All Defined benefit articles – Page 191
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Features
Vodafone scheme completes CWW merger with £325m employer payment
Vodafone has contributed £325m to its defined benefit scheme as it completes the transfer of the Cable & Wireless Worldwide Retirement Plan, after purchasing the rival telecoms company in 2012.
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News
BBC plan sees slight deficit improvement as contributions bed in
The BBC has seen a small improvement in its accounting pension deficit as it embarks upon a 12-year plan of additional contributions to boost its scheme funding.
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News
ETV exercises to rise as government accepts DB-to-DC transfers
Industry experts have predicted the use of enhanced transfer value exercises could increase as employers look to encourage switches out of defined benefit plans in light of the Budget changes, but trustees have been urged to ensure members receive adequate advice.
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Features
NESPF beefs up governance to prep for Scottish LGPS reform
North East Scotland Pension Fund plans to establish a dedicated governance team – incorporating communication responsibilities – to deal with the increased workload produced by local government pension scheme reforms.
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News
Civil service employers face increased contributions after discount rate cut
Participating employers of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme will face an increase in their pension costs, due to a reduced discount rate, following government efforts to control public spending.
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Opinion
Picking through the guidance guarantee small print
Finally some details on the guidance guarantee. Soon-to-be pensioners will receive independent guidance from April 2015, as the government clarifies the guidance guarantee announced in this year’s Budget.
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News
Court of Appeal upholds crown guarantee for BT Pension Scheme
The court of appeal has ruled to uphold a crown guarantee given to the BT Pension Scheme, making the government responsible for ongoing liabilities should the employer fail.
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Features
Imperial Tobacco ups employer contributions after funding drop
Imperial Tobacco has increased contributions to its UK defined benefit scheme to boost its winding-up funding level, which has dropped by 12 percentage points, according to its latest valuation.
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Features
Barking and Dagenham plans social housing investment to hedge inflation
The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Pension Fund plans to invest around £25m in social housing in order to hedge against inflation and diversify away from traditional assets.
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NewsPearson scheme reaches full funding due to increased employer contributions
The defined benefit section of the Pearson Group Pension Plan has reached close to 100 per cent funding less than 18 months after agreeing a reduction in the length of its recovery plan.
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Features
Local government schemes reject forced passive CIV proposals
Local authority schemes have rejected government proposals to mandate pooling assets into a passively managed common investment vehicle, but did see benefits in other suggestions put forward.
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Features
EE closes scheme to future accrual on affordability concerns
Telecoms company EE has closed the defined benefit section of its scheme to future accrual in order to equalise benefits offered to members in a structure which will be more sustainable for the company.
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Features
Are iPads harming or helping trustee boards? The cases for and against tablet governance
Any other business: In the technology world, a recently unearthed speech by Steve Jobs in 1983 predicting the world dominance of the personal computer is clear evidence of the Apple co-founder’s vision.
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Features
Isle of Wight fund mulls ethical investment policy after council reclaims public health role
Isle of Wight Pension Fund is considering setting its own policy on social, environmental and ethical factors to be considered when making investment decisions, after the council took back responsibility for public health.
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News
Covenant-lite market expands as small schemes digest DB code
Small and medium-sized employers’ pension schemes are finding greater access to pared-down, lower-cost covenant assessments following the Pensions Regulator’s revised defined benefit code of practice, which has increased focus on employer strength.
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NewsKingfisher nears surplus following sponsor property deal
Kingfisher Pension Scheme has revealed that a funding deal with its sponsor, which sees it draw from income-generating properties, has pushed its funding level close to 100 per cent.
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NewsReturning volatility could threaten illiquid fixed income holdings, experts say
Pension scheme investors holding illiquid fixed income assets should beware the effects should increased volatility in global financial markets return, bond experts have urged.
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News
Lothian adds benefit extension as it looks to upgrade online services
Lothian Pension Fund has extended its online member services to allow members to calculate the pension they would get under voluntary redundancy, as well as introducing a data transfer system for employers to ensure accuracy.
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Features
How the DA pensions bill could affect your scheme
Schemes have been left pondering how their benefit structures would be considered under the the government’s latest pensions bill, which codified three types of pension scheme, including “shared risk” schemes.
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News
One in seven trustees think sponsor relationship needs work
Around one trustee on each board feels their relationship with the scheme sponsor needs to be improved, according to a survey of 100 scheme representatives, conducted as fresh regulation seeks to strengthen this bond.