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Latest on private markets
Scottish Widows buys into private markets through new master trust strategies
The master trust provider has launched two new investment portfolios with exposure to private markets through bespoke long-term asset funds.
LGPS Central hires Dowdall to lead local investment drive
LGPS Central, one of the asset pooling companies for the Local Government Pension Scheme, has named Paddy Dowdall as investment director for local investment.
Global investment outlook: Navigating a complex landscape
Pensions Expert asked consultants and asset managers for their views on the continued dominance of US equities in investment portfolios, how to mitigate geopolitical risks, and whether private markets have been overdone.
Outlook 2026: How pension schemes can support the UK economy
Pensions Expert explores the opportunities and challenges for investors seeking to increase their domestic allocations in 2026, with the help of master trusts and asset managers.
Railpen: The UK needs a scale-up fund to compete globally
Julia Diez, head of UK productive assets at Railpen, calls for a UK-wide investment initiative to support pension schemes in investing in innovative, growing companies close to home.
Private markets dominate manager searches as high demand continues
Bfinance report shows strong institutional appetite for direct lending and value-add real estate, while private equity activity has stalled.
In Depth: Regulators begin work on private markets as interest grows
The Pensions Regulator and the Bank of England are launching separate exploratory exercises focusing on private markets, as pension scheme interest grows and the government continues to push for more domestic allocations.
PMI warns trustees to upskill as private market allocations surge
In its latest private markets guide, the Pensions Management Institute says allocations to these asset classes have almost tripled since 2019.
British Business Bank confirms pension investors in £200m first fund
The £3.7bn NatWest Cushon master trust is among the confirmed backers of British Growth Partnership Fund I, targeting investment in high-growth UK companies, the British Business Bank has announced.
UK’s largest pension funds back regional investment drive through ‘Sterling 20’
The move builds on the Mansion House Accord agreed in July, and will be launched at the government’s inaugural Regional Investment Summit in Birmingham.
Private Assets in Focus: What UK Pension Schemes Are Thinking
To ‘take the temperature’ of the industry as it prepares for significant changes, Pensions Expert, in partnership with CACEIS, surveyed representatives from across the pensions sector on private assets and consolidation.
Private markets to hit $24trn in value globally by 2030
Pension funds are expected to drive the continuing growth of private markets assets, with infrastructure and private debt expected to overtake real estate in value globally.
Pension funds, venture capital, and the government’s drive for growth
Despite a big push from the government to encourage greater pension investment into UK alternatives, there seems to be little initial activity from pension funds in relation to venture capital investing.
What European pension funds can teach the UK about VC investing
Research by Pensions for Purpose and European Women in VC has laid out how UK and European pension funds currently allocate to venture capital, with chancellor Rachel Reeves calling for schemes to become “active builders of our economy”.
Aviva launches ‘innovative’ private market default strategy for DC savers
Aviva is stepping up its investment in private markets with a new defined contribution default strategy targeting up to 25% in unlisted assets.
Private debt managers brace for consolidation amid regulatory and operational strain
Almost all private debt managers expect a wave of industry consolidation within five years, according to new research from Carne Group.
Railpen appoints productive assets leader to oversee innovation investments
The investment manager for the £34bn Railways Pension Scheme has promoted Julia Diez to lead its productive assets investments work.
Should tax relief be dependent on UK investments? Interrogating Ros Altmann’s radical idea
As an incentive for pension schemes to invest more in the UK, former pensions minister Baroness Ros Altmann has suggested making tax relief dependent on domestic allocations. Business and finance journalist Geoff Ho explores her idea and gathers expert reaction.
Investment roundup: GLIL continues Bluefield partnership
Plus: Legal & General and Federated Hermes merge property funds to create £4.7bn vehicle.
Nest seeds £550m mandate for sustainable timber in diversification push
The UK’s biggest master trust has awarded a timberland mandate to US-based BTG Pactual, the second manager it has appointed in this asset class.
Smart invests in renewable energy strategy as part of private markets push
The £330m move will see the master trust support innovative companies like Kensa, which manufactures ground source heat pump technology.
Unlocking value through diversification, decumulation and infrastructure
Mobius’s Hugh Cutler explores how the defined contribution landscape has changed – and what pension schemes and providers must do to keep ahead of the curve.
Should pension schemes access illiquid markets through investment trusts?
Former pensions minister Baroness Ros Altmann is among those calling for closed-ended listed funds to be included in the scope of the Pension Schemes Bill to give more options for private markets investment.
BoE governor warns against mandation as Bell promises ‘opt out’
The governor of the Bank of England has voiced opposition to potential policies to mandate how pension schemes invest – an intervention described as “nuclear” by a former pensions minister.
The power of marginal gains in pension investing
The recent signing of the Mansion House Accord by 17 major UK pension schemes has put pensions and investment returns firmly under the spotlight, writes People’s Partnership chief executive officer Patrick Heath-Lay.
Is the UK pensions industry doing the right thing the wrong way?
David Whitehair, chair of the Defined Contribution Investment Forum, argues against mandation of asset allocations and instead calls for investible assets and better governance.
Mansion House Accord to drive growth in LTAF demand and supply, poll suggests
Three in five asset managers are exploring launching long-term asset funds as momentum grows for defined contribution pension schemes to invest in private markets.
Private markets buyers eye credit, secondaries amid rising geopolitical risk
Research from Coller Capital shows a growing appetite for private credit and secondary strategies among institutional investors worldwide.