Germany Finalises Flagship Pension Reform

German Chancellor Angela Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition agreed on Monday on the final details of a flagship pension reform to lower the retirement age for some people that economists have warned could hurt Europe's biggest economy.

The coalition parties overcame differences over some details, clearing the way for lawmakers to vote on it on Friday.

The plans are almost certain to be passed thanks to a big parliamentary majority for Merkel's "grand coalition" of conservatives and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), although some of Merkel's Christian Democrats may oppose it.

"The parliamentary parties of the coalition have agreed on a pensions package," conservative Volker Kauder said, adding it was "a good example of how the grand coalition can get its work done".

The early retirement proposal is a pet project for the SPD who are committed to social justice but economists have warned that Germany, with its ageing population and shortage of skilled labour, could suffer under the cost.

In 2007, a previous Merkel-led grand coalition agreed to gradually raise the official retirement age by two years to 67 between 2012 and 2029.

Under the new plans, some people will be allowed from July to retire on a full pension at 63, provided they have worked for 45 years.

The parties had disagreed about allowances for people who had claimed jobless benefits. The compromise reached permits those who had been unemployed for a short time to retire early but prevents people from stopping work at the age of 61 by claiming unemployment benefit for two years and then taking up early retirement at 63.

That whole measure will cost about 900 million euros (733.6 million pounds) in this year, rising to 3.1 billion euros a year in 2030.

In addition, some 9.5 million mothers or fathers whose children were born before 1992 will receive higher benefits. This measure will cost 6.7 billion euros a year and will be paid for mainly via social security contributions.

The plans also set rules for people who retire early for health reasons. Those measures will cost 100 million euros in 2014, rising to about 2.1 billion euros in 2030.

Germans work longer than Greeks, Spaniards and French people, says Eurostat, retiring after about 37-1/2 years in employment. The EU average is 35 years. But the reform is raising eyebrows given that Germany has demanded economic sacrifices from its struggling euro zone peers.

(Reuters)

Old Mutual appoints new Finance Director, Chief Operating Officer

Old Mutual PLC Wednesday said it has chosen two new executive directors, promoting a new finance boss and chief operating officer from within its ranks.

In a statement, Old Mutual which is engaged in investments, savings, insurance and banking, said Ingrid Johnson, the current managing executive of retail and business banking for majority-owned subsidiary Nedbank Group Ltd, will succeed outgoing Finance Director Philip Broadley.

Old Mutual also said it has appointed Paul Hanratty as its new chief operating officer. Hanratty is Old Mutual's current group operating officer.

Old Mutual is currently trying to expand in Africa, while building its retail investment business in the UK. It is planning on a minority initial public offering in the US of its US asset management business in 2014, subject to market conditions.

Both appointments will take up their new roles from July 1.

"Ingrid will bring an in-depth knowledge of banking and the wider South African financial services environment, while Paul has a wealth of experience in the group's insurance and investment businesses and an exceptional understanding of the markets in which we operate," Julian Roberts, chief executive, said in a statement.

Old Mutual said Johnson's annual base pay in her new role will be GBP600,000. Her short-term incentive opportunity is set at up to 150% of that amount and subject to group and personal performance targets. Half of any short-term incentive will be awarded in cash, with the remainder in shares deferred for three years. Johnson will also be granted an award equal to 250% of her base pay under Old Mutual's long-term incentive plan. Half of that will vest after three years, with the remainder after four years. It will replace a long-term incentive award granted by Nedbank earlier this year, which Johnson has agreed to waive.

Hanratty's base pay will be GBP630,000, with his short-term incentive opportunity set at up to 150% of that amount and subject to group and personal performance targets. Under the long-term incentive plan, Hanratty will be granted an award equal to 35% of his base pay in addition to a 200% long-term incentive award granted to him in April 2014.

Old Mutual shares were Wednesday quoted at 210.70 pence, up 1.2%.

Etisalat, FBN Insurance launch Sure4Life to boost access to affordable insurance

L-R: Head, Retail Distribution, FBN Insurance, Odinaka Umekwe; Director, Business Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Lucas Dada; and General Manager, FBN Insurance, Segun Balogun at the launch of Sure 4 Life, an airtime-based FBN Insurance life policy in partnership with Etisalat Nigeria, held at Marina, Lagos.

FBN Insurance Limited, a member of FBN Holdings Plc and Etisalat, Nigeria most innovative telecoms company today announced the launch of ‘Sure4Life”, an airtime-based insurance product designed to increase penetration and consumer access to affordable insurance products via the mobile telephone. The product will help drive availability and accessibility to a vast portion of the uninsured Nigerian population and will provide Etisalat customers with one month free life insurance cover between May and July 2014.

Speaking at the launch, Director, Business Segment at Etisalat Nigeria, Lucas Dada, said that the partnership will bring inexpensive and easy to reach insurance products to the benefit of Etisalat’s growing prepaid and post-paid customers.

“Sure4Life is an innovative insurance product which takes away all the challenges that may be associated with taking an insurance policy and allows our subscribers to access and maintain insurance coverage with ease. It is in line with our reputation as the most innovative telecommunications company to provide such life changing products to our customers”, he said.

Dada added that the plan is optional and open to all registered Etisalat subscribers that are between 18 and 80 years of age.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, FBNLife, Val Ojumah, said the initiative will help correct the inaccurate perception that insurance is only for the rich and reduce the complexities and paperwork often associated with insurance. The initiative also supports our aspiration to bring the benefits of insurance to Nigerians who otherwise would have remained uninsured.

“We are proud of our increasing contributions to the growth and development of the insurance industry in Nigeria and assure all stakeholders of our continuous efforts to bring the latest innovations in the business for the benefit of the Nigerian populace. We believe in the strength and sustainability of the telecommunications approach to the insurance business and our ambitions are focused on working together to further enhance the growth and improvements over the coming years”, concluded Ojumah.

With a monthly insurance premium of N100 monthly, registered Etisalat subscribers will have the benefit of a flat sum of N100, 000 payable to the beneficiary in case of demise of the policy holder and a maximum of N10, 000 for medical expenses in the event of an accident. Death benefit per any one life shall be limited to NGN200, 000 (maximum of two Etisalat registered numbers), whereas the medical expenses benefit per any one life shall be limited to NGN20, 000 (maximum of two Etisalat registered numbers).

PenCom dismisses tension on N4trn pension assets

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) said the permission granted by the Federal Government to the police to establish its Pension Fund Administrator (PFA), will not in any way affect the N4 trillion pension assets. 

A statement by Head, Communication Unit PenCom, Emeka Onuora, said the Federal Government did not grant the Nigeria Police the approval to pull out from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), adding that the personnel of the Nigeria Police Force are still under the contributory pension scheme by virtue of Section 1 of the Pension Reform Act 2004.

The statement noted that the Whitepaper recently issued by the Federal Government on the report of the Orasanye Committee on the Rationalization of Federal Government Institutions clearly indicated that the Federal Government has accepted the recommendation that, with the exception of the Military which has already been granted exemption, no Federal Government Institution or Force should be exempted from the Contributory Pension Scheme.

It said it is pertinent to note that the NPF Pensions Limited, which is incorporated as a Private Limited Liability Company, will be managed independently by professionals who must satisfy the fit and proper persons due diligence requirements and approved by the Commission in line with the guidelines for appointment to board and top management positions of PFAs and PFCs, stressing that although the NPF Pensions Limited will be exclusively for police personnel, every police officer will, in line with section 11(2) of the PRA 2004, be at liberty to transfer to another PFA of his/her choice as soon as the transfer window is opened by the Commission.

“It would be recalled that following the enactment of the Pension Reform (Amendment) Act 2011, which exempted the personnel of the Military and State Security Services from the Contributory Pension Scheme, the Nigeria Police and other Agencies agitated for exemption from the Scheme,” the statement said.

It also noted that the Federal Government decided after careful consideration of the submission made by the Nigeria Police that the Police personnel should remain under the Contributory Pension Scheme and that the Nigeria Police Force should seek administrative solutions to the grievances of their personnel within the framework of the Scheme.

In the statement, “Accordingly, after extensive consultations with the Commission, the authorities of the

Nigeria Police Force decided to incorporate a limited liability company (NPF Pensions Limited) and apply to the Commission for licence to operate as a Pension Fund Administrator exclusively for the Nigeria Police personnel in order to address their peculiar concerns. Following a rigorous and thorough review of that application, the NPF Pensions Limited was found to have satisfied all the normal stringent A-I-P conditions without any concessions. Consequently, the Commission granted the NPF Pensions Limited an Approval-in-Principle for a licence to operate as a PFA.

“To ensure the smooth take-off of the NPF Pensions Limited, the Commission has developed an Operational Framework that will guide the reassignment of Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) and transfer of records of all Nigeria Police contributors to the NPF Pensions Limited, which would be spread over an 18 month period.

“Accordingly, in its usual consultative approach, the Commission has engaged and would continue to engage other licensed operators and stakeholders regarding the modalities of reassignment of PINs and transfer of records of officers and men of the Nigeria Police, with a view to ensuring a smooth exercise for the benefit of the pension industry.”

The statement however said it is instructive to note that the issue of threat to pension assets does not arise under the Contributory Pension Scheme because the management and custody of pension assets are respectively undertaken by separate licensed operators, namely the pension fund administrators and pension fund custodians, under the strict supervision of the Commission.

It added that the NPF Pensions Limited will operate like any other licensed PFA where the pension assets under its management will be held in custody by licensed PFCs under the supervision of the Commission.

PHOTO NEWS: CIIN PRESIDENT'S PRESENTATION TO ACCREDITED INSTITUTIONS

Mr. F.K Lawal, CIIN President's presentation to the Federal Polytechnic, Offa being received by Dr. S.K. Raji on behalf of the Polytechnic. He is flanked by Mr Kola Ahmed (CIIN DG) and Lady Isioma Chukwuma (CIIN Treasurer).

Mr. Fatai Kayode Lawal, CIIN President's presentation to the Redeemers University being received by Mr. C Akalonu on behalf of the University. He is flanked by Mr Kola Ahmed (CIIN DG) and Lady Isioma Chukwuma (CIIN Treasurer).

Mr. F.K Lawal, CIIN President's presentation to Lagos State Polytechnic. He is flanked by Mr Kola Ahmed (CIIN DG) and Lady Isioma Chukwuma (CIIN Treasurer).