All Mercer articles – Page 6
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NewsBritvic reaches interim agreement on CPI/RPI linking
Soft drinks manufacturer Britvic has reached an interim agreement with the trustees of its defined benefit pension scheme over controversial plans to switch pension increases based on the retail prices index to the lower consumer prices index.
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News
DB deficit spikes as hedging continues to be vindicated
On the go: The defined benefit liabilities of the UK's largest companies shot up by £30bn at the end of August, according to Mercer, as a slump in corporate bond yields refocuses trustee minds on immunising risk.
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NewsBritvic seeks court approval for RPI/CPI switch
Soft drinks manufacturer Britvic is the latest business to attempt to switch the basis for its defined benefit pension increases from the retail price index to the consumer price index, with other companies reputedly queuing up to take legal advice on this very point.
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News
FTSE 350 deficit up to £51bn as political and financial turmoil ahead
On the go: FTSE 350 companies saw their pension deficit grow in July, from £48bn at the end of June to £51bn by the end of July, a £3bn increase. Funding levels were unchanged over the month at 94 per cent, according to Mercer.
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News
British American Tobacco strikes £3.4bn buy-in deal
On the go: British American Tobacco's UK pension scheme has agreed a buy-in covering both pensioners and deferred members, the third largest struck to date.
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£2.2bn Mercer Master Trust gains authorisation
On the go: The £2.2bn Mercer Master Trust has gained authorisation from the Pensions Regulator. The trust has 71,000 savers in the UK and is the 11th trust to gain the watchdog’s approval.
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News
DB continues to mature as 73% cash flow negative
On the go: Almost three out of every four defined benefit schemes in the UK are now cash flow negative, according to consultancy Mercer’s 2019 asset allocation survey.
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News
FTSE 350 pension deficit reaches 18-month high
On the go: The UK’s 350 largest listed companies have seen the deficit of their defined benefit pension schemes reach an 18-month high, increasing from £45bn at the end of February to £55bn by the end of March, according to Mercer.
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News
FTSE350 pension deficit rises to £45bn
On the go: The total deficit of FTSE350 companies’ defined benefit pension schemes increased to £45bn from £41bn at the end of February. The move was caused by an increase in liabilities to £811bn from £806bn, partially offset by asset values increasing to £766bn from £765bn, according to Mercer figures released this week.
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Regulator turns focus to DB sponsors’ long-term plans
Trustees and sponsors of defined benefit pension schemes will have to recognise a long-term funding target for their plans, under guidance set out on Tuesday by the Pensions Regulator.
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Aon mulling offer for Willis Towers Watson
On the go: Insurance brokerage and consulting giant Aon is reportedly preparing to submit a bid for rival Willis Towers Watson, in a move that would send shockwaves through the pensions advisory industry.
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DWP consultation ramps up pressure on small schemes to consolidate
The Department for Work and Pensions is ramping up the pressure on small schemes to consolidate and to consider long term illiquid investments.
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Rookes and Hirons-Wood join Pension SuperFund trustee board
On the go: Defined benefit consolidator the Pension SuperFund has announced the addition of two further trustees to its board.
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Half of FTSE 100 liabilities funded to buyout levels by 2029
Full buyout was once a distant dream for many sponsors of UK defined benefit schemes.
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DB funding slips lower over December
On the go: Surplus in the UK's defined benefit pension schemes evaporated over December, according to a funding measure used by the Pension Protection Fund.
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£300m to be paid out by DB funds in transfers, buyouts and buy-ins
On the go: For the first time ever, nearly one third of a trillion pounds will be paid by UK private sector defined benefit pension schemes over a three-year period, from 2019–2021 according to Mercer.
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CMA ups pressure on trustees and advisers to seek best deal
New requirements on trustees to shop around for fiduciary management and challenge their advisers will generate better value for members, experts have said in response to measures set out by the Competition and Markets Authority.
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Tower Hamlets completes £700m equity protection strategy
On the go: The London Borough of Tower Hamlets Pension Fund has undertaken a £700m equity protection strategy with Schroders.
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NewsOnly one in 100 members wants paper comms, finds BAA scheme
The BAA Pension Scheme’s digital push on communications has led to virtually the entire membership opting to switch to electronic information.
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Features
Investment consultants could be under microscope for next decade
Analysis: Investment consultants may have escaped the more stringent of the recommendations in the Competition and Markets Authority’s provisional decision earlier this year, but experts have said that the scrutiny of the market is unlikely to end at Christmas.