All Defined benefit articles – Page 197
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News
Essex sees funding boost as it reduces gilt reliance
Essex Pension Fund has seen a 9 percentage-point jump in its funding level partly due to a change in how it calculates liabilities, as schemes shift towards valuation methods that avoid relying on historically low gilt yields.
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News
Lafarge trustees seek merger assurances to protect members
The trustee board of Lafarge’s UK pension fund has begun discussions with its sponsor to ensure members would be protected under its proposed $40bn (£23.8bn) merger with Holcim to form a global cement maker giant.
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Opinion
PPF: What our levy work means for your scheme
Talking head: Ahead of a May consultation on the changes to its levy framework, the Pension Protection Fund’s David Taylor discusses the organisation’s plans for judging sponsor insolvency.
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News
Local authority schemes see low take-up for 50/50 contributions
Local authority schemes have reported low initial take-up for the 50/50 contribution option introduced in Local Government Pension Scheme reforms earlier this month as an alternative aimed at stopping some people leaving the scheme altogether.
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News
The Cut: What reporting changes could mean for your scheme's financial statements
Today the Pensions Research Accountants Group released a statement of recommended practice for pension schemes' financial reports, under a three-month consultation that will close on July 16.
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Features
Accounting body pushes government to scrap outdated reporting regs
Industry body Pensions Research Accountants Group, together with the Financial Reporting Council, has had initial discussions with the government on jettisoning out-of-date requirements for pension scheme reporting to make way for its own enhanced disclosure regime.
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Features
Lancashire increases employer contributions to mitigate maturing membership
Lancashire Pension Fund has added lump-sum payments to its annual employer contributions to make up for reduced cash flow from a declining active membership.
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Features
NHS scheme moves to improve struggling employer comms
The NHS Pension Scheme will tailor its communication to different employer types to provide them with more support in fulfilling their obligations, after a survey revealed substantial criticism of its approach.
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Opinion
Editorial: A fair fight?
The “saver’s Budget” sounded a starting bell in the frankly lethargic DC investment market – which default strategy would win the argument and, more importantly, the flows?
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Features
TfL faces fresh demands for contract worker DB membership
Transport union RMT has reignited calls for all Transport for London employees undertaking work on a contract basis to be allowed to join its defined benefit pension fund.
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Opinion
What overseas DC systems can tell us about the post-Budget landscape
The retirement flexibility brought about by the Budget has left many schemes wondering how to best implement the at-retirement options.
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News
Surrey looks to lock in gains as funding level rises
Surrey County Council Pension Fund is exploring derisking strategies after its assets made further gains against liabilities since its 2013 triennial valuation.
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Features
LPFA boosts in-house investment team as it focuses on illiquids
The London Pensions Fund Authority is strengthening its in-house investment capabilities in order to reduce investment costs and diversify further into illiquid assets.
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Features
BT suspends flexible retirement options during review
BT has suspended its flexible retirement option while it reviews the conditions under which it will consent to BT Pension Scheme members taking early payment of their pension while continuing to work at the communications company.
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Features
Lafarge doubles contributions to cut deficit
Building materials manufacturer Lafarge has more than doubled its contributions to its UK pension fund after scheme and sponsor negotiated a beefed-up recovery plan to tackle the funding deficit.
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News
Consultants expect DC flexibility to drive DB member transfers
Defined benefit schemes could see a short-term increase in requests from members to switch their benefits into defined contribution schemes, due to potential government plans to restrict such transfers, benefit consultants have predicted.
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News
University funds running equity risk as holdings rise
University pension schemes have seen their equity holdings increase as a proportion of their portfolio, a survey of self-administered trusts in the sector has revealed, sparking debate among experts about their exposure to market volatility.
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Opinion
NAPF: Top of the DB regulatory agenda
Talking head: The NAPF’s Helen Forrest runs through the most important regulatory changes facing defined benefit pension scheme decision-makers – including unintended consequences of the Budget’s retirement reforms.
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Opinion
Why your biggest investment risk is ignoring your liabilities
Talking head: Investment columnist Rob Gardner looks at whether equities or bonds are looking better value for UK pension funds, and argues context is vital.
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News
Greater intermediary fee transparency needed to assess value, experts urge
News analysis: Investment management and consultant fees need to be more transparent to allow schemes to more accurately measure whether they are getting value for money, industry figures have said.