Top 9 private pension funds by annualized returns

9. KD Fond de Pensii

On the ninth spot in the list is KD Pension Fund (KD Fond de Pensii), a fund that will be absorbed by Eureko Private Pension Funds Management.

KD fund delivered a weighted average return of 8.0% since the introduction of the privately-managed pension plan, in 2008. For the year ending February 2010, the fund recorded a return of 10.3%, above inflation rate.

At the end of February 2010, KD had 8,408 contributors, and a market share of 0.2% and assets of 3.5 million lei under management.

Data in the list were provided by the Association of Privately-Managed Pension Funds in Romania (APAPR).

8. BRD Fond de Pensii

BRD Private Pension Fund (BRD Fond de Pensii) takes the eight spot, with an weighted average return to date of 11.1%.

In the twelve months to February 2010, BRD delivered a return of 18.4%. At the end of last month, BRD fund had 119,816 contributors and total assets of 66.3 million lei.

BRD has a market share of 2.4% both by assets under management and number of contributors.

7. Pensia Viva fund, Aviva

Viva Pension (Pensia Viva) fund under UK-based Aviva management was ranked seventh, as its return averaged 13.6% since the introduction of the second pillar system.

For the year ending February 28, the pension fund delivered a return of 20.2%, The fund’s assets total 182.7 million lei and has a market share of 6.7%.

By the number of contributors (363,381), the fund has a market share of 7.3%.

6. BCR

The privately-managed pension fund managed by BCR recorded the sixth best performance since 2008, with an annualized return of 14.5%.

Over the past 12 months, BCR delivered a weighted average return of 19.0%, while its assets totaled 135.9 million lei (5.0% market share).

The fund has a market share of 6.2% by the number of contributors (306,316).

5. AZT Viitorul Tau and Vital, Aegon

Two pension funds race head-to-head for the fifth spot, namely AZT Your Future (Viitorul Tau) managed by Allianz Tiriac Private Pensions and Vital Fund managed by Aegon.

The two funds on the fifth position recorded an annualized return of 14.6% since May 2008 to date.

For the year ending February 28, AZT had a weighted average return of 19.3%, against 17.2% recorded by Aegon.

At the end of February, Aegon’s fund had net assets of 72.9 million lei and a market share of 2.7% and 157,601 contributors (3.2% market share).

AZT Your Future had at the end of last month total assets of 625.3 million lei and a market share of 22.9% while the number of contributors reached 1.2 million (25.4% market share).

4. Eureko

On the fourth spot is Eureko Private Pension Fund with an annualized return of 14.8%.

For the 12-month period ending February 28, 2010, Eureko delivered a weighted average return of 19.0%.

The fund’s assets totaled 145.7 million lei and a market share of 5.3%. By the number of contributors, the fund’s share was 6.8%.

3. Alico

Rounding up the top three is Alico Pensions, with an annualized return of 16.6% since May, 2008.

Alico had at the end of February total assets of 193.9 million lei and a market share of 7.1%. The number of contributors increased to 307,897 (6.2% market share).

For the year ending February 28, 2010, the fund had a return of 20.6%.

2. Aripi, Generali

Wings (Aripi) fund managed by Generali takes the second spot in the list, with an annualized return of 16.9%.

In the 12-month period to February, the fund had a weighted average return of 23.3%.

The fund managed by Generali had net assets of 222.6 million lei and a market share of 8.2%.

The fund has a market share of 9.5% by the number of contributors (437,188).

1. ING

The best performing second-pillar pension fund to date has been ING Pensions, with an annualized return of 19.9%.

In February 2009 – February 2010, the leader’s return averaged 23.5%.

The number of contributors to ING pension fund reached 1.6 million at the end of February (32.9% market share).

The market leader’s assets totaled 1.07 billion lei, while its market share stood at 39.5%.