Jasper van den Bosch

‘Every situation calls for a new way of thinking’ 

Jasper van den Bosch has been part of the Buy-Out & Corporate Development team for almost a year now. Due to the changed legislation, it is expected that more and more small pension funds will want to transfer their pension obligations to Zwitserleven. When such a fund reports for a possible buy-out, Jasper springs into action.

At the end of May 2023, the Future Pension Act (Wtp) was approved by the Senate and is expected to enter into force in 2027. Jasper expects that the requests for buy-outs will increase in the near future. “It is a growth market. Many pension funds were waiting for the outcome of the Wtp. Now they know where they stand,” says Jasper. “If we receive a request for a buy-out, I will, for example, calculate the right price and the details of the portfolio. Where are the risks in this portfolio and how can we avoid them? What price should we charge? Every situation is different and requires a new way of thinking.”

Entire process of a buy-out

Jasper's work at Athora encompasses the entire buy-out process: analysing the portfolio, coming up with new solutions, proposing the deal, negotiating and finally closing the deal. For him it is the mix of going through all these steps that makes the work so interesting. He considers the new way of thinking to be an important element in this. &ldquoCreatively coming up with new solutions challenges me. This in combination with technical thinking, quick sense-checks and some modeling is what I really enjoy doing to arrive at a solution. Then I dive deep into the details and hope to find a nuance that I hadn't thought about before.”

There is only a deal once the entire process has been completed and we have found a solution that is desirable for a pension fund. This is the end point and something to celebrate for both sides.

End point

Jasper mentions the final deal of the buyout as the second important element. “There is only a deal once the entire process has been completed and we have found a solution that is desirable for a pension fund. This is the end point and something to celebrate for both parties.” Jasper's team is currently working on several buyout proposals. They first discuss these proposals with all relevant stakeholders within Athora. It will then be submitted to the pension fund or adviser and hopefully a deal will be reached.

Smooth cooperation

If we look at Athora as an organisation, Jasper mentions cooperation as an important value. “Within the club of people with whom I work directly, things run very smoothly. Right from the start I was able to integrate well into my team. And everything was perfectly arranged for my workplace so that I could get started right away.” Jasper also experiences a lot of helpfulness and the will to work together in other departments. “I find that really characteristic of Athora and very pleasant to work with. Since the move to our new building in Amsterdam, the collaboration has become even better, because I now speak to people from other departments live more often than in the building in Amstelveen. The open atmosphere of our new office makes it easier to bump into each other.” In five years' time, Jasper thinks that, perhaps with a slightly larger beard, he can look back with satisfaction on a successful period. The Wtp will then have entered into force and the buy-outs will decrease again. “I still see many interesting opportunities within the field of Athora. But for now I'm completely in my place here.”

Culture ambassador

In addition to his work as Transaction Manager, Jasper has recently become a culture ambassador at Athora Netherlands. With a group of enthusiastic and driven colleagues from different departments, he is committed to making Athora's four cultural values ​​(Dare to be different, Seek simplicity, Care, Do the right thing) concrete. Cultural values ​​provide more unity. When everyone is on the same page, it makes an organisation healthy and more agile. And this contributes to a pleasant and safe working environment for all Athora employees.

Take that chance

Jasper has another message for potential new employees. “Within our organisation there is a lot of will and room to develop yourself. Athora is growing and invites you to actively participate in new solutions. Grab that chance! That requires a lot of creativity and produces many fun situations.”