All articles by Angus Peters – Page 29

  • News

    HMRC buys more time on EU VAT issue

    2016-09-08T00:00:00Z

    HM Revenue & Customs has delayed its guidance on alternative solutions for employers seeking to recover value added tax on defined benefit pension administration costs, prompting speculation that a decision will not be made until Brexit negotiations advance further.

  • Stormont, NI parliament (Bloomberg)
    Features

    Nilgosc turns to low vol equities

    2016-09-06T00:00:00Z

    The Northern Ireland Local Government Officers’ Superannuation Committee has made a £300m allocation to low volatility global equities in an effort to reduce overall risk while closing its funding gap.

  • News

    Scheme rules may block Treasury's advice allowance plans

    2016-09-01T00:00:00Z

    The Treasury has opened a consultation on the introduction of a pensions advice allowance, which would allow members of defined contribution schemes to use up to £500 of their pot to pay for tax-free regulated financial advice.

  • Getty Images
    Features

    Pirelli announces £600m longevity swaps as deal flow set to accelerate

    2016-09-01T00:00:00Z

    Italian tyre manufacturer Pirelli’s two main UK pension schemes have agreed longevity swaps covering £600m of pensioner liabilities, as researchers have suggested market volatility and insurer competition mean schemes could see attractive prices emerge on risk settlement products.

  • John Menzies
    News

    John Menzies considers change as activists increase split pressure

    2016-08-30T00:00:00Z

    Aviation services and distribution provider John Menzies is in talks with trustees over possible changes to its pension scheme, as the group considers splitting its two businesses under mounting pressure from activist investors.

  • News

    Chair competence key as survey highlights inefficient meetings

    2016-08-25T00:00:00Z

    Any Other Business: Pension fund trusteeship is a time-consuming role with huge responsibilities covering a wide range of topics, but are the boards running schemes using their time wisely?

  • News

    CPI and RPI gap at largest for five years as schemes eye law change

    2016-08-24T00:00:00Z

    The retail price index and consumer price index were the farthest apart they have been for five years in last month’s inflation figures, prompting debate that legislation could level the playing field for schemes using RPI for benefit increases.

  • Getty Images
    Features

    BBC aims to drive down fees in private markets strategy

    2016-08-19T00:00:00Z

    The BBC scheme lowered its overall investment management fees by £3m over five years, while further increasing its significant exposure to private markets, a move the scheme says allows it to match liabilities at the same time as generating capital growth.

  • News

    Monitoring crucial as transfer requests could creep up

    2016-08-16T00:00:00Z

    Defined benefit schemes could see increased levels of transfer quotation requests as low gilt yields push values higher. Experts have said trustees should monitor request numbers and manage their liquidity accordingly.

  • Getty Images
    News

    Governance is key as dispute rocks asset management industry

    2016-08-11T00:00:00Z

    Research suggesting that hidden fund fees are the “Loch Ness Monster of investments” has sparked the latest round of a bitter row between the Investment Association and pro-transparency groups.

  • News

    Select committee seeks views on expanding regulator powers

    2016-08-09T00:00:00Z

    The Work and Pensions Committee is to consider amending the powers of the Pensions Regulator and the make-up of the Pension Protection Fund as part of its ongoing inquiry into the Pension Protection Fund and the Pensions Regulator following the collapse of BHS.

  • News

    Hedged Aviva schemes survive rate cut

    2016-08-05T00:00:00Z

    Pension schemes sponsored by insurance giant Aviva have reported a marked increase in their accounting surplus owing principally to falling interest rates, but experts warn of further pain for schemes which are not hedged against interest rate risk.

  • Opinion

    Uncomfortable truths? Pensions Institute takes aim at employers

    2016-08-04T00:00:00Z

    From the blog: It appears another 'unacceptable face of capitalism' was revealed last week, with the Pensions Institute launching an indictment of employers who “milk and dump” their pension schemes.

  • News

    Expertise key to exploiting multi-asset solutions

    2016-08-02T00:00:00Z

    Schemes looking to multi-asset strategies to generate positive cash flow while derisking may have to turn to specialist managers to reduce their potentially significant governance burden.

  • News

    DC default funds: Experts divided on best strategy

    2016-07-28T00:00:00Z

    Huge variations in the risk profiles and investment strategies of DC default fund offerings are putting savers’ retirement provision at risk, according to a recent study.

  • News

    Altmann slams PPF cap change delays

    2016-07-22T00:00:00Z

    If Baroness Ros Altmann was less outspoken on issues of reform during her stint as pensions minister, she is certainly making up for lost time, launching her fourth attack on government policy in almost as many days.

  • News

    Uptick in scams prompts call for tighter regulation

    2016-07-20T00:00:00Z

    A recent increase in reports of suspected pension scams has been called “the tip of the iceberg”, as experts said tighter legislation would help schemes ensure their members do not lose hard-earned retirement savings.

  • Opinion

    Ros Altmann backs Waspi in stinging resignation letter

    2016-07-18T00:00:00Z

    From the blog: The end of Ros Altmann’s tenure as pensions minister on Friday capped off a week in which print news seemed doomed to be out of date by the time it hit the shelves.

  • Getty Images
    News

    Webb: New face at DWP will not loosen Treasury's grip on pensions tax

    2016-07-15T00:00:00Z

    Philip Hammond’s appointment as chancellor of the exchequer is unlikely to see the Department for Work and Pensions regain control of pensions reform, according to former pensions minister Steve Webb.

  • Features

    LPP pools £1.2bn of property amid investor fears over asset class

    2016-07-14T00:00:00Z

    The Local Pensions Partnership has created a £1.2bn property pool between the London Pensions Fund Authority and Lancashire County Pension Fund as experts have urged schemes not to panic over the recent gating of UK retail property funds.