All Governance articles – Page 9
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NewsPPF pays out £1bn but fraud compensation claims raise concerns
The Pension Protection Fund paid out £1bn in member compensation in 2020-21, but there are concerns as potential claims with a value in excess of £358m against its Fraud Compensation Fund vastly exceed the money available to pay them, according to the PPF’s annual report.
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NewsUSS employers call for union co-operation ahead of strike ballot
Universities UK, the group representing 340 Universities Superannuation Scheme employers, has called on trade unions to co-operate with it as it bids to reform the embattled pension scheme.
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NewsOpperman lauds ‘transformational’ climate requirements
Pensions minister Guy Opperman has lauded the government’s “utterly transformational” approach to climate reporting requirements, while promising legislation on “simpler statements” and the “statements season” in the near future.
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NewsPPF 7800 surplus jumps £25bn in September
On the go: The latest update of the PPF 7800 Index shows the aggregate surplus of the 5,318 defined benefit schemes measured jumped by more than £25bn to £108.8bn at the end of September, up from £83.2bn at the end of August.
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News‘Greenium’ concerns remain around second green gilts issuance
On the go: The second issuance of the government’s green gilts is expected on October 18. While the first issuance was significantly oversubscribed, concerns about the “greenium” have deterred some pension schemes from investing.
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PodcastsPodcast: Mandating net zero could ‘cut straight through’ fiduciary duties
Podcast: The government mandating default funds be aligned with ‘net zero’ would be a way around concerns about fiduciary responsibility, but there are questions about what this would mean in practice. Stuart O’Brien, partner at Sackers, and Gareth Stears, pensions technical consultant at Aries Insight, discuss environmental, social and governance issues, social housing, and the Pensions Regulator’s controversial criminal powers.
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NewsGovernance burden does not translate into value, industry says
On the go: Pensions professionals have said the burden of the increased level of scheme governance is not worth the value it brings, a survey from XPS Pensions Group has found.
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NewsIsio snaps up Premier Pensions
On the go: Isio has announced the acquisition of Premier Pensions, subject to approval by the Financial Conduct Authority.
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PodcastsPodcast: No way to avoid the indexation ‘rules lottery’ as inflation bites
Podcast: High inflation will spur more schemes to look to switch from the retail price index to the consumer price index, but there is still no way around the “rules lottery”. Eversheds Sutherland partner Stuart Earle and Aon partner Lynda Whitney discuss inflation, the botched attempt to raise the normal minimum pension age, and a new value for money framework.
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NewsTPR warns small schemes: Prove value or wind up
On the go: The Pensions Regulator has warned smaller defined contribution pension schemes they will need to demonstrate their value to members or wind up, as more stringent rules come into force next month.
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NewsRiver and Mercantile joins green gilts issuance
On the go: River and Mercantile has announced its participation in the government’s inaugural green gilts issuance.
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NewsTaskforce lays out measures to boost schemes’ voting powers
The Taskforce on Pension Scheme Voting Implementation has called on the Department for Work and Pensions and the Financial Conduct Authority to create templates and requirements aimed at boosting asset owners’ ability to vote, especially in pooled funds.
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NewsRegulators propose DC-wide ‘value for money’ framework
The Pensions Regulator and the Financial Conduct Authority will be forcing defined contribution schemes to disclose more data around their investment performance, scheme oversight, and costs and charges, as they unveil a discussion paper looking at creating an “holistic framework” for assessing value for money in this sector.
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NewsMorrisons schemes granted additional security in takeover bid
On the go: An agreement has been reached between a private equity manager and the trustees of Morrisons’ defined benefit schemes to grant additional security, as the attempted takeover of the supermarket chain progresses.
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NewsCalls for climate reporting harmony as FCA and DWP rules diverge
The Financial Conduct Authority’s climate-related disclosure rules for asset managers, life insurers and its regulated pension providers should be brought into line with Department for Work and Pensions regulations to give greater clarity and consistency, the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association has said.
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NewsKent Pension Fund breaches LGPS regulations
On the go: Connection trouble with a third-party pensions administrator’s systems has caused staff productivity at the Kent Pension Fund to suffer, while poor record management by Kent Police led to a breach of Local Government Pension Scheme regulations.
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NewsPMI launches new diploma for pension professionals
On the go: The Pensions Management Institute is launching a new diploma in pension trusteeship.
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NewsLondon Borough of Newham invests in Paris-aligned index fund
On the go: The £1.6bn London Borough of Newham Pension Fund has invested in a new environmental, social and governance fund with Legal & General Investment Management.
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NewsBig schemes turn to fiduciary managers during pandemic
Data crunch: The average size of a pension scheme taking on a fiduciary manager rose by around 80 per cent during the Covid-19 pandemic, suggesting the flexibility afforded by the model was particularly attractive in turbulent market conditions, according to research from IC Select.
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NewsPublic sector schemes wary of TPR’s new code of practice
Public sector schemes should press on with implementing the Pensions Regulator’s new code of practice, Aon has said. However, schemes are concerned about the new rules and have asked for more clarity from the watchdog.