Five local authority pension funds are seeking expressions of interest from asset managers in a new investment initiative to deliver financial returns and create a positive economic impact. 24 May 2013
> More
A new guide has been launched by the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) to encourage its members to invest responsibly by considering 'extra-financial factors'. 21 May 2013
Defined contribution (DC) members are receiving "inferior" investment services compared to defined benefit (DB) members through a more restricted access to asset classes, a report stated. 20 May 2013
Infrastructure projects in Denmark should be based on public-private partnerships (PPPs), a new report from Danish pension funds has revealed. 15 May 2013
The Pensions Infrastructure Platform (PIP) will soon begin its search for investment managers to look after some, or all, of the PIP's target £2bn assets. 07 May 2013
Pension funds need to remain agile in their investment strategies, Aon Hewitt has said. 30 April 2013
UK residential property should be included in local government pension schemes' (LGPS) multi-asset portfolios, said a residential property fund manager. 26 April 2013
Dairy Crest Group Pension Fund's liabilities have been backed by £60m worth of the company's maturing cheese, it has been revealed. 19 April 2013
Over one third of UK defined benefit (DB) schemes plan to reduce their exposure to domestic equities in 2013 and one third are looking to increase diversification into alternative assets, according to a new survey. 15 April 2013
The term 'great rotation', where institutional asset allocations are switched from bonds to equities, is misleading and there is little evidence to support it, said a strategist from Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM). 04 April 2013
Pension fund investment has helped to secure a transaction to fund what is expected to be one of the UK's largest NHS energy centres. 25 March 2013
Target date funds are now becoming part of the landscape, said AllianceBernstein at the launch of its new range of ethical target date funds for the UK defined contribution (DC) market. 22 March 2013
A new initiative to support pension funds investing in infrastructure has now secured ten funds as founding investors, and reached £1bn of investment capital. 18 February 2013
The Norwegian Pension Fund Global has made its first real estate investment in the US, buying almost 50% of five office properties owned by TIAA-CREF. 12 February 2013
New research from State Street Global Advisors (SSgA) reveals that nearly half of European pension funds and fund managers plan to increase allocation to exchange trading funds (ETFs) over the next five years. 29 January 2013
Several US pension funds are announcing that they are, or are considering, divesting from certain arms manufacturers, in light of the Connecticut school atrocities that occurred last month. 18 January 2013
A new asset management firm has been formed to proactively engage with the companies it invests in, a practice they have coined 'ownership investing'. 17 January 2013
The majority of pension schemes are not changing their strategy regarding funding triggers, even though their funding remains below the set level, an Aon Hewitt survey has revealed. 22 November 2012
The UK government is launching a consultation looking at the possibility of giving local authority pension schemes more freedom to invest in infrastructure. The move would pave the way for a possible £22bn cash injection into UK infrastructure projects. 06 November 2012
The high levels of defined benefit (DB) pension scheme deficits are hampering the ability of UK companies to invest in their business, according to new research published this week. 05 November 2012
The overall impact of quantitative easing (QE) on pension funds has been "exaggerated" according to consultancy firm Towers Watson. 02 November 2012
Trustees and pension fund executives, representing schemes with assets in excess of £90bn, voted overwhelmingly in favour of equities still playing a vital role in closed DB schemes at a recent Pension Investment Academy (PIA) debate held in London. 02 November 2012
Aon Hewitt announced the acquisition of Babcock International Group's Pensions Administration Office (PAO) in order to expand their pensions administration services into the public sector market. 25 October 2012
Despite difficult economic conditions, the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) says it remains in good shape to face future challenges and is confident that it can continue to look after its members' futures. 23 October 2012
The NAPF and PFF today announced the first schemes which have come on board as founding investors in the Pensions Infrastructure Platform (PIP). 18 October 2012
On current trends it will be around 2040 before UK private-sector defined benefit (DB) pension schemes can fully de-risk unless they consider alternative strategies, according to Towers Watson. 16 October 2012
The Greater Manchester Pension Fund has signed a deal with town hall chiefs that will see £25m of pension cash fund house building in a bid to revitalise the region's ailing housing market. 25 September 2012
Aon Hewitt's 2012 Delegated Investment survey shows governance issues are still affecting the investment approach of pension schemes. 10 September 2012
Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) says long-term investors remain under-invested in emerging markets and do not use the opportunities at hand. 06 September 2012
The volume in inflation hedging transactions carried out for liability hedging purposes hit a new record high in the second quarter of this year, according to F&C's Liability Driven Investment (LDI) survey. 30 August 2012
The first multi-billion pound infrastructure fund in the UK to be funded by pension scheme investors seems to be on track to be launched early 2013 as the pensions industry has shown strong support for the plans. 26 July 2012
Local government pension schemes around the country are willing to invest in infrastructure as suggested by the government but say the current cap on such investments will have to be removed or changed before they are able to do so. 26 July 2012
The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, the investment side of the Canadian state retirement plan (Canadian Pension Plan - CPP), has committed itself to making its largest real estate investment up to date with a CAD 1bn (£632m) investment in an Australian real estate project. 09 July 2012
A new study reports that the number of UK pension schemes that move away from investments in equities and more towards alternative and liability matching assets, is likely to increase "significantly" over the next three years. 25 June 2012
The fourth largest pension scheme in the world, the South Korean state pension fund (NPS) has opened a new office in London. The scheme holds assets worth $320bn according to the latest data held by Pension Funds Online. The move is designed to expand the scheme's international portfolio of assets. 25 June 2012
South Korea's National Pension Service (NPS), one of the world's largest pension schemes, plans to buy KRW 6.6tn (£3.6bn) in domestic equities next year. 22 June 2012
A leading publication for infrastructure finance and investment published its proprietary ranking of the 30 largest infrastructure investors by size this week, revealing the total figure for direct infrastructure investment by pension funds has decreased to $49.46bn this year from $53.9bn last year. 08 June 2012
The BT Pension Scheme has agreed to acquire a 13% stake in Thames Water through a shareholding in Kemble Water Holdings Limited in order to increase its exposure to domestic infrastructure investments that have a natural linkage to UK inflation. 08 June 2012
Pension fund allocations to equities are increasingly replaced with alternatives as European investors seek to cover themselves from the increasing volatility created by the Euro-zone crisis, Mercer's annual European Asset Allocation Survey says. 31 May 2012
The head of one of the world's largest pension funds, the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), called upon UK-based pension funds to consolidate in order to "build funds of sufficient scale and capability to become true long-horizon investors". 24 May 2012
A new industry report from Clear Path Analysis states that pension schemes are exploring de-risking strategies as DB membership falls sharply. 22 May 2012
Tesco, one of the world's largest retailers, says it will manage its own pension scheme - one of the largest final salary schemes in the UK - in order to maximise returns and become independent of consultants. 11 May 2012
The Pensions Management Institute (PMI) and Aberdeen Asset Management announced that they will join forces in an expert partnership in order to deliver high quality information and guidance to the industry about investing in emerging markets. 11 May 2012
Demographic challenges and poor economic prospects threaten to send the next US administration into posting uncontrollable deficit figures, according to Legal & General Investment Management. 26 April 2012
Dutch asset manager APG, which manages about €299bn for the Netherlands' civil servant pension scheme ABP, said it will increase investments in Asian properties to tap economic growth in the region, according to a report from Bloomberg. 24 April 2012
Ken Livingstone, candidate for the role of Mayor of London, said he would call upon pension funds to help fund infrastructure projects in the capital if he wins the elections on 3 May. 18 April 2012
Pension funds can reap rewards from record issuance of catastrophe bonds, claims a new Clear Path Analysis study. 17 April 2012
London's local authorities are in talks about combining their pension funds in order to cut administration costs and invest up to £2.5bn a year in infrastructure projects in the capital. 11 April 2012
Tanker drivers voting to strike are angry at their inability to move defined contribution (DC) pension pots with them to new employers. 29 March 2012
The government is expecting a boost for British infrastructure projects after the South Korean National Pension Service (NPS) has announced it is to set up office in the UK's capital. 27 March 2012
Last week's announcement of a new industry-backed infrastructure platform at a National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) conference was made with some vital elements left unexplained. 21 March 2012
Alan Rubenstein, chairman of the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) and Joanne Segars, chief executive of the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF), have confirmed the launch of a new UK infrastructure platform for pension schemes. 08 March 2012
Scotland's £2.5bn of public infrastructure plans offer new opportunities for pension funds, MSP Alex Salmond said in a speech at the National Association of Pension Funds' (NAPF) Investment Conference in Edinburgh this afternoon. 07 March 2012
The Association of Swiss Pension Funds (ASIP) has complained that its member pension funds are acquiring too much short-term risk in a bid to avoid falling into deficit. 05 March 2012
It has been reported that the Royal Mail pension fund and Sainsbury's pension scheme have both been given refunds from State Street after being double charged by their transition management service. 02 March 2012
A Deutsche Bank survey indicates that pension fund trustees are becoming increasingly sure of the merits of hedge fund investing, despite a disappointing year for the industry's returns. 01 March 2012
Ford Motor Co is injecting $3.8bn into its global pension plan this year and plans to increase its bond investments in an attempt to de-risk. 01 March 2012
Two independent corporate governance consultancies have advised pension funds to support easyJet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou's in his battle to vote down the company's remuneration report at Thursday's annual meeting. 22 February 2012
The investment managing industry is taking £18.5 billion out of the pensions and investment industry via 'hidden' charges, claims a damning report from wealth manager SCM Private's True and Fair campaign. 16 February 2012
The California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS) is challenging Facebook over the lack of women on the company's board of directors. 14 February 2012
The current era of low gilt yields could last for decades, leaving pension funds stuck with critical deficits, says the Pension Corporation. 07 February 2012
Two apparently contradictory items of news were released at the end of January – on the one hand it was reported that hedge funds' saw their second worst year ever and on the other we read that a new survey shows pension funds' are still eager to increase their hedge fund holdings. 03 February 2012
A new report by FairPensions and ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) has challenged the long held view that UK local authority pension funds can hold 'unethical' assets such as tobacco in order to fulfil a legal duty and maximise investment returns 24 January 2012
South Korea's National Pension Service (NPS), the world's fourth largest pension fund, announced earlier this month that it will begin investing in yuan-denominated Chinese assets in order to diversify its portfolio. 20 January 2012
The Eurozone crisis cost Irish pension funds over €2bn during 2011, according to Mercer. The consultancy firm also predicted that with the current outlook managing risk will continue to be the most important focus for trustees in this year 19 January 2012
The author of a controversial new book on hedge fund investing has warned UK pension funds that the real money in the asset class lies in fees for the industry rather than returns for clients 18 January 2012
One of the world's largest pension schemes, ABP, has placed American supermarket Walmart and Chinese oil company PetroChina on a list of companies the scheme prohibits itself from investing in 05 January 2012
UK Private sector employers are dropping generous defined benefit (DB) pension schemes at an increasing rate, according to new research from the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF). This domino effect has been replicated in the UK equity market, with at least £25bn having been pulled out of listed companies by DB pension funds over the last year 16 December 2011
Pension funds can expect some stormy months ahead with a possible recession both in Britain as well as in the Eurozone in the first six months of 2012, according to Legal and General Investment Management (LGIM) 16 December 2011
New York City fund looks to diversify; changes investment manager selection process 07 December 2011
The UK Government wants pension funds to make a massive direct injection into the UK economy through infrastucture investment. Will its plan take off? 06 December 2011
The Strathclyde pension fund is behind an innovative £100mn "Dragons' Den-style scheme" aimed at helping out Scottish entrepreneurs, according to reports from the Scottish Daily Record 05 December 2011
The chief investment officer at pensions administrator APG has claimed that Dutch pension funds are still on course to post strong investment returns 02 December 2011
The UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, has confirmed that the Government has indentified over 500 infrastructure projects it wants to see built over the next decade or so – and it wants UK pension funds to foot some of the bill 02 December 2011
DNB releases report that shows pain suffered by Dutch funds in 2008; reveals that investment returns down in Q3 2011 01 December 2011
The real estate investing arm of Invesco has said that pension funds can benefit from strong long-term return prospects in depressed Eurozone property markets such as Spain 22 November 2011
Pension funds must not make the mistake of seeing hedge funds as an asset class but should instead look at them as a tool to "diversify and protect against volatility", says Keith Guthrie, chief investment officer at consultancy Cardano. 14 November 2011
Riskier emerging market equity is still a better investment at the moment than European equities, says Timo Loyttyniemi, managing director of Valtion Elakerahasto (VER), the Finnish state pension scheme, when speaking to Pension Funds Insider this week. 11 November 2011
Swiss pension deficits rose only slightly in 2010 according to a comprehensive analysis from the Swiss National Statistics' Authority 11 November 2011
NOW: Pensions, the multi-employer trust backed by Danish pension scheme ATP today unveiled the details of its new product offering for the UK, proving that the country can export more than just bacon, lager and Lego. 02 November 2011
While their countrymen seem to be increasingly concerned at the cost of propping up the Eurozone, a new survey claims that German pension investors back the politicians who want to see the single currency kept together. 26 October 2011
At the annual NAPF conference in Manchester JP Morgan's managing director of worldwide securities services Benjie Fraser told Pension Funds Insider that the consultants the firm is working with are now turning into clients of the firm. 26 October 2011
Pension funds run the risk of inflicting 'reputational risk' on their sponsor companies if they fail to invest ethically, the head of the UK Sustainable Investment Foundation (UKSIF) has told Pension Funds Insider. At the same time a major group of active investors has called on governments to introduce decisive legislation to combat climate change. 26 October 2011
Japan's public pension fund, the world's largest scheme, will start investing in emerging market stocks by the end of the year, according to Bloomberg. 24 October 2011
Figures from the Austrian financial regulator indicate that the country's pension funds embraced alternative asset classes whilst suffering negative investment performance in the second quarter of 2011 19 October 2011
Pension funds looking for reliable returns in a time of economic turbulence in Europe and North America should embrace emerging market debt, says the head of Rexiter asset management 19 October 2011
The trend of pension funds de-risking their portfolios should make them wary of contributing to a bubble in low-risk holdings, leading asset managers have claimed during a panel debate on the future of investment 19 October 2011
As global financial market volatility persists throughout August, one pension fund has claimed that it is in a position to look for buying opportunities in the near future, rather than worrying about what damage the equity sell-off and decreased UK government bond yields may have on its funding levels 19 October 2011
Swiss pension funds are averaging negative returns for the first half of 2011, claims the country's pension fund organisation ASIP 19 October 2011
Despite £100bn said to have been added to the country's pension deficits in the recent market downturn, there is a window of opportunity for inflation hedging, claims independent consultancy Redington 19 October 2011
Research from Allianz's RCM is the latest of several studies to suggest that incorporating environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues into equity investment can boost a pension fund's returns. Pension Funds Insider explores whether the arena offers pension funds a chance to secure real long-term returns in a world of uncertainty and market turbulence 19 October 2011
While the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) has maintained that the focus for pension funds remains in seeking sound long-term investing rather than reacting to short-term market fluctuations, Phil Page of Cardano gave Pension Funds Insider a sombre warning for funds 19 October 2011
Pension schemes in the Netherlands will have to contribute virtually nothing when it comes to the Greek rescue plan, the Ministry of Finance have said last week in a statement 19 October 2011
Most rich countries' pension funds returned to their pre-crisis levels by the end of last year, a study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shows 19 October 2011
Irish investment managers face a government investigation into the fees they charge to pension funds, the Irish Independent has reported 19 October 2011
Real estate managers are claiming that recent stock market turbulence is making their asset class an attractive proposition for pension funds that are looking to diversify 19 October 2011
A slow and "unacceptable" reaction to the Euro zone crisis is hurting pension schemes' ability to function as long-term investors, says Jac Kragt, a board member at Dutch pension provider PGGM 19 October 2011
While their countrymen seem to be increasingly concerned at the cost of propping up the Eurozone, a new survey claims that German pension investors back the politicians who want to see the single currency kept together 18 October 2011
The debate of whether passive investing trumps active investing rumbles on, but the world in which it is waged changes. In an unspectacular market, savings on fees with cheaper passive mandates can make a difference to pension funds' bottom lines. But in today's volatile world, Pension Funds Insider asks if passive investing gives funds too much exposure to possible future financial fault lines 18 October 2011
The investment strategy of the government-backed National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) scheme is already inspiring major defined contribution (DC) providers in the UK to review their own plans, claims asset manager AllianceBernstein. 18 October 2011
Pension funds across the world are increasingly being exposed to "raw risk" in the sheer length of time it is taking to transition assets from one investment manager to another, claims an arm of BNY Mellon. 18 October 2011
Sharing the pain of many homeowners as property values dropped in 2008 and 2009, pension funds with big exposures to real estate suffered. Yet while property markets are yet to fully recover, noises are being made about funds wanting to increase their real estate holdings, and asset managers are trying novel ways to provide attractive investments in the area 18 October 2011
The net assets of hedge funds based in the Netherlands increased dramatically from €2.9bn in the first quarter of 2009 to €13.3bn in the first quarter of 2011, according to the Dutch central bank (DNB). 17 October 2011
A Bristol-based consulting actuary firm is running the country's first regional pension funding index in the hope that it proves a more accurate gauge of deficits affecting small and medium pension funds, Pension Funds Insider has discovered. 17 October 2011
A recent government-commissioned study of Swiss pension funds' asset management fees has been greeted by a large amount of debate at an important time for the industry. Pension Funds Insider gauges the reaction 13 October 2011
Pension funds that drive a hard bargain with asset managers can make savings of up to 50% in management fees, claims consultant bfinance. 13 October 2011
With talk of another chapter in the financial crisis unfolding, institutional investors are wise to explore their options, diversify and avoid a head-on 2008-style crash. Where can they go with their investments? Pension Funds Insider explores one relatively untouched option – Africa 13 October 2011
The Austrian Federal Economic Chamber's pension scheme looks to be the biggest loser from the collapse of three funds of a real estate manager accused of misleading investors. 13 October 2011
ABP and PFZW, the two largest pension schemes in the Netherlands, presented their results yesterday for the second quarter of 2012. Both schemes showed positive, if not marginal, returns 12 October 2011
California's two largest public pension funds have reported returns of over 20% for the fiscal year 2010-2011 12 October 2011
Figures released by the European Central Bank (ECB) show that the combined value of pension funds in the Eurozone increased by €23bn to €1.413 trillion throughout the first quarter of 2011. 11 October 2011
Recently released figures confirm that the proportion of equities in UK pension funds' portfolios dropped dramatically in the first decade of the 21st century. Pension Funds Insider considers the fallout 11 October 2011
Should more institutional investors be making their voices heard and voting against 'excessive' bonus payments for top executives? The Church of England's Pensions Board, and its supporters, certainly think so 11 October 2011
Earlier this week Pension Funds Insider spoke to Chris Gower, head of European consultant relations at HSBC, to find out more about Sharia compliant investing, its agreement with NEST and the Life Amanah Pension Fund 11 October 2011
Over the past couple of years hedge funds and institutional investors have not always seen eye to eye. Hedge fund managers have been perceived to be too reckless, too expensive, and not transparent enough. Pension Funds Insider investigates whether pension funds can rely on a change of attitude from managers 11 October 2011
Legal action against custodian banks charging unduly high foreign exchange transaction fees could already have been launched by as many as 50 pension funds worldwide, Pension Funds Insider understands. This has led to increasing numbers of funds in the UK checking their FX fee arrangements 11 October 2011
The Dutch Authority for Financial Markets (AFM) has claimed that pension schemes in the Netherlands pay three times the actual administration and investment costs that they report in their annual accounts, following the release of findings from a study into pension scheme costs on 12 April 10 October 2011
Investing in global small caps makes sense from a diversification and return point of view, if you can stomach the volatility 10 October 2011
Apart from liquidity, what else do Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) offer pension schemes? A lot, argue providers - as long as they can get them accepted by some consultants 10 October 2011
Irish pension funds are being encouraged to buy 30-year government bonds to de-risk their liabilities, although due to the perilous state of the country's public finances, trustees appear reluctant to take up the offer 07 October 2011
With so many institutional investors pressing ahead with plans to pioneer sustainable investment strategies, are UK pension funds already a step ahead of regulators? 05 October 2011
Local government pension schemes in the UK have been heralded in the past as being good examples of Socially Responsible Investors. Yet many are making 'unethical' investments in tobacco firms. Pension Funds Insider reports on the widespread practice by local government schemes, which are under pressure to maximise returns 05 October 2011
In the past few months large pension funds in the Netherlands have been offloading their listed real estate and opting for a portfolio of unlisted property in real estate funds 05 October 2011
A leading Swiss newspaper has exposed concern amongst the national fund community that major banks might be distorting pension industry analysis to promote their own services 05 October 2011
UK pension returns are estimated to be recovering at around the same pace as a strong global pensions rebound, according to a report from TheCityUK. The financial lobbying group has estimated that global pension assets grew by 8% to $31.1 trillion in 2010 while UK funds averaged a real return of 7.6% 03 October 2011
In early February, Dutch pension provider PGGM, announced that it would invest up to 30 per cent of its infrastructure portfolio in emerging markets. The first stop is China. A sure bet then, or is there a catch? 03 October 2011
Sharing the pain of many homeowners as property values dropped in 2008 and 2009, pension funds with big exposures to real estate suffered. Yet while property markets are yet to fully recover, noises are being made about funds wanting to increase their real estate holdings, and asset managers are trying novel ways to provide attractive investments in the area 21 September 2011
Over a month ago Pension Funds Insider reported that various UK local government schemes invest in the tobacco industry. This week the BBC has added yet another scheme to the list. Are the schemes set to face a backlash for their unethical investments? 21 September 2011
For the latest news and industry insights sign up to the Pension Funds Insider newsletter.
Sign Up
> Back to top
Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quam felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quis, sem. Nulla consequat massa quis enim. Donec pede justo, fringilla vel.
+44 (0)20 7566 8255
> or click here to email us.
> Find out more