More defined benefit news – Page 134
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NewsTPR prosecutes former BHS owner Dominic Chappell
The Pensions Regulator has said it is prosecuting businessman Dominic Chappell, whose company Retail Acquisitions owned high street chain BHS when it became insolvent, leaving behind an underfunded pension scheme.
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NewsJ&J finds remedy for MNT recruiting ailment
Johnson & Johnson’s wide-ranging communications campaign encouraging scheme members to stand as trustee candidates shows it is possible to find “good quality” member-nominated trustees.
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NewstPR greenlights British Steel RAA
The Pensions Regulator has granted initial approval for the restructuring of the British Steel Pension Scheme, which will see members offered revised benefits at a level above those provided by the Pension Protection Fund.
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Trustee pay falls as workload ramps up
The average pension scheme trustee is being asked to dedicate more working days than ever to the running of a scheme, and is being paid less to do so, a survey released on Thursday has suggested.
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Calls for action on complexity at heart of DB transfer delays
Increased demand for defined benefit pension transfers, lack of transfer experience among independent financial advisers and complexity of DB pensions is adding to transfer delays by putting strain on administrator resources, recent research has shown.
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NewsCourt backs IBM in DB closure dispute
Technology giant IBM’s decision to close its UK defined benefit schemes has been ruled lawful by the Court of Appeal, in the culmination of an eight-year battle over the sponsor’s discretionary powers.
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DB white paper will be published in winter
The Department for Work and Pensions will consider giving further “proactive” powers to the Pensions Regulator and examine the case for consolidation, in a long-awaited white paper on defined benefit to be published in the winter.
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NewsQinetiq shields funding level with boost to LDI
The Qinetiq Pension Scheme has seen a £605m boost to its liability-driven investments and has begun discussions over its long-term future as it nears full funding.
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Cridland: Longevity as big an issue as climate change
Savers need to be more aware of the consequences of an ageing population on retirement saving, with providers, regulators and employers all having a part to play in improving engagement, say experts.
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NewsGauke calls for government and industry collaboration
In his first speech as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, David Gauke called for consensus and collaboration to ensure a positive future for pensions, but admitted that it will take time to address some of the more challenging policy issues, from pensions tax relief to extending auto-enrolment to the self-employed.
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NewsRegulator’s BHS report focuses on areas of improvement
The Pensions Regulator has highlighted the lessons it has learnt from the BHS case in a recently published regulatory intervention report, as experts stress the need for more proactive engagement.
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Wealthy male pensioners buck national longevity trends
Rapidly rising life expectancy among older men will maintain high deficits for UK defined benefit schemes, according to a new report, despite flatlining mortality rates for other demographics.
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NewsFCA transfer proposals welcomed but timeline draws criticism
The Financial Conduct Authority’s new proposals on pension transfers have been widely welcomed across the industry, but concerns around the 2018 implementation of the final rules remain.
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Pensions Institute: Relax DB promises to tackle PPF drift
Stressed schemes and employers should be allowed to reduce pension increases and gain easier access to Pension Protection Fund-plus benefit-restructuring methods in order to minimise “PPF drift”, a new academic paper has said.
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Scheme support levels at lowest since financial crisis
Affordability of FTSE 350 defined benefit pension promises has retreated to levels not seen since the global financial crisis, a new report has found, putting pressure on trustees of mature schemes.
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NewsTfL adds online self-service in admin refresh
The Transport for London pension fund is introducing a new administration system that will give members a self-service option, something experts say can help reduce costs in the long term.
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Employers urged to actively manage covenant
Employers and schemes must take a more active approach to managing their pension liabilities to improve covenant strength, experts say.
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FCA cracks down on transfer advice
Pension consultants have welcomed the Financial Conduct Authority’s adoption of a tough stance on companies advising on defined benefit transfers, calling it a “price worth paying” for member security in retirement.
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Increased use of RAAs is 'inevitable', experts say
The Pensions Regulator has agreed a regulated apportionment arrangement with Hoover, as experts say the number of RAAs, as well as the amount of due diligence involved, is likely to increase.
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NewsWilletts: Narrow green paper fails on intergenerational equality
Conservative peer Lord Willetts has spoken out against the scope of the Government’s green paper consultation on defined benefit pensions, criticising its lack of regard for intergenerational fairness.