UBS Asset Management and NMG Consulting have released new data showing that large institutional investors, managing over US $8 trillion, are increasingly treating public and private credit as part of a unified allocation strategy. The research highlights a growing appetite for hybrid credit portfolios that blend investment-grade bonds, syndicated loans, and direct lending to optimise yield, governance, and resilience.

This shift signals a structural evolution in fixed income allocation. For asset owners with internal capacity or strong manager oversight, private credit now offers covenant-level control and downside protection, features once only found in public debt. The result is a more flexible, risk-aware approach to long-term capital management across the credit spectrum.

Dutch pension fund APG has committed A$1 billion to Octopus Australia, supporting large-scale renewable energy and battery storage projects. The capital will help deliver the 300 MW Blind Creek solar plant and a 1 GWh grid-scale battery in Brisbane. APG’s Asia-Pacific infrastructure head called the platform a “unique opportunity” to deliver long-term value while accelerating Australia’s clean energy transition.

The UK government has relaunched the Pensions Commission to confront a growing retirement savings crisis, with evidence showing future pensioners could receive 8% less private pension income than current retirees. Chaired by Baroness Jeannie Drake, Sir Ian Cheshire, and Professor Nick Pearce, the new Commission will publish its final recommendations in 2027. Its focus will be on tackling pension inadequacy, expanding auto-enrolment, and improving outcomes for underrepresented groups such as the self-employed, women, and ethnic minorities.

While the Commission will not address the state pension age or triple lock—both under separate review—it marks a shift from access to adequacy and equity in pension policy. Institutional investors and pension bodies have welcomed the move, seeing it as an opportunity to modernise the system and better align long-term savings policy with the real-world needs of UK savers.

A coalition of major UK pension schemes representing over £150 billion in assets and 11 million members has launched the Governance for Growth Investor Campaign to oppose the growing trend of virtual-only AGMs. Backed by funds including Railpen, Brunel, and the Church of England Pensions Board, the campaign argues that fully digital meetings erode shareholder accountability, reduce board scrutiny, and limit investor participation—especially for minority shareholders.

The group is calling for legislative clarity through the upcoming Audit Reform and Corporate Governance Bill, warning that current proposals could marginalise long-term asset owner voices. “Virtual-only meetings allow companies to cherry-pick questions and avoid scrutiny,” said Railpen’s Caroline Escott. The campaign signals a renewed push by UK institutional investors to ensure robust governance remains central to corporate engagement.