All Law & regulation articles – Page 91
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Scandal-ridden Equitable Life finally wound up
On the go: Equitable Life has finally passed into oblivion, closing its doors to a dwindling band of existing policyholders and falling into the hands of Utmost, a private equity firm that mops up old life companies.
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Lawyers demand simpler system to rectify drafting mistakes
Lawyers are urging reform to ease the correction of obvious drafting mistakes in pension scheme rules, after Lloyds Bank was forced to go to the High Court to avoid a £25m hit to its liabilities.
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Providers divided on mandatory simpler annual statements
Workplace providers such as Smart Pension and PensionBee are supporting the government’s intention to introduce a standardised annual statement, with calls for legislation if take-up from schemes does not increase.
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Trustees receive positive sign from ombudsman on scam checks
Trustees and administrators must maintain the utmost vigilance against scammers, industry experts warn, despite a Pensions Ombudsman determination on a £367,601 loss to fraudsters favouring the ceding pension scheme.
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Opperman promises ‘refined’ Pension Schemes Bill
On the go: The Pension Schemes Bill has been included in the Queen’s Speech delivered on Thursday, with pensions minister Guy Opperman stating it will be a refined version from the previous document.
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PPF only needs to hike benefits if member faces poverty risk
The European Court of Justice ruling on the Bauer case has been described as a “welcome relief” for the Pension Protection Fund, as the lifeboat will only have to up member benefits if the individual is living below the at-risk-of-poverty threshold.
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Large employers to face higher PPF levy in 2021
On the go: The Pension Protection Fund is proposing changes to its levy risk assessment model, which will result in increased charges for larger employers.
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Thousands of firefighters to return to pre-2015 pensions
On the go: An employment tribunal ruled on Wednesday that more than 6,000 firefighters are entitled to return to pre-2015 public sector schemes, following similar decisions for other affected civil servant groups.
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Opperman reappointed pensions minister
On the go: Guy Opperman remains as minister for pensions and financial inclusion after being reappointed as MP for Hexham.
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DB schemes pursuing riskier investments, TPR warns
On the go: Some defined benefit schemes are are pursuing more risky investment strategies that seek extra returns, which could be damaging in the event of adverse economic shocks, the Pensions Regulator warned.
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Recruitment agency fined for avoiding AE duties
On the go: A recruitment agency and its managing director have been ordered to pay £10,890 for avoiding their auto-enrolment duties and misleading the Pensions Regulator by falsely claiming staff had been put into a workplace pension.
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IGCs face ‘huge challenges’ with extended oversight remits
The new rules coming into force for independent governance committees – taking oversight of the provider’s policy on environmental, social and governance factors, and guaranteeing the value for money of new investment pathway solutions – have been branded a “huge challenge” by industry experts.
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Part-time judges win court case
On the go: Four judges have seen the Supreme Court rule in favour of their appeal to reclaim a pension, in a case that could cost the government £1bn.
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TPR approves HSBC master trust
On the go: The HSBC Master Trust has become the first new scheme to be authorised by the Pensions Regulator, bringing the total number of authorised schemes to 38.
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PPF includes levy adjustment for GMP equalisation
The Pension Protection Fund will allow companies moving from a profit to a loss – due to the impact of guaranteed minimum pensions equalisation – to request an adjustment in their levy calculations.
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Accounting rules change could see charities leave multi-employer DB
On the go: Charities participating in multi-employer defined benefit schemes will have to disclose their individual liabilities, which could lead to these organisations opting to leave and setting up their own final salary plan, an expert warned.
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Elections 2019: Pension reforms expected after Tory majority
Sweeping pension system reforms are expected following the Conservative Party’s comprehensive victory in Thursday’s general election, with more powers coming for the regulator, a tax review for the higher and lower paid, and experts calling for more work on retirement adequacy.
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Accountant charged with misleading regulator due to pension failings
On the go: An accountant has been charged with misleading the Pensions Regulator after he allegedly failed to enrol staff into a pension.
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Master trusts forced to up reserves due to levy increase
Master trusts will be hit twice by a general levy increase, since in addition to a cost hike these schemes will also have to boost their reserves in case of a wind-up, and face added scrutiny from the regulator as a revised business plan could be expected.
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Calls for next government to revive multi-employer schemes bill
On the go: The boss of a small Scottish plumbing company hit with a £1.2m pensions bill is calling for the next government to revive a 2018 proposal, which would end the current issues affecting sponsors of the Plumbing and Mechanical Services Industry Pension Scheme.