American company acquires World Pension Summit, World Pension Summit Africa Special

An American company recently purchased World Pension Summit and World Pension Summit Africa Special from Netherlands-based company Global Platform BV.

The summits were acquired by Pensions & Investments, a Crain Communications publication and global media source for institutional investors.

The events are geared toward retirement industry professionals from around the world. The 2016 World Pension Summit Africa Special will take place in Abuja, Nigeria, in September; the 2016 World Pension Summit will take place in Hague, Netherlands, Nov. 9 and Nov. 10.

"Pensions & Investments is excited to announce the expansion of its global conference offerings, information sharing and data services through this important acquisition," Chris J. Battaglia, Crain's vice president and group publisher, said. "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 World Pension Summits and underlying data platform, enable us to build upon Pensions & Investments' existing global conferences."

Pension & Investments already coordinates two other global pension conferences: the Global Future of Retirement and Global Pension Symposium in Tokyo, Japan.

"The acquisition of the World Pension Summits further expands Crain's global footprint and strengthens our growing conference and events portfolio," KC Crain, executive vice president and director of operations, Crain Communications, said. "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 will stay on with Pensions & Investments.

"Combining resources with Pensions & Investments' global media reach allows us to amplify the growing challenges and opportunities facing the global retirement landscape," Smorenberg said. "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."

And Eggink agreed.

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