Strategy
Get the latest news on pension fund and investor strategies, plus in-depth analysis of industry successes and tactical U-turns
Latest news
PrevAer shifts to multi-asset strategy
Eurizon will run the strategy across the scheme’s three sub-funds through Alternative Investment Funds
Folksam, KPA set 2030 climate targets, highlighting social impact
Swedish pensions group and municipal pension fund subsidiary follow NZAOA requirements to establish 50% emission reduction targets for investment assets
Iceland’s pension funds post 6.5% real return in 2024
Almenni Pension Fund sees mixed outlook, with uncertainty around global impact of new US regime, while earthquakes in Iceland may blight domestic economy
Generali creates €1.9trn asset management JV with Natixis IM
Generali and BPCE have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding for each to own 50% of the joint venture
Viewpoint: How a DB ‘surplus code’ could support economic growth
David Wrigley, partner at LCP, says supporting the appropriate release of surpluses could provide a shot in the arm to the UK economy
Dutch DC frontrunners reform their interest rate hedges
In DC, pension funds will only hedge interest rate risk for older participants
AP7 boosts internal management as it reaches quarter-century milestone
Sweden’s DC buffer fund is boosting internal capacity and embarking on a hiring spree as it seeks to adapt to a harsh new investment environment
Dutch doctors fund’s concentrated portfolio a ‘risky strategy’
The risk of missing out on new investment trends is seen as the main drawback of a concentrated portfolio with a buy-and-hold strategy
Danish pension funds split over venture capital opportunities
PensionDanmark is backing early-stage venture capital investments but its peers are shying away from VC
LeapFrog eyes global impact investment opportunities
Impact investing was once a niche concept. “We were seen as the weird people in the corner of the room,” recalls Andy Kuper, the South African founder and CEO of LeapFrog Investments
BNY Investments: More than the sum of the parts?
The world’s top asset managers are a diverse bunch. From pure-play managers to investment bank-owned firms and those with an asset servicing heritage, the different flavours also reflect the changing nature of the sector.
Veritas: Finnish pension insurer seeks in-house efficiency
Veritas CIO Laura Wickström talks to Pirkko Juntunen about the challenges and opportunities of running a lean but efficient internal investment team
Endowment funds stick with alternatives despite headwinds
Disappointing returns in the last fiscal year may force US university endowments to rethink their investment strategies, but could this include moving away from the so-called Yale model that focuses on alternative investments?
Mansion House Compact: spotlight on Scottish Widows
Scottish Widows joined the Mansion House Compact in July 2023 as one of the founding signatories committing to allocating at least 5% of its default funds to unlisted equities by 2030
Dutch doctors’ fund focuses on Europe in new equity portfolio
The scheme’s new concentrated portfolio only includes 65 companies
Swedish, European small caps to be next group for premium pension tenders
Swedish agency firms up running order of 2025 procurements plan; extends deadline for active global equity tender currently under way
Dutch doctors fund switches to concentrated equity portfolio
The €10bn fund will only keep about 70 companies in a new buy-and-hold approach
Passive investors: price/market reliance and the due diligence question
Towards the end of October 2024, the High Court in London struck out claims for £335m (€402m) being sought from Barclays for misdemeanours dating back over ten years.
Next year’s Swedish FTN plan includes SEK145bn active IT equities mandates
Fund Selection Agency outlines 2025 procurement plan for four actively managed premium pension fund categories and one index-based
LGPS Central reaches £43bn AUM with oversight and stewardship mandate
Partner funds have appointed LGPS Central to provide oversight and stewardship services for over £11bn in passive funds
Varma trumpets biggest investment yet with €2.3bn in US climate ETF
Finnish pensions insurer invests in Invesco New-York ETF launch, with fund tailored to its own needs
Swedish, European small caps to be next group for premium pension tenders
Swedish agency firms up running order of 2025 procurements plan; extends deadline for active global equity tender currently under way
Varma invests €500m in made-to-measure Japanese low-emission ETF
Finnish pension firm’s listed chief says Varma will carry on creating more sustainability products
Passive investors: price/market reliance and the due diligence question
Towards the end of October 2024, the High Court in London struck out claims for £335m (€402m) being sought from Barclays for misdemeanours dating back over ten years.
Have factor investing strategies had their day?
Factors have inspired indices, spin-offs and a variety of investment strategies but it has become hard to argue that they will offer investors a persistent future premium
Equities: Active investors keep their eye on the prize
As equity markets enter a new phase after the August 2024 sell-off, institutions are sticking to their long-term active equity approaches
LD picks BankInvest for listed alternatives, citing quant, factor-based approach
Danish pension fund manager “pleasantly surprised” by volume of extremely high quality offers received
UK investment industry rules out LDI Crisis 2.0 as bond yields soar
UK 10-year Gilt yield rose to 4.93% today following increased borrowing costs from government
Dutch DC frontrunners reform their interest rate hedges
In DC, pension funds will only hedge interest rate risk for older participants
Pension funds should not be treated as NBFIs, PensionsEurope tells EC
Industry association responds to consultation that will inform policy planning in the Commission’s new political mandate
Case study: Caja de Ingenieros Gestion - The rise of smart beta
The Spanish pension provider Caja de Ingenieros Gestion serves more than 215,000 members, predominantly from the Spanish engineering sector, using an investment style based on independent analysis, with a bottom-up approach.
Smart beta pioneer reignites debate on factor timing
Research Affiliates founder Rob Arnott finds ‘most factors look very cheap’ in a new paper highlighting the attractiveness of many equity factor strategies
Viewpoint: Alternative risk premia strategies stand tall amid turmoil
While bond and equity markets have been pummeled in 2022, Alternative Risk Premia strategies have at last been able to demonstrate their diversification prowess. Will this year’s performance restore investor confidence in these strategies after the painful results of 2020?
Copyright © 1997–2025 IPE International Publishers Limited, Registered in England, Reg No. 3233596, VAT No. 685 1784 92. Registered Office: 1 Kentish Buildings, 125 Borough High Street, London SE1 1NP