All scheme funding articles – Page 22

  • News

    Progress towards long-term objectives tops list of DB concerns

    2017-11-14T00:00:00Z

    Concerns over long-term objectives, managing funding constraints and keeping up with change rank at the top of concerns held at defined benefit schemes, followed by the task of balancing stakeholder interests, new research has found.

  • Ruth Bamforth
    Opinion

    What charities can do to address DB affordability

    2017-10-30T00:00:00Z

    When it comes to addressing the affordability of charity defined benefit pension funds, Ruth Bamforth at Walker Morris recommends a proactive and open approach.

  • Darren Redmayne
    Opinion

    Rate rises are not the solution for DB woes

    2017-10-23T00:00:00Z

    From the blog: After its meeting on September 14, the Monetary Policy Committee issued its strongest guidance yet that it expects to raise interest rates from their historic 10-year low.

  • Bob Scott
    Opinion

    Billions to go backwards – now how do we move forwards?

    2017-09-26T00:00:00Z

    Pensions Expert 20th Anniversary: The Association of Consulting Actuaries’ Bob Scott looks at how the past 20 years have transformed pensions and what the future might have in store.

  • Laura McLaughlin and Thibault Jeakings
    Opinion

    What to look out for with sectionalisation

    2017-09-22T00:00:00Z

    There are a number of reasons trustees and employers may want to sectionalise their schemes, but it is not always plain sailing, according to Laura McLaughlin and Thibault Jeakings at law firm CMS.

  • Anthea Whitton
    Opinion

    How contingent assets can benefit schemes

    2017-09-11T00:00:00Z

    Anthea Whitton, partner at law firm Eversheds Sutherland, explains how contingent assets can benefit sponsoring employers and scheme trustees.

  • Getty Images
    Features

    CYBG scheme closure highlights industry's 10-year funding headache

    2017-08-04T00:00:00Z

    Banking group CYBG has closed its defined benefit pension scheme to future accrual, wiping £131m from its liabilities and avoiding increased contributions amid worsening market conditions.

  • Bloomberg
    Features

    GKN scheme closures and debt issuance to combat £1bn deficit

    2017-07-28T00:00:00Z

    Engineering firm GKN has closed its UK defined benefit pension schemes to future accrual, and plans to use proceeds from a debt issuance to plug a £1bn deficit on its UK post-retirement obligations.

  • Hans den Boer
    Opinion

    The PPF’s funding strategy: Flight path to self-sufficiency

    2017-07-21T00:00:00Z

    The Pension Protection Fund’s Hans den Boer says why the PPF cannot be complacent despite its healthy funding position.

  • News

    Qinetiq shields funding level with boost to LDI

    2017-07-07T00:00:00Z

    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.

  • News

    Pensions Institute: Relax DB promises to tackle PPF drift

    2017-06-21T00:00:00Z

    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.

  • News

    Scheme support levels at lowest since financial crisis

    2017-06-20T00:00:00Z

    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.

  • News

    Increased use of RAAs is 'inevitable', experts say

    2017-06-05T00:00:00Z

    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. 

  • Features

    IMI derisks with buy-in and Pie

    2017-05-31T00:00:00Z

    Specialist engineering company IMI has completed a pension increase exchange exercise and a buy-in, as trustees become more comfortable with liability management measures. 

  • News

    Regulator zeroes in on dividends

    2017-05-17T00:00:00Z

    The Pensions Regulator has targeted employers who pay large dividends while underfunding defined benefit pension schemes in its latest annual funding statement, increasing the pressure on trustees to secure as much funding as possible.

  • Features

    Dyfed 97% funded but private schemes lag behind

    2017-05-05T00:00:00Z

    The Dyfed Pension Fund is approaching solvency as an investment review is set to largely stick with the scheme’s equity-heavy asset allocation, making for a sharp contrast to the situation at many private sector schemes.

  • Matthew Arends
    Opinion

    How has DB changed in 20 years?

    2017-05-04T00:00:00Z

    From the blog: April 2017 saw the 20 anniversary of the introduction of scheme actuaries. I don’t expect there were many parties in celebration, but it made me think about how scheme actuaries, and defined benefit pensions, have changed over 20 years and what might happen next.

  • Getty
    Features

    Post Office surplus raises union affordability complaints

    2017-04-12T00:00:00Z

    The Post Office section of the Royal Mail Pension Plan remains in surplus, its latest funding update shows, just weeks after it was closed to future accrual amid union consternation.

  • Leonardo
    Features

    Leonardo scheme ups hedge after Care switch

    2017-04-12T00:00:00Z

    The Leonardo Electronics Pension Scheme has adapted its liability hedging strategy to reflect the career salary benefit changes implemented last year to reduce risk and costs.

  • Opinion

    Does ‘gilts plus’ lead to inappropriate investment strategies?

    2017-04-11T00:00:00Z

    Should valuation assumptions be a function of the investment strategy? What does the regulator say about the gilts-plus approach? Paul McGlone from Aon Hewitt, David Weeks from the Association of Member Nominated Trustees, Jonathan Reynolds from Capital Cranfield, Leslie Scrine from the M&G Group Pension Scheme, Andrew Cheeseman from Pan Trustees and Andrew Young from the Pensions Regulator discuss scheme valuation methods.