Latest articles from Benjamin Mercer

Weekly Roundup: Have you any wool?

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Welcome to Pensions Expert’s roundup of a week that saw yet another company disappear, leaving a supermassive black hole in its pension scheme.

Economic uncertainty, DC consolidation, ESG to mark 2021

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Podcast: Marc Hommel, senior pensions adviser at EY-Parthenon, and Sue Pemberton, head of technology and defined contribution consulting at Premier Pensions, give their predictions for the pensions industry in 2021.

Industry needs to do more to combat scams, TPR says

While the Pensions Regulator has pointed the finger at industry saying all parties must do more to tackle the problem of pension scams, members of the Work and Pensions Committee have questioned whether the regulator has itself done enough to help.

Edinburgh Woollen Mill collapse leaves £17.5m pension black hole

Edinburgh Woollen Mill (teaser)

Clothing and homeware manufacturer Edinburgh Woollen Mill’s collapse into administration has sparked fears its defined benefit scheme will not recover the £17.5m owed to it.

Trustees cannot outsource responsibility for cyber risk

On the go: Trustees bear ultimate responsibility for managing cyber risk even when they outsource administration to a third party, and must ensure they carry out due diligence, according to a new report.

Plumbing business freed of DB scheme liability

On the go: UK-based heating and plumbing distribution business Wolseley is set to be freed of its defined benefit scheme liability following its acquisition by a private investment company.

Investments in 2021: The year we ‘build back better’?

Investments in 2021 (teaser)

Three themes that will shape the investment sector in the year ahead.

More work needed to make ESG meaningful

Wind turbines, sunset

Scarcely a week passes without an announcement of a new environmental, social and governance-oriented venture. But experts warn more needs to be done if onlookers are to be confident that words have meaning.

Weekly roundup: Merchant Navy gets in line as general levy returns

Red ensign flag (teaser)

Welcome to Pensions Expert’s roundup of a week that saw the Pensions Regulator throwing its considerable bulk around. 

TCFD reporting requirements leave too little time for compliance

On the go: Almost half of respondents to a poll carried out by Eversheds Sutherland expressed a fear that trustees will not have time to comply with new climate change reporting requirements before they are introduced.