All scheme funding articles – Page 21
-
Opinion
How can schemes assess employer covenant strength?
Darren Redmayne chuckles good-naturedly, at what must be the thousandth time a journalist has asked whether the FTSE 100’s recently revealed accounting surplus means their defined benefit pension problems have gone away.
-
News
FTSE 100 schemes in surplus, but experts warn that risks remain
FTSE 100 pension schemes have reflected a year-end accounting surplus for the first time since the financial crash, according to consultancy LCP, but experts say trustees and sponsors should continue to be prudent in case of potential future market downturns.
-
News
Select committees question regulator’s ambition on DB
On the go: The Pensions Regulator’s commitment to engaging proactively with poorly funded defined benefit schemes and their employers has been called into question by two parliamentary select committees, in a stinging letter that discusses the future of chief executive Lesley Titcomb.
-
News
DB deficits slip back up
The UK's aggregate defined benefit deficit increased over March to £115.6bn from £72.1bn on a section 179 basis, according to Pension Protection Fund estimates.
-
News
TPR fires warning shot over dividend to DRC balance
Defined benefit trustees and sponsoring employers should act sooner rather than later to secure members' pensions, the Pensions Regulator has said in its latest annual funding statement, and warned against prioritising dividends.
-
OpinionDB white paper generates as many questions as answers
The political posturing of criminal sanctions for employers looks set to make bad law, argues Sackers’ Janet Brown, and a crucial question of resource still hangs over the white paper’s many sensible suggestions.
-
OpinionSuperfund – shoot first
Editorial: The Department for Work and Pensions has kept its word with the publication of its highly anticipated white paper, even managing to deliver it ahead of its spring target.
-
NewsFines for DB negligence leave industry split
Employers who wilfully or recklessly put their defined benefit pension schemes at risk are in the firing line of new punitive fines announced in a government policy statement released on Monday.
-
News
New British Steel Pension Scheme meeting size and funding tests
Under the terms of the agreement between Tata Steel UK and the BSPS relating to the regulated apportionment arrangement, the New BSPS will only go ahead if certain conditions are met – including conditions related to size and funding level.
-
OpinionLearning the lessons of Carillion
We shouldn’t make the mistake of thinking that the collapse of outsourcer Carillion was down to its pension obligations, but the debacle does serve as a reminder of the tough decisions faced by trustees, argues Dalriada’s Jo Harris.
-
News
DB deficits increase in February
Defined benefit deficits across schemes eligible for the Pension Protection Fund have increased to £72.1bn at the close of February 2018, from a deficit of £51bn at the end of January 2018.
-
OpinionAvoid rear-view mirror driving
From the blog: A lot of schemes use funding level triggers as part of a derisking journey. Once a certain funding level is met then you derisk by disinvesting from growth assets to add to the matching assets. This reduces the level of risk of the investment strategy but also reduces the expected returns.
-
OpinionCold call from a pensioner
Editorial: An elderly gentleman called me a few days ago at work. He was looking for someone who could help him access his pension pot.
-
News
Carillion directors called to joint inquiry
The Work and Pensions Committee and the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee are starting a joint inquiry into the collapse of Carillion, which has left thousands of employees and pension scheme members in limbo.
-
NewsMay's promise to protect pensions lacks concrete solutions
Theresa May has pledged to stop executives who try to “line their own pockets” by putting pension schemes at risk, but questions over resourcing and legislative issues remain.
-
News
May promises to stop pensions being put at risk
Theresa May has promised to stop executives from putting pensions at risk.
-
FeaturesUnilever forks out £600m to tackle £1.2bn DB deficit
Unilever has contributed £600m to its scheme, after an actuarial valuation revealed a £1.2bn deficit. Meanwhile, the trustees have taken steps to ensure they can act quickly should there be a significant corporate event.
-
News
Companies reduce scheme deficits by £8bn
The combined pension deficit of FTSE 350 companies improved by £8bn over 2017, while assets went up more than £44bn to £781bn, a pensions consultancy said.
-
NewsFunding levels up as FTSE 100 companies cut back DB
The UK’s blue chip companies have cut back their defined benefit servicing costs by around 15 per cent over 2017, analysis by JLT Employee Benefits has found, while funding levels continue their painstaking recovery.
-
OpinionAn MoU can ensure effective covenant monitoring
Aon Hewitt’s Aidan O’Mahony explains how a memorandum of understanding agreement can lead to more effective covenant monitoring.