News in short January 27 – January 31 2020

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Varma co-invests in property together with South-Korean investors

Varma’s head of real estate, Ilkka Tomperi, said the investment fitted well into the pension insurer’s growing property portfolio “in today’s low interest rate environment”. Commenting on the partnership, he said: “We are investing into real estate directly and indirectly via funds and JVs. Teaming up with other likeminded investors like NHIS and Shinhan enables us to access a large asset like the Vallila campus. We have used JVs across Europe to invest in office and retail assets like Taunus Turm in Frankfurt and Skärholmen Centrum in Stockholm.”

 

PKA allocates more to green bonds

The Danish pension company PKA has added DKK 3.5 billion in green bonds, issued by the Dutch government, to its portfolio. The pension company previously invested in climate bonds issued by the Dutch government last summer.

 

OP’s new infrastructure fund aims to ensure responsible, professional, long-term ownership of Finnish infrastructure

The Finnish banking group OP is in the process of establishing a new responsible infrastructure fund that aims to invest in sectors such as energy production and distribution, telecommunications and transport infrastructure. OP Asset Management will manage the fund that is aimed at Finnish institutional investors, while Access Capital Partners will work as the advisor.

“Infrastructure often involves functions that are vital to society, such as the distribution of electricity, heat or water. The fund provides a safe, Finnish option for owners, such as municipalities, to either sell their existing holdings or finance new projects,” said Tuomas Virtala, head of asset management for corporate and institutional customers at OP Corporate Bank.

He continued: “The exceptional interest rate environment encourages investors to choose safe and profitable alternatives to replace fixed income investments and supplement equity investments. Demand for infrastructure investments has grown substantially in Finland as well.”

OP says it aims to raise EUR 300 million in commitments from investors.

 

PEOPLE MOVES:

 

Kåre Hahn Michelsen new chief investment officer at P+, Pensionskassen for Akademikere

 

SPP hires Johanna Lundgren Gestlöf as new head of sustainability

 

Have a great weekend!

<strong>Länsförsäkringar updates its exclusion list

  Varma co-invests in property together with South-Korean investors Varma’s head of real estate, Ilkka Tomperi, said the investment fitted well into the pension insurer’s growing property portfolio “in today’s low interest rate environment”. Commenting on the partnership, he said: “We are investing into real estate directly and indirectly via funds and JVs. Teaming up with other likeminded investors like NHIS and Shinhan enables us to access a large asset like the Vallila campus. We have used JVs across Europe to invest in office and retail assets like Taunus Turm in Frankfurt and Skärholmen Centrum in Stockholm.”   PKA allocates