All Covenant articles – Page 2
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NewsTPR advises employers to shield schemes from refinancing costs
On the go: Companies and pension scheme trustees should take steps to protect their schemes and their employer covenant from the fallout of any refinancing that they have undertaken, according to David Fairs, the Pensions Regulator’s executive director of regulatory policy, analysis and advice.
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NewsSPP warns of covenant ESG risk, Scottish Widows issues ultimatum
ESG spotlight: A roundup of the latest news on environmental, social and governance initiatives, including the Society of Pension Professionals’ new guide to ESG, and Scottish Widows’ stewardship demands of its asset managers.
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NewsAon and Mercer issue ‘urgent’ call to action over LDI strategies
Consultancies Aon and Mercer have urged pension schemes, trustees and sponsors to prepare to intervene to protect their schemes, as bond market volatility puts strain on liability-driven investment strategies.
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NewsTrustees urged to include ESG factors in covenant assessment
On the go: Accounting for Sustainability and the Employer Covenant Practitioners Association have teamed up to launch a “top tips” guide for considering environmental, social and governance risk in the employer covenant process, hailed by the Pensions Regulator chair Sarah Smart as “an important first port of call for trustees”.
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NewsCost of discretionary increases to combat inflation could hit £18bn
The cost of awarding discretionary increases to members could now add £18bn to defined benefit schemes' liabilities, experts have warned, as inflation continues to rise.
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NewsFirstGroup ends deficit payments and expects £117mn return
On the go: Transport operator FirstGroup does not expect to make any further contributions towards its defined benefit pension schemes, after asset sales helped push the schemes into net surplus.
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NewsNearly a third of DB trustees think net zero ‘isn’t relevant’
On the go: Thirty per cent of defined benefit pension trustees think efforts to push their schemes towards net zero emissions “isn’t relevant to them”, according to new research.
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NewsTPR predicts improvements in funding levels
Pension schemes with recent valuation dates are expected to achieve improved funding levels, the Pensions Regulator has predicted, while many schemes in deficit should be able to maintain or reduce deficit repair contributions.
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NewsWater Companies scheme trustee stands firm over surplus transfer
David Sankey, chair of the £710mn Water Companies Pension Scheme, has assured MPs that the trustee has fulfilled its duties with respect to the planned transfer of the Bristol Water section’s surplus to its sponsor.
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OpinionThe annual funding statement: Creating certainty from uncertainty
Carl Hitchman, chief investment officer for UK investment consulting at Buck, explores key four topics from the Pensions Regulator’s latest annual funding statement.
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NewsProfit warnings from companies with DB scheme surge 46%
Profit warnings from UK public companies with a defined benefit pension scheme increased 46 per cent between the starts of 2021 and 2022, as consumer and industrial sectors bear the pain of rising costs and supply chain disruption.
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NewsMorrisons promises to protect McColl’s pensions in takeover
On the go: Supermarket chain Morrisons has prevailed in the bidding war for troubled retailer McColl’s, beating a rival bid from EG Group. The acquisition will reportedly uphold all promises made to McColl’s pension schemes.
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NewsTPR aims for transparency in consolidated enforcement powers
The Pensions Regulator has launched a consultation into a new draft enforcement policy document that aims to consolidate existing enforcement policies governing defined benefit, hybrid, public sector and defined contribution pension schemes.
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NewsTPR: Smaller scheme trustees can do more
Some trustees at smaller pension schemes need to raise their game in areas like governance, David Fairs, the Pensions Regulator’s executive director of regulatory policy, has said.
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OpinionNew DB funding code should focus on transparency
Buck’s Sarah Brown and Andrew Horner argue there should be a transparent relationship between covenant, funding and investment strategy ahead of the Pensions Regulator’s second consultation on its new code of practice on defined benefit scheme funding.
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NewsTPR funding statement flags uncertainty impact for valuations
High levels of uncertainty surrounding inflation, interest rates, mortality, energy prices and economic growth will put additional pressure on trustees completing their tranche 17 valuations this year, according to the Pensions Regulator’s annual funding statement.
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PodcastsPodcast: ‘Pot follows member’ legislation needed to solve small pots problem
Podcast: Industry consensus is needed to support a ‘pot follows member’ solution to the small pots problem, with previous attempts to solve it having failed, says Henry Tapper, executive chair of AgeWage. He is joined by Tom McPhail, director of public affairs at the Lang Cat, to discuss small pots, commercial consolidators, and more McCloud woe for the Local Government Pension Scheme.
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NewsClara-Pensions plans Q3 deal after regulatory approval
Clara-Pensions is planning to announce its first transaction in the third quarter of this year, as founder and outgoing chief executive Adam Saron details the types of pension schemes that are likely to find value in the defined benefit consolidator’s business model.
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NewsNew strike mandate at universities over USS pensions row
On the go: Staff at 27 universities have a mandate to take strike action over pensions that will last until October 2022, after the University and College Union secured the support of its members.