A service from DG Publishing
Latest funding and surplus news
Always A Pensions Angle: Probing amendments and Panglossian optimism
Nick reports from wet and windy Scotland (with trainee guide dog Jenny) as he and Tom dissect the Pension Schemes Bill’s journey through the House of Lords, and mull over what the US’s recent actions mean for portfolios.
AMNT: When is your pension like a Mars bar?
Maggie Rodger, co-chair of the Association of Member-Nominated Trustees, highlights the effects of changes to accruals and contributions made in the wake of the financial crisis, and how these should influence surplus discussion.
DB schemes navigate volatile 2025 to finish with stronger funding position
Defined benefit pension schemes finished 2025 with an aggregate surplus of £259.7bn, according to the latest data from the Pension Protection Fund’s 7800 index.
Outlook 2026: The changing face of DB endgame options
Defined benefit experts give their views on the challenges and opportunities presented by the Pension Schemes Bill and other industry developments.
Surplus sharing dominating scheme decision-making, study shows
UK pension schemes are at a crossroads as surplus distribution challenges dominate decision-making, according to new research from PwC.
Outlook 2026: Beyond the Pensions Schemes Bill – lawyers eye key developments
Pensions Expert quizzes lawyers to find out what they expect to be the key issues that trustees and pension professionals should look out for in 2026.
More on DB from Pensions Expert
Harwich docks scheme with £45m Royal London buy-in
Royal London has insured the Harwich Haven Authority Pension Fund through a £45m full scheme buy-in covering all 170 members.
Schroders lands £3bn fiduciary mandate from E.ON scheme
Schroders will take on the management of the portfolio for the £3bn E.ON UK Group pension fund, which is part of the £29bn Electricity Supply Pension Scheme.
Maritime company anchors DB scheme with £55m buy-in
The deal covers 667 members of the Bibby Line Group Ltd Pension Scheme, sponsored by Liverpool-based financial services and maritime company Bibby Line Group.
DB members confident in pensions but unsettled by buyout, research finds
Standard Life’s latest research suggests that members may need greater reassurance when their pension scheme is going through a bulk annuity transaction.
Construction assessment company insures DB scheme with Aviva
The British Board of Agrément (BBA) has insured its defined benefit (DB) pension scheme through a £20m buy-in with Aviva.
Veterans’ charity secures pension scheme in £16m buy-in
Just Group has completed a £16m buy-in for the defined benefit (DB) pension scheme of a military veterans’ charity, Royal Star & Garter.
Cabinet Office to provide hardship loans to Civil Service pensioners, union says [updated]
The Cabinet Office plans to support some Civil Service pensioners as administration provider Capita struggles to cope with a backlog of tens of thousands of cases.
ABI launches bulk annuity board in governance shake-up
The new Pension Insurance and Investment Board will be chaired by Just’s David Richardson and is one of four product committees that will report to the trade body’s main board.