All articles by Angus Peters – Page 6
-
NewsTPR paves way for three-month DB contribution holiday
The Pensions Regulator has launched new guidance aimed at helping employers freeze their defined benefit obligations for three months in response to the economic fallout from coronavirus.
-
Features
Opportunity knocks, but can active managers actually capitalise?
Data crunch: Active asset managers have been making some bold claims amid the market maelstrom unleashed by Covid-19.
-
NewsCovid-19: Rally continues as BoE sounds gloomy note
The Bank of England's prediction of a deep recession, and grim news in the US labour market, looked to have cooled the bounce-back in equity markets before a late surge, while new analysis suggests further pain for credit markets if the pandemic worsens, and actuaries call on the Pensions Regulator to do more. Read our round-up of pensions and finance news about the coronavirus outbreak.
-
News
BA schemes agree acquisition and leaseback of Ted Baker HQ
On the go: The trustees of British Airways’ pension schemes have moved to capitalise on businesses’ need to refinance amid the Covid-19 pandemic, purchasing the London headquarters of struggling fashion retailer Ted Baker.
-
News
Plumbers’ scheme braced for legal battles over employer debts
Trustees of the £2bn Plumbing and Mechanical Services (UK) Industry Pension Scheme have asked a Scottish court to let them use plan assets to fund legal battles, after an unnamed participating employer commenced action against the fund.
-
NewsMPs’ scheme under fire for dragging feet on climate change
The pension scheme for MPs is not doing enough to combat the risks posed by climate change, according to a divestment campaign backed by 360 current and former parliamentarians.
-
News
Deferral of DB contributions ‘may be appropriate’
On the go: New guidance for defined benefit trustees accepts that some employers may need to delay deficit repair contributions due to economic disruption caused by the Covid-19 outbreak, but urges schemes to test employer claims carefully.
-
News
BoE’s return to QE adds to DB woes
On the go: The Bank of England has cut its base rate to a historic low of 0.1 per cent, while announcing plans to increase its balance sheet of bonds by £200bn.
-
NewsVolatility exposes trustees’ slow reaction times
Volatility playing havoc with defined benefit funding ratios may speed the transition towards fiduciary management and consolidation of final salary schemes, according to governance specialists.
-
News
Trustee boards display unacceptable lack of diversity
On the go: The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association has published a guide to improving diversity and inclusion in pensions, amid enduring concerns over groupthink and prejudice in the trust-based system.
-
NewsTCFD reporting confirmed as climate guidance takes shape
Trustees should stress-test their portfolios against a range of climate change scenarios, according to provisional guidance launched on Thursday, as pensions minister Guy Opperman warned of consequences for those in dereliction of their duties.
-
News
Opperman to legislate for DC consolidation
On the go: The minister for pensions and financial inclusion has unveiled plans to force the consolidation of subscale defined contribution arrangements.
-
OpinionMinister wide of the mark on self-employed
Instant analysis: Speeches made by government ministers at the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association's conferences are one of the year's highlights for pensions policy-watchers, and often say as much about the person as the policies they launch.
-
News
BoE adds to DB woes as stimulus struggles to ease covenant strain
On the go: The Bank of England's decision to slash its base interest rate to 0.25 from per cent 0.75 per cent will swell defined benefit liabilities, according to experts, who doubt the ability of monetary policy to ease covenant concerns but say Budget measures may offer some help.
-
News
USS likely to breach deficit trigger
The Universities Superannuation Scheme could breach funding triggers relating to the size of its deficit, as coronavirus continues to cause turmoil in markets.
-
News
LGPS pool chair: Fragmented system cannot continue
On the go: The UK's private sector pension schemes will be forced to consolidate in the same way as the Local Government Pension Scheme, according to the chair of the Brunel Pension Partnership.
-
News
USS, Calpers and Japanese giant set out sustainability demands
On the go: Three of the world’s most prominent pension fund investors have released a joint statement on sustainability, hitting out at short-termism and scepticism that could allow climate change alone to destroy $69tn (£53.7tn) in global economic wealth.
-
News
Coronavirus shocks DB deficit by £100bn in a week
On the go: Market turmoil stoked by fears of the Covid-19 outbreak has added £100bn to the UK’s defined benefit deficit in a week, according to Hymans Robertson analysis.
-
Features
Fraud costs pensions £6bn every year
Data crunch: Almost a decade after a wave of pension liberation tax schemes hit the UK retirement sector, fraudulent activity is still having a detrimental impact on savers – costing schemes £6bn every year, according to the latest analysis.
-
News
TPR starts DB countdown to ‘significant maturity’
The Pensions Regulator has launched a consultation on its long-trailed, twin-track defined benefit funding approach, seeking industry views on how to get the average scheme to low dependency within 15-20 years.