Professional Pensions www.professionalpensions.com Franklin Templeton appoints Africa head <p><!--summary start--> SOUTH AFRICA - Asset management firm Franklin Templeton Investments has named Jo-Anne Bailey as director of its African division. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2122343/franklin-templeton-appoints-africa-head https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2122343/franklin-templeton-appoints-africa-head Thu, 3 Nov 2011 11:15:44 +0000 Comment: High-octane ESG <p><!--summary start--> Last month I attended the Principal Officers Association Winter Conference in Johannesburg. The conference touched on many subjects: trustee education, transition management, etc. But the subject that seemed to ruffle feathers the most was incorporating environmental, social and governance factors into investment practices. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/opinion/2084163/comment-octane-esg https://www.professionalpensions.com/opinion/2084163/comment-octane-esg Wed, 6 Jul 2011 13:56:47 +0000 South Africa: Updated regs open doors to new investments <p><!--summary start--> Industry officials largely welcome the update to regulations over investment practices but the move to comply comes with some challenges, as Christine Senior reports <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/feature/2084202/south-africa-updated-regs-doors-investments https://www.professionalpensions.com/feature/2084202/south-africa-updated-regs-doors-investments Wed, 6 Jul 2011 13:38:12 +0000 South Africa: ESG takes centre stage with new regulations <p><!--summary start--> Raquel Pichardo-Allison reports on the environmental, social and governance factors affecting South African pension funds <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/feature/2086032/esg-takes-centre-stage-regulations https://www.professionalpensions.com/feature/2086032/esg-takes-centre-stage-regulations Wed, 6 Jul 2011 13:32:00 +0000 South Africa: Pension funds can help job-creation <p><!--summary start--> Coverage from the POA Winter Conference in Johannesburg <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/feature/2086038/pension-funds-help-job-creation https://www.professionalpensions.com/feature/2086038/pension-funds-help-job-creation Wed, 6 Jul 2011 13:30:00 +0000 South Africa: More clarity in sec lending will spur growth <p><!--summary start--> Coverage from the POA Winter Conference in Johannesburg <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/feature/2086042/clarity-sec-lending-spur-growth https://www.professionalpensions.com/feature/2086042/clarity-sec-lending-spur-growth Wed, 6 Jul 2011 13:30:00 +0000 John Oliphant: The high-impact investor <p><!--summary start--> Raquel Pichardo-Allison talks to John Oliphant, investment head at South Africa's Government Employees Pension Fund about his quest for high-impact, responsible investing <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/feature/2086056/-impact-investor https://www.professionalpensions.com/feature/2086056/-impact-investor Wed, 6 Jul 2011 13:29:00 +0000 Video: The PIC's approach to developmental investing <p><!--summary start--> SOUTH AFRICA - Global Pensions speaks to Dan Matjila, chief investment officer of the Public Investment Corporation, the asset managers for the country's largest pension scheme, about developmental investment. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2082268/video-pics-approach-developmental-investing https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2082268/video-pics-approach-developmental-investing Tue, 28 Jun 2011 14:59:08 +0000 Week on the web <p><!--summary start--> GLOBAL - Have you missed the biggest stories in pensions this week? Find out below, as we list the top 10 most popular stories on www.globalpensions.com over the past seven days. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2078123/web https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2078123/web Fri, 10 Jun 2011 12:08:00 +0000 Imbasa Yegolide Awards 2011: The Winners <p><!--summary start--> Global Pensions teamed up with the Principal Officers Association for the third consecutive year to host last night's Imbasa Yegolide Awards for South African pension service providers. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2076460/imbasa-yegolide-awards-2011-winners https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2076460/imbasa-yegolide-awards-2011-winners Tue, 7 Jun 2011 10:22:00 +0000 Africa and Russia are ripe for investment <p><!--summary start--> Africa and Russia represent some of the best investment opportunities for funds considering emerging and frontier markets, Danish pension funds heard. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/feature/2076161/africa-russia-ripe-investment https://www.professionalpensions.com/feature/2076161/africa-russia-ripe-investment Mon, 6 Jun 2011 16:14:00 +0000 Africa tipped to lead frontier market growth <p><!--summary start--> GLOBAL - Africa and Russia represent some of the best investment opportunities for funds considering emerging and frontier markets, Danish pension funds heard. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1012293/africa-tipped-lead-frontier-market-growth https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1012293/africa-tipped-lead-frontier-market-growth Fri, 20 May 2011 15:02:00 +0000 Week on the Web 18 March - 24 March 2011: What stories have you missed out on this week? <p><!--summary start--> GLOBAL - Have you missed the biggest stories in pensions this week? Find out below, as we list the top 10 most popular stories on www.globalpensions.com over the past seven days. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2037376/web-march-march-2011-stories-missed https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2037376/web-march-march-2011-stories-missed Fri, 25 Mar 2011 10:43:00 +0000 MENA region oversold - Mobius <p><!--summary start--> MENA - Mark Mobius is "cautiously" looking to buy oversold quality companies in the Middle East and North Africa, despite increasing volatility in the region. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1019352/mobius-eyes-oversold-mena-stocks https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1019352/mobius-eyes-oversold-mena-stocks Tue, 15 Mar 2011 14:16:00 +0000 Week on the Web 4 March - 10 March 2011: What stories have you missed out on this week? <p><!--summary start--> GLOBAL - Have you missed the biggest stories in pensions this week? Find out below, as we list the top 10 most popular stories on www.globalpensions.com over the past seven days. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2033424/web-march-march-2011-stories-missed https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2033424/web-march-march-2011-stories-missed Fri, 11 Mar 2011 10:14:00 +0000 Towers Watson boosts stake in Fifth Quadrant <p><!--summary start--> SOUTH AFRICA - Towers Watson has doubled its stake in South African actuarial and employee benefits firm Fifth Quadrant and appointed Nigel Biggs as managing consultant in the country. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2031806/towers-watson-boosts-stake-fifth-quadrant https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2031806/towers-watson-boosts-stake-fifth-quadrant Mon, 7 Mar 2011 14:50:00 +0000 MENA region still attractive despite unrest <p><!--summary start--> MENA - The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) still offer investors attractive opportunities despite the current political turmoil, ING Investment Management believes. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2031388/mena-region-attractive-despite-unrest https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2031388/mena-region-attractive-despite-unrest Fri, 4 Mar 2011 11:56:12 +0000 New Aon Hewitt taps Hewitt exec for EMEA head <p><!--summary start--> UK - The new Aon Hewitt has named Yvan Legris, former president of global consulting at Hewitt Associates, as chief executive of UK, Europe, Middle East and Africa. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1741205/aon-hewitt-taps-hewitt-exec-emea-head https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1741205/aon-hewitt-taps-hewitt-exec-emea-head Thu, 7 Oct 2010 14:54:08 +0000 Lack of second pillar dragging Africa down <p><!--summary start--> A lack of well-developed second pillar pension schemes across much of Africa is costing companies a chance to tap into the high-growth continent, Raquel Pichardo-Allison reports <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/feature/1740340/lack-pillar-dragging-africa https://www.professionalpensions.com/feature/1740340/lack-pillar-dragging-africa Mon, 4 Oct 2010 14:21:00 +0000 Uganda fund reports 7% return on members' contributions <p><!--summary start--> UGANDA - Uganda's state pension fund reported a return of 7% on members' contributions for the year to June, chairman Vincent Ssekkono said. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1735920/uganda-fund-reports-return-contributions https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1735920/uganda-fund-reports-return-contributions Wed, 29 Sep 2010 11:49:36 +0000 Uganda's NSSF taps new equity managers <p><!--summary start--> UGANDA - Uganda's National Social Security Fund is signing on new asset managers to help it manage its equities portfolio. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1003766/uganda-nssf-taps-equity-managers https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1003766/uganda-nssf-taps-equity-managers Tue, 14 Sep 2010 14:17:36 +0000 SEI appoints Mokaka to head up South Africa business <p><!--summary start--> SOUTH AFRICA - SEI Investments (South Africa) has hired Giles Mokoka as managing director in Johannesburg. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1014427/sei-appoints-mokaka-head-south-africa-business https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1014427/sei-appoints-mokaka-head-south-africa-business Mon, 6 Sep 2010 14:19:01 +0000 Comment: Pension issues are universal <p><!--summary start--> Last month I had the pleasure of making my way down to Johannesburg, South Africa. I wasn't attending the World Cup, though I did learn the Diski dance - a dance comprised solely of football moves - while I was there. Instead, I was there to help host the Imabasa Yegolide Awards, the South African awards for pension service providers alongside the Principal Officers Association, and to attend the POA's winter conference. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/opinion/1063270/comment-pension-issues-universal https://www.professionalpensions.com/opinion/1063270/comment-pension-issues-universal Thu, 8 Jul 2010 13:15:14 +0000 Investec Asset Management's africa funds may triple by 2015 <p><!--summary start--> AFRICA - Investec Asset Management, the South African money manager with $70 billion in assets, said its investments in Africa, excluding South Africa, may triple in the next two to five years as investors seek growth markets. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1014555/investec-asset-management-africa-funds-triple-2015 https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1014555/investec-asset-management-africa-funds-triple-2015 Tue, 29 Jun 2010 11:50:00 +0000 Imbasa Yegolide Awards 2010 - The winners <p><!--summary start--> Global Pensions and the Principal Officers Association of South Africa last night held its annual South African pension service providers awards in Johannesburg, the Imbasa Yegolide Awards for 2010. The winners were announced at an elegant gala at the prestigious Sandton Sun Hotel, Sandton Central. Congratulations to all the service providers who made it! <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1651796/imbasa-yegolide-awards-2010-winners https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1651796/imbasa-yegolide-awards-2010-winners Tue, 1 Jun 2010 11:57:34 +0000 S. Africa's PIC assets rose 24% in year through March <p><!--summary start--> SOUTH AFRICA - The assets managed by South Africa's state pension fund manager leaped 24% in the fiscal year through March as share prices soared, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1635868/-africa-pic-assets-rose-march https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1635868/-africa-pic-assets-rose-march Tue, 11 May 2010 14:33:00 +0000 APG to invest $250m in Pallinghurst <p><!--summary start--> NETHERLANDS/SOUTH AFRICA - APG, the investment arm of giant Dutch pension fund ABP, has committed US$250m to Pallinghurst, an investment company specialising in natural resources. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1601906/apg-invest-usd250m-pallinghurst https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1601906/apg-invest-usd250m-pallinghurst Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:12:51 +0000 Molefe quits as CEO of Africa's biggest fund manager <p><!--summary start--> SOUTH AFRICA - Brian Molefe has resigned as chief executive officer of South Africa's Public Investment Corp., the continent's biggest pension fund manager, the company said. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1012999/molefe-quits-ceo-africa-biggest-fund-manager https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1012999/molefe-quits-ceo-africa-biggest-fund-manager Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:27:04 +0000 South Africa Wants Pension Funds to Spur Development <p><!--summary start--> SOUTH AFRICA - South Africa plans to create financial instruments that will enable state and private pension funds to invest more in development projects, economic development minister Ebrahim Patel said. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1010577/south-africa-pension-funds-spur-development https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1010577/south-africa-pension-funds-spur-development Fri, 5 Mar 2010 13:08:00 +0000 IASB drops plan to alter discount rate calculation <p><!--summary start--> GLOBAL - The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) today voted to not move forward with plans to eliminate the use of government bonds to determine discount rates. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1006511/iasb-drops-plan-alter-discount-rate-calculation https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1006511/iasb-drops-plan-alter-discount-rate-calculation Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:32:00 +0000 National pension fund opts for positive engagement <p><!--summary start--> SOUTH AFRICA - The R786bn (US$83.2bn) Public Investment Corporation (PIC), which manages pension fund assets on behalf of the South African government, has announced it is to shift R65bn to black African fund managers. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1460991/national-pension-fund-opts-positive-engagement https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1460991/national-pension-fund-opts-positive-engagement Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0000 Five year mission <p><!--summary start--> Almost five years after the Nigerian Pensions Reform Bill was passed into law, has the country seen significant benefits from the creation of a pension system? Dorothee Gnaedinger investigates <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/feature/1558879/-mission https://www.professionalpensions.com/feature/1558879/-mission Mon, 2 Mar 2009 14:36:00 +0000 African bourses move to attract pension funds <p><!--summary start--> US - African stock markets will launch a campaign to attract more investors from the US and Europe to boost liquidity in their markets, said Sunil Benimadhu, chief executive officer of the Stock Exchange of Mauritius. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1460907/african-bourses-attract-pension-funds https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1460907/african-bourses-attract-pension-funds Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0000 Trustees told to recover 'secret' administrator profits <p><!--summary start--> SOUTH AFRICA - Trustees have a duty to recover profits made by pension fund administrators that have not been disclosed to pension schemes, the pension funds adjudicator (PFA) has ruled. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1465288/trustees-told-recover-secret-administrator-profits https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1465288/trustees-told-recover-secret-administrator-profits Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0000 SA pension lawsuit gains support <p><!--summary start--> SOUTH AFRICA - The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) has declared its support for a lawsuit against Investec Employee Benefits (IEB), in which the South African Equity Workers Association (SAEWU) is seeking R4bn (US$470m) over allegations IEB mismanaged investments purchased with pension fund money. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1458449/sa-pension-lawsuit-gains-support https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1458449/sa-pension-lawsuit-gains-support Fri, 3 Oct 2008 01:00:00 +0000 SA pensions change takes effect <p><!--summary start--> SOUTH AFRICA -The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has processed 5,000 applications for pensions from men aged between 63 and 64 since the new Social Assistance Amendment Act came into effect on 14 July. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1460008/sa-pensions-change-takes-effect https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1460008/sa-pensions-change-takes-effect Mon, 11 Aug 2008 01:00:00 +0000 Scandals dent confidence in South African pensions <p><!--summary start--> SOUTH AFRICA - Leading figures in the South African pensions industry have called for confidence to be restored in the country's pensions system, following a series of scandals. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1467418/scandals-dent-confidence-south-african-pensions https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1467418/scandals-dent-confidence-south-african-pensions Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:00:00 +0000 ATP looking to drop Zimbabwe investment <p><!--summary start--> AFRICA/DENMARK - The DKK440bn (US$92bn) ATP fund has confirmed it is considering divesting from mining firm Anglo American over its continuing activity in Zimbabwe. <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1466900/atp-looking-drop-zimbabwe-investment https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1466900/atp-looking-drop-zimbabwe-investment Mon, 30 Jun 2008 01:00:00 +0000 Watson Wyatt completes acquisition <p><!--summary start--> SOUTH AFRICA - Watson Wyatt has completed its acquisition of a 20% stake in consulting firm Fifth Quadrant, as revealed exclusively by Global Pensions in December ( www.globalpensions.com , 3 December 2007). <!--summary end--></p> https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1462580/watson-wyatt-completes-acquisition https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/1462580/watson-wyatt-completes-acquisition Mon, 9 Jun 2008 01:00:00 +0000