All Defined benefit articles – Page 4
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NewsBulk annuities latest: Services company targets buyout ofter scheme closure
The latest headlines from the bulk annuities sector, including a £1m micro-scheme buy-in for Legal & General and a listed services company’s plan to insure two DB schemes.
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NewsDB schemes end Q1 with stronger funding ratio despite asset volatility
The conflict in Iran has not hurt the overall funding levels of DB schemes so far this year, although aggregate assets have fallen slightly since the end of 2025.
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NewsLow dependency overtakes buyout as DB schemes rethink endgame
Improving funding levels are giving defined benefit schemes more endgame options, but many have yet to put clear governance frameworks in place for surplus and long-term decision-making.
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NewsCan in-specie transfers smooth the path to buy-in?
New research from Standard Life indicates that many defined benefit (DB) trustee boards are considering in-specie transfers of illiquid assets to aid their preparation for bulk annuity transactions.
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NewsHow geopolitics could hurt your scheme’s covenant
As the US-Iran conflict takes another turn, consultancy group LCP has warned that pension scheme trustees need to be aware of the potential impact of geopolitical issues on sponsor covenants.
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OpinionABI: A more productive conversation about investment and DB endgames
Rob Yuille of the Association of British Insurers says it is time we defined our terms around productive investment to make sure policies work for all stakeholders.
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NewsBulk annuities update: Aviva insures vehicle manufacturer’s DB scheme
The latest headlines from the bulk annuities sector, including deals for Aviva, M&G, and Canada Life, as well as details of Just Group’s recent acquisition by Brookfield Wealth Solutions.
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In DepthCall for action on member representation as MNT numbers fall by a third
Sole trustee arrangements are on the rise as member-nominated trustees are declining, according to data obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.
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Opinion‘Don’t call us lay trustees’: AMNT on why member reps must be taken seriously
Kate Upcraft of the Association of Member Nominated Trustees recounts her experience as an elected scheme representative and why the role is so important for pension funds of all kinds.
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OpinionTPR: We need the marketplace to innovate to deliver in the new pensions era
In an exclusive column for Pensions Expert, the Pensions Regulator’s chief executive Nausicaa Delfas explains the importance of innovation to address the challenges and capture the opportunities of the next few years.
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NewsDB trustees eyeing surplus release as part of endgame plan, says L&G
Bulk annuities remain a key element of most defined benefit pension schemes’ endgame planning, but running on and accessing surplus is becoming a more popular option.
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NewsSmall scheme insurance boom drives record number of buy-in deals in 2025
Legal & General dominated 2025’s pension insurance market in terms of new business volumes, but data from LCP shows that sub-£100m transactions are driving competition and “exceptional” pricing.
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NewsBulk annuities latest: Rothesay reports on 2025; PIC parent to relocate to London
Plus: Just Group ties up a £32m full scheme buy-in with the Reebok UK Retirement Benefits Scheme, insuring the benefits of 452 members.
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NewsVirgin Media ruling: TPR says work can start now on remediation
Trustees do not need to wait for the Pension Schemes Bill to become law before instructing actuaries to begin work on section 37 remediation, the regulator has said.
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NewsBulk annuities update: Buy-ins for Panasonic and Essentra schemes
M&G reports on £140m Panasonic scheme deal, while Aviva ties up a £104m buy-in with Essentra.
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NewsBulk annuities latest: Brookfield approved for Just acquisition
Plus: Canada Life insures a pharmaceutical distribution company’s defined benefit pension scheme for £30m.
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NewsInsurer competition means more work for small DB schemes, Hymans warns
Defined benefit pension schemes as small as £5m are now attracting interest from multiple insurers, according to Hymans Robertson’s latest annual report on the bulk annuity sector.
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In DepthSpecial report: The Pension Schemes Bill in the House of Lords
The landmark legislation begins its report stage this week, with peers still debating more than 180 amendments to the Pension Schemes Bill. Pensions Expert explores what is up for discussion over the next two weeks.
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OpinionAMNT: Looking to the past for the future of trusteeship
Lewis Brown of the Association of Member-Nominated Trustees highlights the need to balance professionalism with the lived experience of members, as the government explores ways to raise standards of pension scheme governance.
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OpinionIs running on DB schemes a bridge to stronger DC outcomes?
Lindsay Nickerson, the new chair of the DC Investment Forum, explores the interaction between defined benefit surpluses and payments into defined contribution pension schemes.