Certainty for your members. Peace of mind for your organization
The buyout with the Zwitserleven feeling
Zwitserleven guides you through this entire process, from the initial exploration to the final implementation. Together, we ensure a solution that fits your pension fund well, provides certainty for your members, and is feasible for your organization.
What exactly is a buyout?
In a buyout, you transfer all your pension fund’s accrued pension obligations to Zwitserleven. We assume all these obligations and guarantee both the amount and the payment of the accrued pensions. The associated assets are also transferred, often with the possibility of insuring an attractive, additional indexation.
From then on, we manage:
- the pension scheme administration;
- the payment of pension benefits;
- communication with your members.
For your pension fund, this means there is no longer an administrative role.
Why pension funds choose a buyout
The Future Pensions Act (Wtp) allows funds to decide whether or not to transfer accrued pensions into a new scheme. Alternatively, a buy-out can be considered, where the characteristics of a defined benefit agreement (Defined Benefit or DB) are retained. It is therefore an insured solution with guarantees. An insurer is not allowed to reduce accrued entitlements and indexation in the future.
A pension fund opts for a buyout when it consciously wants to focus on certainty and simplicity. For example, if the fund:
- does not want to transition (‘invaren’) into the new pension system;
- wants to provide certainty to (former) and retirees;
- wants to transfer administrative and investment risks;
- wants to relieve the organization or is working towards liquidation;
- wants to benefit from current market conditions when securing pension entitlements and indexation.
Why a buyout with Zwitserleven?
For 125 years, pensions have been our area of expertise
Zwitserleven is the only insurer in the Netherlands that focuses exclusively on pensions. You won’t find car, home, or health insurance with us. No distractions -our full focus is on pensions. And that makes us, as the only true pension brand, also a buyout specialist.
We truly deliver tailor-made solutions
Our team looks beyond just the pension scheme. We also take into account matters that are crucial for your fund but are not typically includes in a standard transfer. For example: investments that are not easily transferable, or agreements that have developed historically and require a specific solution.
Together, we provide certainty for your members
From the buyout onwards, members are provided with a guaranteed pension entitlement. Zwitserleven can also assist in managing the financial risks your pension fund may encounter up to the buyout. Our team has a wealth of experience, and there’s more possible than you might expect!
Our solvency is outstanding
Our capital position and profitability ensure very strong financial robustness. We also can easily obtain additional capital when needed. Combined, this ensures 100% deal certainty for your pension fund.
We invest in the future and in a better world
Together with our asset managers, including Cardano, we invest with a focus on financial returns and sustainability. As investors, we encourage companies and governments to respect people, the environment, and society. In this way, we contribute to making the world we live in more sustainable.
They preceded you and opted for Zwitserleven
These pension funds preceded you and opted for a buyout with Zwitserleven. They found in us an engaging and knowledgeable partner who provides peace of mind, clarity, and certainty to board members. They appreciate that we actively think along with strategic choices, carefully guide the board through the process, and take over the full implementation, including clear communication to members. Thanks to our years of pension expertise, strong capital position, and careful, human approach, these funds experience that their members are assured of continuity and a reliable, lifelong pension benefit.
Want to know more about buyouts in practice?
Interested in how other pension funds decided on a buyout? Find out how they managed their buyout with Zwitserleven and the considerations they made.
This is how a buyout proceeds
Broadly speaking, you will go through the following steps:
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Orientation and analysis – expected duration: 3 months
We discuss with you the wishes and goals for the buyout with Zwitserleven; more is possible than you might think! Together, we assess what fits best: a full buy-out or a partial buy-out, for instance, for a specific group of members. It is also possible to offer members options to choose from. Additionally, the buyout for the accrued entitlements can be combined with the accrual of pension capital at Zwitserleven.
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Tailor-made proposal
You will receive a tailor-made proposal from us. This proposal includes guarantees for a lifelong pension for the members, plus an annual fixed or variable supplement (based on European price inflation). And if feasible, a catch-up indexation to compensate for past missed increases at the fund. Our proposal can also include the transfer of investments. Furthermore, we make clear agreements about communication and service towards the members. In short, we can completely unburden your pension fund.
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Informing members and supervision by the regulator
You will inform the members about the intended buyout. The proposal will be reviewed by the regulator. After a declaration of no objection, the buyout can be executed by Zwitserleven.
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Communication and guidance for members s
All members will receive personal letters. Zwitserleven offers personal and flexible guidance in this process. For instance: pension information in MijnZwitserleven and the MijnZwitserleven app, information sessions for members, or a personal "PensioenMomentje" where members can ask our pension staff one-on-one questions.
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Transfer of assets and liabilities
The pension assets will be transferred, and Zwitserleven will take care of the pension payments from then on. This includes the annual fixed or variable indexation. Has a catch-up indexation been agreed? If so, we will pay it directly to the members.
Would you like to know if a buyout is suitable for your fund?
You don’t have to decide immediately. It often starts with a good conversation: what is going on, what are your doubts, and which questions deserve attention? We are happy to think along with you.