Latest News

7 February 2012 (PLANSPONSOREurope.com) – The UK’s National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) has urged the country’s pension industry to help highlight and overhaul unnecessary legislation for the government’s ‘Red Tape Challenge’. 

7 February 2012 (PLANSPONSOREurope.com) – The proposed European Financial Transaction Tax would “disproportionately” impact pension funds and IORPs, according to the European Federation for Retirement Provision (EFRP).

7 February 2012 (PLANSPONSOREurope.com) - Extending the Swedish retirement age to 75 would be an increase too far, Arne Paulsson pension expert at Swedish pension agency Pensions Myndigheten has told PLANSPONSOR Europe

7 February 2012 (PLANSPONSOREurope.com) - High investor demand for dividend yield, against a background of weak equity markets and low interest rates, can be met by income flows from European listed property companies, particularly REITs, according to research from the European Public Real Estate Association (EPRA).

7 February 2012 (PLANSPONSOREurope.com) - UK defined benefit pension schemes may face “significant” risks in the first few months of 2012.

6 February 2012 (PLANSPONSOREurope.com) - More than half of corporate financial advisers think almost a third (30%) of UK workers could opt out of the government’s new auto-enrolment regulations due to be introduced from October 2012, according to research from Aviva. 

6 February 2012 (PLANSPONSOREurope.com) - UK consumers are demonstrating a “worrying” lack of appetite for investment in risk, according to Mike Morrison, head of pensions development, AXA Wealth.

6 February 2012 (PLANSPONSOREurope.com) - The European Commission has told PLANSPONSOR Europe that it will publish its White Paper on pensions next week.

6 February 2012 (PLANSPONSOREurope.com) –SVM Asset Management has launched a strategic partnership with Level E Capital.

6 February 2012 (PLANSPONSOREurope.com) –The UK's Pension Protection Fund (PPF) is to recruit specialist farmland and timberland investment managers.

3 February 2012 (PLANSPONSOREurope.com) – UK telecommunications firm BT has told PLANSPONSOR Europe that it is committed to paying down its pension deficit following Q3 results which revealed the market value of its pension scheme assets has decreased by £1.2bn since 31 March 2011 to £35.8bn as at 31 December 2011.

3 February 2012 (PLANSPONSOREurope.com) – Ryanair has announced it intends to sue Aer Lingus to stop it making changes to its pension scheme without shareholder approval.

4 February 2012 (PLANSPONSOREurope.com) – Half a million UK retirees are being short-changed to the tune of up to £1bn from their total future pension income due to overwhelming obstacles preventing them getting the best deal, according to a joint report by the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) and the Pensions Institute (PI) at Cass Business School. 

3 February 2012 (PLANSPONSOREurope.com) –The average retirement age in the Netherlands has risen “spectacularly” since 2006 to around 63, home affairs minister Henk Kamp has told MPs, according to reports.

2 February 2012 (PLANSPONSOREurope.com) – While January proved to be a good month for government bonds J.P. Morgan urges caution longer term, according to Nick Gartside, International Chief Investment Officer for Global Fixed Income.

2 February 2012 (PLANSPONSOREurope.com) – Barnett Waddingham has appointed Nick Salter as Senior Partner. 

2 February 2012 (PLANSPONSOREurope.com) – Finnish pension fund Keva has recorded a -1.7% return on investments in 2011, down from 12.3% in 2010, according to preliminary information.

2 February 2012 (PLANSPONSOREurope.com) – The quality of communication to pension scheme members may be more important than providing financial advice when offering Enhanced Transfer Values (ETVs), according to Atkin & Co.

2 February 2012 (PLANSPONSOREurope.com) – ABP is to cut participants’ pensions for retirees and active scheme members by 0.5% from April 2013.

2 February 2012 (PLANSPONSOREurope.com) – The UK government’s consultation on equalising pensions for the effect of Guaranteed Minimum Pensions is an unnecessary diversion, according to Mercer.