More defined benefit news – Page 137
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NewsDiageo DB deadlock set to end after union split
Drinks company Diageo has avoided a strike by members of its defined benefit pension schemes after union members accepted a deal, bringing to an end months of back-and-forth.
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NewsDairy Crest churns up a new investment strategy
The Dairy Crest Pension Fund has derisked while restructuring its investment portfolio by moving away from UK investment grade credit and ‘going global’, as schemes continue to reassess the purpose of their credit exposures.
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NewsJohn Lewis slashes deficit with CPI switch
Retailer John Lewis has agreed a new recovery plan with the trustees of its defined benefit scheme after a large reduction in the funding deficit, due in part to a change in inflation indexing.
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Thames Ambulance dispute puts comms in the spotlight
A bitter dispute has broken out between Thames Ambulance Service and the GMB union over contributions to two pension schemes, with members feeling confused as to the security of their benefits.
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Greater flexibility needed to cope with growing longevity
The Department for Work and Pensions has called on employers to facilitate working at an older age so over-50s benefit from the same opportunities as their younger counterparts.
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Trustees overlook strategic objectives due to deficit distraction
Deficits distract the majority of trustees from focusing on the ultimate goal of paying members’ pensions, recent research has found, but some experts highlighted the role of covenant strength and scheme size in deciding where the priority should be.
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NewsIsle of Wight's outperformance vindicates active management
The Isle of Wight Pension Fund’s funding level jumped from 78 per cent to 92 per cent over three years, posting returns that reignite the debate over active and passive fund management.
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NewsUnions reluctantly back BSPS closure proposal
Unions have backed a proposal to close the British Steel Pension Scheme to future accrual, raising questions about the future of private sector defined benefit schemes in the UK.
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NewsTrustees told to focus less on market volatility
From Brexit to Trump, the political events of 2016 added to market uncertainty throughout the year, but trustees should take care not to be too fixated on volatility.
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Calls for greater trustee powers as advisers fail to consider scam risks
Government and regulators have been urged to strengthen the powers of trustee boards in opposing suspicious transfer requests, as an alert from the Financial Conduct Authority warned that some advisers are not carrying out proper due diligence on receiving scheme investments.
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DGF growth expected to continue despite challenges
Experts predicted the continued growth of the diversified growth fund market this week, even as the asset class comes under increased scrutiny over performance and competition from advisers.
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Pinpointing life expectancy could cut deficits by £25bn
Using more accurate assumptions on longevity could be the key to bringing down defined benefit pension scheme deficits, new research shows.
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Increase caps add to rules lottery amid inflation spike
The consumer price index spiked by almost half a per cent in the year to December 2016, narrowing the ‘rules lottery’ gap between the official inflation measure and the retail price index.
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Industry finds no easy answers in dividends v deficits debate
Most FTSE 100 companies could clear their pension deficits in less than two years by withholding dividends, new research says. Experts have called for more focus on the contrast between dividend payments and deficit repair contributions, though others say there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
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Johnson Service Group adds £1.5m on top of recovery plan
Textile rental provider Johnson Service Group has committed to paying £1.5m to its defined benefit scheme following the £8.25m sale of its dry cleaning business to Timpson Group.
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NewsContribution hike prompts pension protest at Bangor University
Public sector union Unison has protested against Bangor University’s plans to raise pension contributions, but despite the demurral, changes will be going ahead this month.
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TPR bares its teeth with first mastertrust fines
The Pensions Regulator has imposed its first fines against mastertrusts for failing to complete a chair’s statement, as it signals a hard approach to dealing with defined contribution administration lapses.
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Berkshire saves 600 hours with automated data exchange
The Royal County of Berkshire Pension Fund saved an estimated 604.1 hours of administrative work over six months, and ended its struggles with updating member data by introducing an automated data exchange.
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NewsRoyal Mail closure consultation could see strike action
Royal Mail Group has begun consulting with active members on closing its section of the Royal Mail Pension Plan, spurring the threat of industrial action from unions if the sponsor does not react positively to their concerns.
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DB outlook 2017: Investment problems remain as deficits dip
Defined benefit deficits worsened during December to an aggregate IAS 19 deficit of £434bn, as experts added sustained low interest rates and cash flow problems to their concerns for pension funds over the course of 2017.