Pensions & Investments Acquires WorldPensionSummit and WorldPensionSummit Africa Special

Industry-leading publication adds to its global pension conference lineup

NEW YORK and AMSTERDAM, Jan. 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Pensions & Investments, a Crain Communications publication and global media source for institutional investors, has announced the acquisition of the WorldPensionSummit and WorldPensionSummit Africa Special from Netherlands-based company, Global Platform BV. The WorldPensionSummits are platforms for global retirement industry professionals, thought leaders, policy makers, academics, and global asset management firms to address critical pension and investment issues facing the world's developed and developing nations.

The 2016 WorldPensionSummit will take place in The Hague, The Netherlands, on November 9-10, and the 2016 WorldPensionSummit Africa Special will take place in Abuja, Nigeria in September.

"Pensions & Investments is excited to announce the expansion of its global conference offerings, information sharing and data services through this important acquisition," said Chris J. Battaglia, vice president and group publisher. "By drawing upon the insights and expertise of the world's most renowned pension experts, economists, retirement policy leaders and global asset management firms, the WorldPensionSummits and underlying data platform, enable us to build upon Pensions & Investments' existing global conferences."

Pension & Investments currently produces two global pension conferences: The Global Future of Retirement and Global Pension Symposium, Tokyo.

"The acquisition of the WorldPensionSummits further expands Crain's global footprint and strengthens our growing conference and events portfolio," said KC Crain, executive vice president and director of operations, Crain Communications. "These industry-leading platforms build upon Crain's position as the global leader of business resources for top decision makers in the sectors we cover."

Global Platform BV founders, Harry Smorenberg and Eric Eggink, have spent the past six years growing the WorldPensionSummits in Europe and Africa, setting the stage for future expansion in other parts of the world where pension adequacy and funding is being challenged. Mr. Smorenberg and Mr. Eggink will continue to work with Pensions & Investments to produce the WorldPensionSummit and WorldPensionSummit Africa Special.

"Combining resources with Pensions & Investments' global media reach allows us to amplify the growing challenges and opportunities facing the global retirement landscape," says Mr. Smorenberg. "With our combined efforts we can add even more value by exchanging global expertise to realize a sustainable and adequate pension provision for both plan participants and the large informal sector."

"Exchanging knowledge in the field of pensions is a growing need all over the world," says Eric Eggink. "With this step we can leapfrog our competitors and realize our mutual global expansion ambitions."

Among the distinguished speakers who have appeared at the WorldPensionSummit are Kerry Kennedy, president of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, Ted Menzies, former vice minister of finance, Canada, Elsa Fornero, former minister of labor, Italy, Steve Webb, former pensions minister, England, Don Yeo, deputy CEO, Central Provident Fund, Singapore, and Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, director general National Pension Commission, Nigeria (PenCom).

For more information:

www.worldpensionsummit.com
www.worldpensionsummitafricaspecial.com

About Crain Communications
Crain Communications Inc is a privately held media company producing trusted and relevant news publications, lead generation, research and data products, custom publishing and events with uncompromising integrity. Reaching more than 3.5 million business decision makers and consumers across the United States and in select markets in Europe and Asia, the company's portfolio includes many of the most influential media properties in the verticals they serve including Automotive News, Autoweek, Advertising Age, Modern Healthcare, Business Insurance and Pensions & Investments. Headquartered in Detroit, the company's more than 800 employees in 13 locations currently publish 34 news print and online publications and the multimedia content and product extensions related to each, contributing to the success of its readers and clients.