News

Global Pensions held its fourth annual Transition Management Forum London on 10 September 2008 at Plaisterers' Hall.

SWITZERLAND - Swiss institutional funds had a poor first half of the year, with an average unweighted return of -5.46%, according to the Lusenti Partners annual Swiss Institutional survey.

Joseph Mariathasan explores the niche investment area of activist funds, which seek returns through the application of a private equity level of engagement to a select number of listed companies

UK - Trustees preparing defined benefit pension schemes for their second triennial assessment must be aware the strength of the sponsor covenant will have deteriorated, The Pensions Regulator has warned.

UK - The Pension Protection Fund (PPF) is set to take investment strategy and credit risk into account when calculating risk-based levies.

UK - The cost of regulation is spiralling out of control and dictating the form of pension provision employers choose, delegates were told yesterday.

Christine Senior explores the drivers behind the recent explosion in themed fund launches and asks how pension funds should approach this new trend

Including: GLOBAL - AIMA unveils Hedge Fund Matrix; UK - Royal London appoints new group financial controller; UK - Regulator appoints executive director for strategic development

US - The public pension fund industry has urged calm despite being in the middle of one of the worst economic downturns in history and facing mounting losses by the day.

NETHERLANDS - The Dutch central bank and pension fund regulator De Nederlandse Bank (DNB) has rejected claims it interfered with pension funds' investment decisions as a result of declining funding ratios reported by Dutch pension schemes.