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German DAX pension schemes’ funding ratio rises to record 90.8% in H1


By Paige Perrin

The funding ratio of German DAX 40 company pension schemes rose to a record 90.8 per cent at the end of H1 2026, up from 87 per cent at the end of 2025, the highest level since records began, according to analysis by WTW Germany.

The firm reported that MDAX companies also saw a significant improvement in their funding level from 69.6 per cent at the end of 2025 to 73.2 per cent at the end of the first half of 2026


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Over 9,000 Irish workers opt in to new AE system

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Finnish pension company Varma has reported that the value of its investments exceeded €70bn in the first half of 2026, primarily driven by strong equity returns, its half-year report has shown

News in brief: 21 August

The latest news in brief and mandates from the past seven days
Finland’s Keva returns 7.3% in H1 2026

Finnish earnings-related pension provider Keva returned 7.3 per cent on its investments in the first half of 2026, its interim results report has revealed.

The market value of the investments was €79.3bn, as at the end of June 2026, up from €70.7bn at the same time last year

UK's Standard Life to launch £2bn PRT partnership to target largest DB schemes

The UK's Standard Life is set to launch a new pension risk transfer (PRT) partnership backed by up to £2bn of initial capital, with the goal of expanding its reach into the largest and most complex defined benefit (DB) pension schemes
PFA reports double-digit 2026 returns amid strong equity markets

Denmark's PFA has benefited from strong global equity markets in 2026, with a typical medium-risk customer recording a return of just over 10 per cent


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