All Governance articles – Page 18
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PodcastsPodcast: Pension schemes bill could have ‘unintended consequences’
Podcast: The pension schemes bill defines criminal offences so broadly that it could have “unintended consequences” for the running of pension schemes, potentially stifling legitimate corporate activity. Tiffany Tsang, Local Government Pension Scheme and defined benefit policy lead at the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association, and Eversheds Sutherland partner Jeremy Goodwin both agree that more clarity is needed, in an episode also covering fallout from the passage of the insolvency bill, the launch of the Make My Money Matter campaign, and a 16th century pension scheme bailout.
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News
Environment Agency scheme takes aim at private equity ESG failings
The Environment Agency Pension Fund, one of the UK’s largest public sector pension schemes and long-acknowledged as a leader in ethical and sustainable fund management, was among the first to sign up the Make My Money Matter campaign. While the fund has made great strides in making its portfolio more sustainable, the pressure is on its private equity managers to go even further.
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OpinionIGCs let savers down with impunity
In an earlier column for Pensions Expert, I asked whether independent governance committees were up to the job of looking after the interests of millions of workplace pension savers.
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News
How can schemes make ESG compliance meaningful?
Analysis: The UK pension industry’s first attempt at compliance with new sustainability reporting rules has left campaigners unimpressed, to say the very least.
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News
DB trustees spend 3,000 days a year processing inefficiencies
On the go: Defined benefit pension scheme trustees cumulatively spend 3,000 days each year monitoring processes that could be avoided by adopting a technology-led approach, new analysis shows.
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News
Regulator finds lack of consistency in IGCs
On the go: The Financial Conduct Authority is concerned about a lack of consistency in the way independent governance committees operate, which means that members of some workplace pension schemes may not be receiving value for money.
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News
Peers push for clarity over insolvency measures
On the go: Members of the House of Lords have pressed the government to provide clarity over the impact of new insolvency laws on pension schemes.
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News
Fiduciary managers outperform during coronavirus crisis
Analysis: A year after emerging from the scrutiny of the Competition and Markets Authority, fiduciary managers are now embracing transparency to advertise outperformance of traditional advised defined benefit schemes.
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PodcastsPodcast: 'Crystal ball-gazing' makes ethical investment tough for trustees
Trustees aiming to make ethical investment decisions can find it tough to justify them without recourse to a crystal ball, as the legal requirements are ill-defined, says Irwin Mitchell’s pensions partner Penny Cogher. In this episode she’s joined by independent consultant and long-time pensions expert Malcolm McLean for a discussion covering capital-backed endgame deals, the complications of new insolvency laws, and some morally dubious LGPS investments.
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News
Lockdown spikes fears of democratic deficit in LGPS
As the Covid-19 crisis unfolds, there could be a worrying governance and democratic deficit in some local authority pension schemes, with only 27 per cent of councils having virtual pension committee meetings.
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News
Brunel achieves carbon intensity reduction target
Brunel Pension Partnership has achieved its target of reducing the carbon intensity of its active portfolio by 7 per cent a year in time for the UN’s World Environment Day, but smaller schemes saddled with pooled products may lack the clout required to emulate them.
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OpinionTrustees must face hard governance truths after Covid shake-up
Our daily lives will inevitably change once the Covid-19 crisis is over.
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OpinionMore than a number: what it means to be a professional trustee
Dalriada’s Greig McGuinness recounts his experience of accreditation as a professional trustee, and gives his thoughts on the responsibility to uphold the profession that comes with completing the process.
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NewsUSS divests from coal, tobacco and weapons manufacturers
The UK’s largest pension scheme has announced it is to divest from selected coal, tobacco and weapons manufacturers, following years of campaigning by members and activist groups.
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News
Chair’s statement template to ease trustee headaches
On the go: The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association has released a new template designed to help trustees of well-run defined contribution schemes avoid being caught out by chair’s statement requirements.
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OpinionTemplates help, but govt help is needed on chair’s statements
As the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association releases templates to help trustees avoid pitfalls in defined contribution chair’s statements, George Currie appeals for greater regulatory flexibility in how punishments are dished out.
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Opinion
How will pandemic affect employer contributions longer-term?
Over the past few weeks, the Pensions Regulator has been publishing a range of guidance for schemes and employers, which among other easements effectively gives the green light for trustees to consider the deferral of deficit reduction contributions for a period of up to three months.
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News
ESG-focused investments show durability through market meltdown
The Covid-19 pandemic has shown how important environmental, social and governance factors are when making investment decisions, according to analysts.
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News
Covid-19: Disruption for DC schemes; social impact woes
While defined contribution trustees are being warned they could be facing more disruption than just investment volatility, institutional investors are calling on companies to mitigate the coronavirus social impact. At the same time, risks of cybersecurity and fraud are on the rise. Read our round-up of pensions and finance news about the coronavirus outbreak.
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News
HSBC ahead of curve with TCFD compliance
As the government seeks powers to mandate pension schemes to disclose their climate change risks, the HSBC Bank (UK) Pension Scheme is already on its second report under the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures.