Table of content
Introduction and Industry Overview
Insights into the Nordic fund management industry including challenges in infrastructure investments, the importance of economies of scale, and the growing interest in real assets like infrastructure, real estate, agriculture, and forestry.
Pension Fund Mergers and Collaborations
Discussion on recent mergers and attempted mergers among Nordic pension funds, highlighting organizational challenges, co-operation trends, efficiency gains, and the balance between scale and nimbleness.
Gender Inequality among Nordic Asset Owners
Analysis of gender diversity at the management and board levels in Nordic asset owners, conflicting practices regarding equality, and regulatory influences across Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden.
US Equities and Value Investing
Overview of the optimism in US equity markets despite European quantitative easing, focus on value stocks, and the preference for active, value-led investment strategies in the US.
Income Investing and Risk Management
Changing landscape of income investing in a low interest rate environment, with strategies for balancing income needs with risk appetite through innovative and active approaches.
Nordic Pension Fund Asset Allocation and Gender Balance Data
Comparative statistics on asset owners in Norway, Finland, Denmark, and Sweden, their assets under management, gender composition on boards, and CEO roles.
Interview with Varma’s Chief Investment Officer Reima Rytsölä
A detailed discussion on Varma’s strategic shifts including increased equity and hedge fund allocations, concerns about Finnish real estate exposure, and evolving investment and risk management philosophies.
Regulatory Update: AIFMD Implementation in Nordic Countries
Exploration of the challenges and progress in implementing the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) across Finland, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, including supervisory issues and market impacts.
Real Assets Focus: Infrastructure Investment Trends
Analysis of the Nordic investor appetite for infrastructure assets amidst market crowding, low yields, risk of deviation from original fund plans, and varying investment strategies among pension funds.
Real Assets Focus: Forestry and Agriculture Investments
Case study on AP2’s agricultural and forestry investments, club-deal structures, diversification benefits, and responsible investment considerations.
Real Assets Focus: Real Estate Market Dynamics
Current enthusiasm for real estate investments in Nordic pension funds, valuation concerns, risk factors by country, and academic perspectives on real estate diversification and market interconnection.
Academic Insight: Real Estate Market Connectivity and Behavioural Finance
Research findings on real estate correlations with other asset classes, diminishing diversification benefits due to globalization, and the role of behavioural finance in market crises.
Swedish Local Government Pension Collaborations
Overview of collaborative structures among Swedish municipalities and counties for pension liabilities management, including joint funds, pension foundations, and subsidiary arrangements.
Roundtable: The Evolving Role of Fixed Income
Industry experts discuss changing fixed income market dynamics, portfolio allocation challenges, the impact of low yields and duration risk, tactical management, and role of currency and geopolitical risks.
Profile: Danske Capital’s Manager Selection Process
Insights into the qualitative and quantitative criteria for external manager selection with an emphasis on integrity, cultural fit, and portfolio manager expertise.
Profile: Storebrand Asset Management’s Sustainability and Product Strategy
Details on Storebrand’s responsible investment initiatives including green bonds, divestment from coal, sustainable smart-beta funds, and product offerings aligned with sustainability goals.
Profile: The Lundbeck Foundation’s Opportunistic Investment Approach
Discussion of the Foundation’s focused and concentrated portfolio, agility advantages as a smaller investor, thematic investments, and balanced approach to risk and return.
Do’s and Don’ts: Managing Communications with Nordic Investors
Guidance on preferred communication channels by Nordic investors, challenges with phone calls and emails, and suggested etiquette for establishing successful professional contacts.
Personal Profile: CIO Anders Schelde, Nordea Life & Pensions (Denmark)
An in-depth personal and professional profile highlighting his career, daily work habits, preferences, and insights into managing investments in a Nordic pension company.
News and Industry Updates
Briefs on gender equality initiatives in asset management, bond market outlooks, regulatory changes affecting distribution models, and upcoming Nordic asset management events.
Future Outlook: Distribution, Advice, and Robo-Advisors
Examines how regulation and technology (such as robo-advisors) are transforming the retail distribution and advisory landscape in Nordic asset management, with implications for product development and client engagement.
Upcoming Topics and Events
Preview of forthcoming magazine themes including infrastructure funds, activist investments, and foundation investing, plus a schedule of related industry roundtables and networking events.