for ‘drastic’ simplification of third pillar investment rules
FSMA outlines possible reform options for retirement savings products in light of the Savings and Investments Union agenda
German pension associations support venture capital initiative
Newly-launched German Venture & Growth Forum estimates that a 2% allocation to venture capital would unlock around €15bn a year for start-ups
PGGM ‘dispirited’ by low ranking under SFDR but praises Commission proposal
Piet Klop says current SFDR legislative proposal makes ‘very helpful’ improvements on the previous version, ‘which, to be perfectly blunt, we all hated’
Faith Ward launches solo venture and responsible investment archive for asset owners
New advisory firm will host ‘Brunel Archive’ as Ward says there are further roles in the pipeline
VBV Pensionskasse names new chair in management overhaul
Austria’s VBV Pensionskasse has overhauled its executive leadership following investment integration and a broader strategic management transition
Alecta appoints asset management head as CEO
Pablo Bernengo has been named Alecta’s new CEO, replacing retiring Peder Hasslev
EU supervisors seek feedback on Taxonomy proposals
ESMA and EIOPA propose simpler EU Taxonomy disclosures as Commission pushes to reduce sustainability reporting burdens
APG Asset Management names new chief
Alineke van den Berge-Blindenbach joined the firm in 2023 as chief operating officer and has also served as CEO ad interim since March 2026
People moves: Universities Superannuation Scheme chairs to stand down
Kate Barker will stand down as chair of USS, while Sarah Bates will also leave her role as chair of USS Investment Management
British Coal fund switches in-house model with BlackRock as fiduciary manager
Closed UK pension scheme replaces bespoke in-house investment governance model with BlackRock fiduciary management appointment
Vaud pension fund faces Israel divestment after delegate vote
Delegates at Vaud municipal pension fund CIP approve exclusion of Israel-linked securities after Vevey proposal
UK’s LGPS pooling guidance confirms wider investment powers for asset pools
Guidance clarifies investment responsibilities as Local Government Pension Scheme pools assume greater authority while funds retain fiduciary oversight
BVV expands full-service pensions strategy with CTA launch
German banking pension institution BVV launches a contractual trust arrangement to support employers restructuring occupational pension liabilities
NZAOA launches AI tool to benchmark asset manager climate stewardship
The new framework, which will be published in full later this year, finds that no asset manager currently meets the highest climate stewardship standard
German pension funds test new underfunding regime with first BaFin filings
German Pensionskassen begin using new funding rules allowing temporary underfunding to expand investment risk budgets and returns
Dutch venture capital association opposes EU mandatory pension fund allocation
Mandatory venture capital allocations could exceed Europe’s capacity while limiting pension funds’ investment autonomy, NVP warns
DB endgame strategies reshape professional trustee market, WTW finds
Growing DB endgame activity is driving governance changes, boosting sole trusteeship and regulatory oversight
