December 2022

OECD Pensions Outlook 2022

The OECD Pensions Outlook discusses how to introduce, develop and strengthen asset-backed pension arrangements, the role that employers can play in their provision, and the implication of different fee structures on individuals saving for retirement and on providers. The 2022 edition focuses on describing best practices for developing mortality tables and providing policy guidance on how to design, implement and continue the operation of non-guaranteed lifetime retirement income arrangements. Get the report here

February 2022

Danish pension scheme halts Russian investments

Danish pension fund AkademikerPension will immediately halt new investments in Russian assets after President Vladimir Putin recognised Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine as independent, it said on Tuesday. The $23 billion fund said it would stop new investments in Russian government bonds and companies where the Russian state owns stakes of more than 50%. "Putin's formal recognition of the two separatist republics is a violation of Ukraine's sovereignty, which is a violation of international law. And it is also a...

UK. Parliament pension fund makes ESG investments

The scheme’s annual report revealed that the fund is integrating environmental, social and governance issues throughout its investment process, while making a number of commitments to ESG-aligned mandates throughout the year to March 2021. Read also UK. DWP confirms GMP revaluation rate reduction First, the scheme invested in the BlackRock Global Renewable Power Infrastructure Fund III, making its first contribution in August 2020, with further capital calls made later in the year. Read also From human rights to recycling bins: how can...

Canada’s largest pension fund CPPIB takes engagement approach to net-zero

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, better known as CPP Investments or CPPIB, announced net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emission goals by 2050 through a decarbonisation approach focused on influencing transition within high-emitting sectors as opposed to divestment. Read also US. Pension plans increasing their focus on allocating to diverse asset managers The plan also includes increasing its investments into green and transition assets from $67 billion to $130 billion by 2030 and a carbon neutrality goal by the end of the...

How will the EU’s SFDR sustainability rules work?

Europe’s action plan on sustainable finance will accelerate the mobilisation of green finance and reinforce EU leadership in this area by being an example for regulators across the world that are looking at a standardised approach. Despite the challenges, the goal is to build a greener, more sustainable future, but it cannot be done without the weight of financial market participants being fully committed. Today, country and corporate carbon reduction plans are still far short of the 1.5C target under the...

Zimbabwe’s FML faces investigation over asset separation law defiance

FML, the second-largest life assurance company in Zimbabwe by market share that also provides retirement, medical insurance, micro-insurance and other long-term financial security products, has also effectively defied the law on separation of insurance and pension businesses due to internal squabbles over the issue, which has led to some executives being removed. Zimbabwe’s leading financial services conglomerate, CBZ Holdings, is in the process of taking over FMHL to build a business behemoth in the local and regional markets. In a letter...

Ireland. Fix pensions now or risk future misery for a million workers who aren’t saving

Frustration is growing over the glacial pace at which successive governments have approached our deepening pensions crisis. CSO figures published last week show two-thirds of workers aged 20 to 69 have employment-based or personal pension savings to supplement the state pension. Read also Jamaica. Tourism pension fund likely to grow faster than traditional funds – Goffe That might seem reassuring, but once you exclude the public sector, there are around a million private sector workers with no supplementary pension savings at...

Nigeria: Alleged Pension Fraud – EFCC Closes Case Against Ex-Head of Service, Steve Oronsaye

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Thursday, rested its case in a pension fraud trial involving a former Head of Service of the Federation, Stephen Oronsaye. The anti-graft agency closed its case with the testimony of its 21st prosecution witness. It will now be the turn of Mr Oronsaye and his co-defendants to open their defence to the 49 charges of money laundering involving N2 billion in public funds. EFCC alleged in the charges at the Federal High Court in...

Iranian Teachers Demand Fair Pay, Pension Adjustment

Hundreds of teachers are protesting across Iran to demand a fair pay, adjustment of pensions, and the release of their detained colleagues. The protests in dozens of cities follow two days of sit-ins in schools where teachers had reportedly gone on strike. On January 31, teachers staged a protest outside the parliament building in Tehran and in front of Education Ministry offices in other cities, including Shiraz, Isfahan, and Ahvaz, to present their demands. Last month, Iran's parliament passed legislation to raise...

U.S. public pension funds may turn to more ‘aggressive’ investment, report says

U.S. public pension funds will likely have to switch to more aggressive investment strategies in the coming years to fill funding gaps despite assets held by sovereign investors having grown to record levels amid the 2021 equity market boom, a new report said. On average, the difference between assets and liabilities at U.S. public pension funds, known as the "funded ratio," remains "unsatisfactory" at less than 75%, sovereign investor specialist Global SWF said in a report. To boost returns, many will...