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Latest DB news
Trustees to shoulder more responsibility for admin improvements, TPR says
The regulator has published a report based on 12 months of engagement with leading administrators and set out areas of strength and challenges that need addressing.
SPP pushes for bill amendment to scrap PPF admin levy
Liberal Democrat MPs Steve Darling and John Milne have tabled the amendment to the Pension Schemes Bill, aimed at ensuring the PPF can pay costs from its existing reserves rather than charging defined benefit pension schemes.
Bulk annuities latest: Royal London completes 10th buy-in of the year
Rounding up the latest activity in the bulk annuity market, including Rothesay’s double buy-in for a manufacturing company and two sub-£5m pension schemes insured by Just Group.
Consultants ramp up governance services for DB schemes
Barnett Waddingham and Hymans Robertson are the latest consultancies to add to the menu of options for defined benefit pension schemes.
Pre-Budget rumours spark record lump sum withdrawals, data shows
UK pension savers withdrew a record £10.4bn from their pensions using their tax-free cash allowance in the six months to the end of March, according to Financial Conduct Authority data.
Your Expertise Wanted: Private Assets in Focus
CACEIS, in association with Pensions Expert, is surveying pensions professionals in the DB space to find out about their experiences investing in private markets. Click here to participate in our short survey.
Consultants ramp up governance services for DB schemes
Barnett Waddingham and Hymans Robertson are the latest consultancies to add to the menu of options for defined benefit pension schemes.
Pre-Budget rumours spark record lump sum withdrawals, data shows
UK pension savers withdrew a record £10.4bn from their pensions using their tax-free cash allowance in the six months to the end of March, according to Financial Conduct Authority data.
Government seeks to mitigate Virgin Media issue with Pension Schemes Bill amendments
Trade bodies, including the representative groups for actuaries and pension lawyers, have been lobbying the Department for Work and Pensions for months in relation to the issue, which relates to the interpretation of section 37 of the Pension Schemes Act 1993.
Bulk annuities latest: Aviva and Just secure buy-ins worth combined £205m
Pensions Expert rounds up the latest bulk annuity deals, including a perfume company’s scheme and a double buy-in for accountancy and consultancy firm BDO.
Latest bulk annuity deals
Features and analysis
Five Questions For… Morten Nilsson, Brightwell
Pensions Expert spoke to Brightwell chief executive Morten Nilsson about the government’s surplus release plans, and how he envisages sharing the BT Pension Scheme’s experiences with the wider market.
Pensions lawyers call on government to resolve s37 uncertainty
DB pension schemes have been left in legal limbo in relation to section 37 confirmations, with the High Court expected to take several months to produce its latest judgement.
Innovation needed to stop illiquid assets delaying bulk annuities
Consultancy giant Aon has written to insurers calling for more innovation on tackling illiquid assets held by pension schemes approaching the bulk annuity market.
Outlook 2025: New insurers set to make waves in busy DB market
From an evolving bulk annuity market to debates over the use of pension scheme surpluses, next year looks set to be as busy as ever for the defined benefit sector, writes Alex Janiaud.
Changing course: The case for reinvesting pension scheme surpluses
Ahead of chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Mansion House speech on Thursday, Pensions Expert explores changing attitudes towards defined benefit scheme surpluses and how they could be used to benefit members, employers and the wider economy.
Five Questions For… Morten Nilsson, Brightwell
Pensions lawyers call on government to resolve s37 uncertainty
Innovation needed to stop illiquid assets delaying bulk annuities
Outlook 2025: New insurers set to make waves in busy DB market
Changing course: The case for reinvesting pension scheme surpluses
More defined benefit news
Discretionary increases fall as inflation drops from 2022 peak
Fewer defined benefit pension schemes are offering discretionary increases, research shows, even as the consumer prices index is starting to creep higher.
SPP highlights pensions industry apprenticeships as A-level results land
As school students across England, Wales and Northern Ireland receive their A-level results, the Society of Pension Professionals has highlighted a range of apprenticeships offered across the retirement industry.
Brookfield to enter UK market through £2.4bn Just Group acquisition
North American insurance giant Brookfield will buy Just Group in a £2.4bn deal to establish itself in the UK bulk annuity market.
DB schemes ride out Q2 volatility to retain strong funding position
Ongoing tariff negotiations and the Autumn Budget are among the risks trustees must navigate over the coming months, as well as ongoing discussions around surplus release.
European insurance giant acquires Pension Insurance Corporation in £5.7bn deal
Pension Insurance Corporation, the specialist bulk annuity provider, has been acquired by European insurance giant Athora in a deal worth an estimated £5.7bn.
Call for levy reform as pension schemes hit with ‘surprise’ £15m PPF bill [updated]
Pensions UK is calling for urgent government action after DB pension schemes were unexpectedly billed for an administration levy connected to the PPF, with the largest schemes facing bills of hundreds of thousands of pounds.
PLSA rebrands to Pensions UK as part of fresh five-year strategy
The pensions industry’s trade body has rebranded itself as Pensions UK following a detailed review of its strategy, and set out a plan to expand its reach and influence over the next five years.
New mortality model signals first rise in pensioner life expectancy since pandemic
The latest update to the Continuous Mortality Investigation model has shown an increase in reported life expectancies for retirees for the first time in several years.
Comment & opinion
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