All Investment articles – Page 68
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Features
Phoenix moves to simplify own scheme's benefits with PIE
Nearly two fifths of eligible pensioners in a scheme sponsored by Phoenix Group have accepted a pension increase exchange offer, which has shaved about £20m from the bulk annuity insurer's defined benefit liabilities.
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OpinionSchemes are now part of a sea change in ESG investing
Editorial: Pension funds are set to engage with issues such as climate change more than ever before, as regulatory developments and increased awareness push environmental, social and governance considerations up the agenda.
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FeaturesUSS targets steady returns with KCom investment
The actions of bellwether schemes like the £64bn Universities Superannuation Scheme are always closely watched, but scrutiny on USS is particularly acute after widespread strike action last year. Last month, the UK’s largest private plan agreed a £504m cash takeover of telecoms business KCom.
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Features
Anglo American dials down equities even further
The UK defined benefit schemes of mining multinational Anglo American have halved their already minimal exposure to equities, as the plans near self-sufficiency and reduced risk.
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Features
Visa scheme cuts lifestyles and introduces white-labelling
Trustees of the defined contribution Visa Europe Pension Plan have reduced the number of lifestyle strategies on offer and introduced white-labelled funds for the first time, one of which invests in direct and listed property.
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OpinionFixed income’s new world: Flexible, absolute return and the rest
Data crunch: Broadridge Financial Solutions’ Jonathan Libre takes a look at the increasingly complex range of fixed income products on the market, warning schemes to disregard marketing and look under the hood at funds.
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Features
Private debt inflows continue as storm clouds gather
Data crunch: Patrick Marshall is worried about the prospects for the private debt sector. The direct lending veteran and head of private debt at Hermes Investment Management says the possibility of markets coming back down to earth could leave some of his peers, and by extension the reputation of the industry, facing serious damage.
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Features
Active managers unable to mitigate late 2018 volatility
For active managers, the ultimate test of mettle will always be whether they can beat their benchmark. As of the end of 2018 the news looks good for stockpickers specialising in UK equities, but analysts say there are still concerns behind the numbers.
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News
BlueSky and Crystal master trusts gain authorisation
On the go: Two more master trusts have gained authorisation from the Pensions Regulator, bringing the total approved schemes in the sector to five.
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News
LGIM votes against record number of companies in 2018
On the go: Legal & General Investment Management has broken its record for voting against companies of which it is a shareholder, as the asset manager tries to cement its stewardship credentials.
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OpinionIn pensions as in Brexit, it pays to plan for the worst
Editorial: The government would not be expected to flirt with the prospect of not achieving a Brexit deal without prior contingency planning. It is time for pension fund trustees to think carefully about what they would do if their sponsor goes under.
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OpinionWhy schemes cannot rely on credit strategies alone for CDI
Cash flow-driven investing is the strategy of the moment. While schemes once looked to liability-driven investing to manage liability risk, many are now using CDI to focus more on meeting payments to pensioners.
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News
Fiduciary managers struggle in 2018’s testing markets
On the go: Fiduciary managers significantly undershot their targets in 2018, with underperformance ranging from 6 per cent to more than 11 per cent, according to the first XPS FM Watch report.
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News
South Yorkshire Pension Authority invests £80m in local region
South Yorkshire Pension Authority has announced plans to ramp up its local investing efforts, committing £80m to lending aimed at supporting property development in Sheffield and extending an existing allocation to another Yorkshire-based property fund.
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News
Church of England scheme gives ultimatum to mining companies
On the go: In the wake of the collapse of the tailings dam in Brumadinho, Brazil, which killed at least 84 people and left hundreds missing, 96 institutional investors have been stirred into action.
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News
Select committee gives pension industry low marks for transparency
On the go: The pensions and financial inclusion minister Guy Opperman, and John Glen, the economic secretary to HM Treasury, were grilled by the Work and Pensions Committee investigating pension costs and transparency on Wednesday.
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Features
LDI growth continues across UK schemes
UK pension fund exposure to liability-driven investments continues to increase, according to data collected by Pensions Expert’s sister title MandateWire, as an increasing number of smaller schemes enter the market.
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FeaturesShell drills for liquidity and slashes return-seeking assets post valuation
Trustees of the Shell Contributory Pension Fund have overhauled the scheme’s investment strategy following its latest valuation, introducing new allocations to investment-grade and highly liquid assets, while cutting the fund’s return-seeking portfolio exposure.
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Features
John Laing divests asset-backed funding from former sponsor
The John Laing Pension Fund has sold its remaining stake in infrastructure company John Laing Environmental Assets Group, a holding initially contributed to the scheme as part of a contingent funding plan in 2015.
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Features
Investors worried high levels of debt could trigger next recession
Data crunch: Institutional investors across the world are concerned that high levels of debt could spark the next market crisis, according to recent research by Invesco.