All Governance articles – Page 12
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OpinionNow is the time for schemes to turn attention to social risk factors
From the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic to growing equality and human rights movements, the past year has brought many significant changes both in terms of behaviour and views relating to social factors.
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NewsExperts cite stewardship as more important than investment choices
On the go: A majority of leading pension figures believes that effective stewardship is more influential in tackling environmental, social and governance issues than in what is being invested, according to participants at a Law Debenture event.
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PodcastsPodcast: Pension schemes’ under-allocation to China is ‘anachronistic’
Podcast: UK pension schemes are too often under-allocated to China and missing out on the significant opportunities presented by its continued growth and development. There are, however, lingering environmental, social and governance concerns around investing in the “nominally communist” state, says RisCura investment consultant Lars Hagenbuch. He is joined by SEI Investments director Cyprian Njamma in an episode also covering Covid-19 mortality data and the Pensions Regulator’s proposed asset information reform.
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NewsCost Transparency Initiative sees 23% spike in schemes’ uptake
On the go: The Cost Transparency Initiative has recorded a 23 per cent increase in uptake during the past year, with 79 per cent of pension schemes now making use of its framework.
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NewsFRC slaps DB scheme auditor with £125,000 fine
A chartered accountancy firm and one of its partners have been slapped with a hefty fine for “pervasive failures” in the manner in which they conducted an audit of Associated British Engineering, which included shortcomings in the audit of the company’s defined benefit pensions scheme liabilities.
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NewsFCA to require TCFD reports from providers and asset managers
On the go:The Financial Conduct Authority is to consult on the introduction of Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures requirements for schemes it regulates, bringing its regulations into line with those proposed by the Department for Work and Pensions.
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NewsSarah Smart appointed permanent chair at the Pensions Regulator
On the go: The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed the appointment of Sarah Smart as permanent chair of the Pensions Regulator.
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NewsBarnet Pension Fund back on track following change in administrators
Barnet Council’s pension fund has largely recovered from an era of errors under Capita, with its new administrators overseeing significant improvements in the handling of member data.
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NewsUK pension schemes under-allocated to Chinese equities
UK pension schemes’ allocation to China as a percentage of global equities is generally inadequate, but there is no consensus as to how big the allocation should be, according to participants at Camradata’s Investing in China roundtable.
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NewsMPs demand Sunak addresses mineworkers’ scheme issues
On the go: The Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee has called on the government to bring its approach to the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme into line with its “levelling up” agenda, branding the current arrangement “antithetical” to that policy.
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NewsUSS targets net-zero emissions, MPs launch stewardship inquiry
ESG spotlight: A roundup of the latest news on environmental, social and governance initiatives, with the Universities Superannuation Scheme targeting net-zero carbon emissions, the Work and Pensions Committee launching an inquiry into stewardship, and COP26, and new research showing that almost half of savers would prefer greener pensions.
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NewsPASA to launch DC transfers working group
On the go: The Pensions Administration and Standards Association announced on Tuesday more details about its forthcoming defined contribution transfers working group, which has the goal to speed up and lower the risk of transfers between trust and contract-based DC schemes.
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NewsUUK proposes USS governance reform, 20-year moratorium on exits
Universities UK, the employer group representing 340 Universities Superannuation Scheme members, has raised the prospect of a 20-year moratorium on scheme exits in a bid to show a greater commitment to covenant support.
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NewsTPR, PPF propose tiered approach in asset information reform
The Pensions Regulator and the Pension Protection Fund have issued a joint consultation into proposals to change the asset class information TPR collects via the scheme return.
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PodcastsPodcast: Illiquids not necessarily the answer for DC
Podcast: Illiquid asset classes might seem attractive in theory, but there would be difficulties establishing them in a defined contribution pension portfolio, even if all the regulatory burdens were removed. Brian Henderson, partner and director of consulting at Mercer, is joined by Shola Salako, professional trustee at Dalriada, to discuss alternatives, putting the S in ESG, and fixing the problems with chair’s statements.
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NewsDWP admits DC chair’s statements fail policy objective
The Department for Work and Pensions has acknowledged that the introduction of chair’s statements has failed to meet the policy objectives set out by the department in 2014.
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NewsRedington and Fidelity to target net-zero by 2050
ESG spotlight: A roundup of the latest news on environmental, social and governance initiatives, with Redington and Fidelity announcing a reduction in carbon emissions.
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NewsPPI urges pension schemes to explore broader ESG factors
On the go: The Pensions Policy Institute is urging pension schemes to put more emphasis on social and governance factors when considering socially responsible investment.
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NewsEngagement drives progress to ‘net-zero’
On the go: Engagement has been key to embedding sustainability across investment strategies, and driving progress towards a “net-zero by 2050 target”, according to a new report from Kempen Capital Management.
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NewsTraditional trustee board model unfit for ‘purpose’
On the go: The traditional trustee board model has been branded “unfit for purpose”, as recent events have shown the importance of reacting quickly to changing circumstances.