All Defined benefit articles – Page 174
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News
Increase caps add to rules lottery amid inflation spike
The consumer price index spiked by almost half a per cent in the year to December 2016, narrowing the ‘rules lottery’ gap between the official inflation measure and the retail price index.
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News
Industry finds no easy answers in dividends v deficits debate
Most FTSE 100 companies could clear their pension deficits in less than two years by withholding dividends, new research says. Experts have called for more focus on the contrast between dividend payments and deficit repair contributions, though others say there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
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News
Johnson Service Group adds £1.5m on top of recovery plan
Textile rental provider Johnson Service Group has committed to paying £1.5m to its defined benefit scheme following the £8.25m sale of its dry cleaning business to Timpson Group.
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OpinionPPF: Act on levy rules now
The Pension Protection Fund’s David Taylor reveals what schemes can expect from the PPF’s levy determination at the end of March.
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NewsContribution hike prompts pension protest at Bangor University
Public sector union Unison has protested against Bangor University’s plans to raise pension contributions, but despite the demurral, changes will be going ahead this month.
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FeaturesBabcock takes member comms online to boost efficiency
The Babcock International Group Pension Scheme is moving its communications online in an attempt to cut costs, boost efficiency and better reflect the preferences of members.
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News
TPR bares its teeth with first mastertrust fines
The Pensions Regulator has imposed its first fines against mastertrusts for failing to complete a chair’s statement, as it signals a hard approach to dealing with defined contribution administration lapses.
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News
Berkshire saves 600 hours with automated data exchange
The Royal County of Berkshire Pension Fund saved an estimated 604.1 hours of administrative work over six months, and ended its struggles with updating member data by introducing an automated data exchange.
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OpinionSeeing the wood for the trees: The ins and outs of investing in forestry
Analysis: Whether investing in the UK or overseas, forestry and timberland can be an attractive addition to a pension fund portfolio. So what should trustees be aware of before branching out into this asset class?
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NewsRoyal Mail closure consultation could see strike action
Royal Mail Group has begun consulting with active members on closing its section of the Royal Mail Pension Plan, spurring the threat of industrial action from unions if the sponsor does not react positively to their concerns.
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OpinionPartial transfers would bring more choice into DB
From the blog: While many people have been rushing recently to cash in their final salary pensions, others are still torn between sticking with a guaranteed income and transferring all of their benefits.
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News
DB outlook 2017: Investment problems remain as deficits dip
Defined benefit deficits worsened during December to an aggregate IAS 19 deficit of £434bn, as experts added sustained low interest rates and cash flow problems to their concerns for pension funds over the course of 2017.
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OpinionWhat benefit indexation should your scheme use?
How should your defined benefit scheme be indexing benefits? And do your scheme rules permit a change in indexation? Ruth Bamforth of Walker Morris examines the issues surrounding the different types of inflation.
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News
From BHS to Uber: The events that shaped pensions in 2016
Year in review: Having almost grown used to new regulations and system overhauls, 2016 managed to top (almost) everything, keeping the pensions industry on its toes. We have picked out some of the articles that accompanied this year’s turning points for pensions.
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News
Select committee: Scare negligent employers into funding with 'nuclear' fines
The Work and Pensions Select Committee has called for “nuclear deterrent” fines – tripling the amount currently payable – to be levied against employers seen to be shirking pension responsibilities, in its report into defined benefit pensions.
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News
From RAAs to hedging: Top DB and derisking stories from 2016
Year in review: 2016 was the year the dam finally broke and defined benefit funding issues jumped into the mainstream news, with stories such as Tata Steel and BHS’s funding woes striking a chord.
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Features
Brexit, pooling and transparency: Top investment stories from 2016
Year in review: Investment fees and the impact of Brexit on schemes’ portfolios stood out among the most salient subjects for pension schemes in 2016, while the ongoing low-yield environment prompted funds to seek higher returns and cut back on costs.
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FeaturesShell scraps pensioner liaison reps after e-comms push
Shell is removing its network of pensioner liaison representatives with a view to changing to a more cost-effective approach to supporting retired members of the Shell Contributory Pension Fund.
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OpinionPost-truths about 2016
Editorial: The year that is coming to an end might be remembered in the pensions industry as one of referendums and defined benefit battles.
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NewsBSPS nears compromise deal as Tata announces closure plan
Tata Steel UK is to consult with employees on closing the British Steel Pension Scheme to future accrual, as part of an agreement with trade unions aimed at safeguarding the future of its UK steelworks.