All Defined benefit articles – Page 106
-
News
Should ‘too-big-to-fail’ schemes be nationalised?
Analysis: The current pandemic-led economic crisis, coupled with the fact that some of the biggest defined benefit schemes are sponsored by quasi-governmental institutions, has led to suggestions that the UK government should nationalise these pension funds.
-
News
TPR investigates DRC holiday abuse
On the go: The Pensions Regulator is investigating a number of companies’ pension schemes for allegedly taking advantage of a relaxation in the deficit repayment contribution rules due to the pandemic.
-
OpinionPrivate sector consolidators can learn from LGPS pooling
The Pensions Regulator has given the green light for the establishment of the first private superfunds, but the consolidation of multiple pension schemes is not a simple task. Local Pensions Partnership chief executive Chris Rule explores some lessons of pooling.
-
OpinionNot-for-profit sector schemes should consider more specialist approach
Buck’s Vishal Makkar on how the not-for-profit sector’s idiosyncrasies demand a specialist approach to pension funding and investment.
-
News
Smiths Group completes £142m buy-in with Aviva
On the go: Smiths Group, an industrial technology company, has completed a £142m buy-in transaction with Aviva for the TI Group Pension Scheme.
-
News
Cheshire in the vanguard on TCFD carbon revelations
The Cheshire Pension Fund is one of the first UK pension funds to report on the carbon footprint of its £6.1bn investment portfolio, estimating that its stock portfolio’s carbon intensity is a third less than the benchmark.
-
News
Border to Coast appoints multi-asset credit managers
On the go: Border to Coast Pensions Partnership has appointed four specialist managers for its multi-asset credit fund, which will have assets worth £2.7bn.
-
PodcastsPodcast: Arguments for DC consolidation stronger than for DB
Podcast: The pace of defined contribution consolidation could accelerate on the other side of the coronavirus pandemic, but mergers are a less obvious boon for define benefit, say Squire Patton Boggs partner Kirsty Bartlett and Hadassah Shulman, senior associate at Taylor Wessing.
-
News
Govt consults on auto-enrolment tests for DB and hybrid schemes
On the go: The Department for Work and Pensions is questioning whether the current alternative tests used by defined benefit and hybrid schemes for auto-enrolment suitability are fit for purpose.
-
News
Scheme members wait on up to £25,000 from GMP equalisation
On the go: Some defined benefit scheme members could still be waiting on payments of up to £25,000 resulting from guaranteed minimum pension equalisation, according to research by XPS Pensions.
-
News
DB pension scheme at centre of bidding war for G4S
On the go: A private equity firm, which saw its £3bn takeover proposal rejected by G4S, has complained that it is not being granted access to the security services company’s defined benefit scheme trustees.
-
News
Barclays Bank coughs up £750m in unusual DRC move
In an unusual arrangement, Barclays Bank UK Retirement Fund’s deficit recovery plan remains on track through a self-investment, as the scheme subscribed to a £750m bond issued by an entity of the banking group.
-
News
Redundancies cause threefold rise in member requests at BA
Redundancies at British Airways coupled with members’ concerns about the security of their pensions have significantly increased the workload of its administration team, which has prompted the schemes to set up a communication plan to deal with the issue.
-
News
Eviction ‘holiday’ poses threat to schemes’ property investments
The government’s extension of a measure designed to provide relief to struggling tenants could adversely affect pension scheme property investments, especially where the scheme acts as a landlord, experts have warned.
-
OpinionTrustees need to up their game to protect member journey
Trustees should up their game when it comes to contingency planning and member communications, as 90 per cent of schemes that have entered assessment at the pensions lifeboat fund could be better prepared, writes Helen Beckinsale, panel service manager at the Pension Protection Fund.
-
News
Covid-19 sees schools pull out of Teachers’ Pension Scheme
On the go: Covid-19 has prompted a number of private schools opt out of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme as they look to avoid a significant hike in contributions.
-
News
Mercer launches DB master trust as demand for consolidation increases
Mercer has launched a new defined benefit master trust promising sponsors enhanced governance and economies of scale, amid an accelerating trend towards consolidation and outsourced solutions, with pensions minister Guy Opperman stating that “bigger is better”.
-
News
Fraction of pension scams investigated by police
On the go: Just 7 per cent of reported pension scams were passed on for police investigation last year, Quilter has found, as it pressed for changes to legislation to prevent scams.
-
News
Covid and regulatory burdens push building society to outsource scheme
With the work of lay trustees becoming more complex, and the pandemic highlighting other areas in need of sponsors’ attention, the Furness Building Society has opted to outsource services for its defined benefit scheme, a trend that is expected to accelerate.
-
News
Credit downgrades pose ‘serious challenge’ for pension schemes
On the go: A decrease in the average credit quality of fixed income indices, coupled with increased competition for high-quality assets, poses significant challenges for pensions schemes, according to Axa Investment Managers.