APG won two prizes at the IPE awards in Madrid, for investments in Real Assets & Infrastructure and Commodities.
According to the expert jury, APG's infrastructure investments are an example for other pension investors. “APG's visionary long-term outlook is impressive, as is the emphasis on megatrends and the consideration of the consequences of the pandemic,” said the jury report, which explicitly mentions the recent doubling of the investment in the Smart City Infrastructure Fund.
Katherine Kucherenko, investment specialist at APG Asset Management, accepted the award. “A great performance by our investment teams who balance risk, return, cost and sustainability throughout the investment process to ensure a healthy and predictable financial future for our retirees.”
Jan-Willem Ruisbroek, head of infrastructure investment strategy at APG, adds: “We use the knowledge, expertise and skills of the infrastructure team to invest in the right infrastructure companies, but also to focus the policy within these companies on solid long-term financial and social objectives."
The jury is also pleased with the broad diversification of infrastructure investments and the use of co-investments with other international investors. APG left the Swedish AP4 and the Danish Industriens Pension behind in the elections.
Excel
According to the jury, APG's raw material investors particularly excel in risk management. “By combining internally developed risk tools with a fundamental understanding of market developments, a good understanding of the risks to which the portfolio is exposed is obtained,” said the jury report.
Senior Portfolio Manager Marco van Eijkelenburg received this award in Madrid. “A great recognition for APG and the commodoties product that we have developed with our team. The active strategy, which has been live since April 2009, has added a lot of value to our clients' commodity investments over the years. This was also the case last year, despite the turbulent market developments due to the Covid-19 pandemic."