February 2022

Dutch pension fund PFZW to end investment in some fossil fuel companies

PFZW, the Dutch health care workers' pension fund, on Wednesday said it would disinvest from any fossil fuel company by 2024 that doesn't have a "convincing and verifiable" strategy to reach the goals laid out in the Paris Climate Change agreement. The decision by PFZW, with 278 billion euros ($316 billion) in assets, follows similar moves by other asset managers to overhaul the way they invest as part of a global efforts to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Some have...

US. Pension Funds Chase Returns in Private-Market Debt

Retirement funds are clamoring to invest in private-market loans, hungry for an asset that can beat public markets while at the same time throwing off cash to help pay benefits. Read also US. Why Large Pension Funds Are Investing In Private Real Estate Two of the nation’s three biggest pension funds—those serving public workers in New York and California—have added private-credit allocation targets in the past two years. Across the U.S., state and local retirement funds with private-credit portfolios are expanding...

UK. Women face gap of £7,500 per year and state pension delay

The gender gap in terms of pensions, savings and earnings is a palpable one which can impact women for their entire lives. But it could rear its ugly head even more so in later life, as women face the reality of scrimping and saving just to make ends meet. Founder and CEO of Unbiased, Karen Barrett, spoke exclusively to Express.co.uk to highlight the issues facing women. She said: “A generation of women near retirement is facing the reality that they won’t...

US. Why Large Pension Funds Are Investing In Private Real Estate

Real estate agents and investors across the country, from California to Florida, have noticed an uptick in offers submitted by institutional investors (paywall). Large pension funds are competing with investors and homeowners to buy everything: single-family homes, multifamily, commercial spaces — few asset classes are exempt. These deep pockets cannot resist the action, and for good reason. As the co-founder of a company that invests in private real estate, I’ve seen how property investments can provide greater diversification, income...

US. Pension plans increasing their focus on allocating to diverse asset managers

U.S. pension funds are allocating more to diverse money managers and taking more steps to measure how their assets are allocated and articulate formal policies on their processes. This is the second year Pensions & Investments has surveyed the top 200 U.S. retirement plans regarding defined benefit plan assets managed by money management firms owned by women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans. As of Sept. 30, respondents said a total $120.7 billion was managed by WMDV-owned managers, up from $68.4...

UK. Lecturers strike again over USS benefit cuts

On the go: Staff at 44 institutions are to walk out once again over planned benefit cuts to the Universities Superannuation Scheme. The strike is the latest episode in a long dispute between the USS trustee, employer group Universities UK, and the University and College Union over the resolution of the scheme’s controversial 2020 valuation. The trustee has until the end of the month to submit a schedule of contributions to regulators. Absent a deal, the conclusions reached by the 2020...

French Prime Minister Castex: pensions to be adjusted to factor in inflation

French Prime Minister Jean Castex told France 2 TV on Friday that pensions would be adjusted to factor in inflation. French inflation fell less than expected in January as it eased back from a 13-year high on lower prices for manufactured goods due to winter sales. The INSEE statistics agency said consumer prices rose 0.1% in January, giving a 12-month inflation rate of 3.3%, down from 3.4% in December.   Read more @Financial Post 235 views

Ghana. GH¢10bn private pensions funds available for investment in GSE securities – Deputy MD

Abena Amoah, Deputy Managing Director (MD) of Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE), has said GH¢10 billion private pensions fund is available for investments in GSE listed equity and debt securities. She, therefore, called on specified entities, including State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), to take advantage of such financing and investment opportunities to enhance their operations and make them economically viable. Ms Amoah further urged specified entities to assess and raise Patient Long-term Capital by becoming issuers of equity or debt securities as a support...

US. A monumental year pushes assets up 17%

The 1,000 largest U.S. retirement plans had a banner year, propelled in large part by strong returns in public and private equity and other alternative investment strategies, as well as from higher contributions to defined benefit and defined contribution plans. In the year ended Sept. 30, aggregate assets of the 1,000 largest U.S. retirement funds rose 16.9% to $14.13 trillion, a big improvement from the previous year when assets managed to rise 6.6% amid the first year of the COVID-19...

US. New York’s public pension fund to divest from 21 companies over transition risk

New York’s public pension fund has announced it will divest from nearly two dozen stocks involved in shale oil and gas production. The New York State Common Retirement Fund, which manages around $280 bn on behalf of more than one million individuals, says the 21 companies have ‘failed to demonstrate they are prepared for the transition to a low-carbon economy’. ‘As market forces and new policies drive the energy transition, we must align our investments with a profitable and dynamic future,’...