All Features articles – Page 29
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FeaturesRBS reviews recovery plan as interest rates hurt funding level
The Royal Bank of Scotland has extended its pension fund recovery plan and increased contributions following a slip in the funding level.
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Features
'Oversharing' is good. A scheme guide for dealing with the regulator
The western world is divided on the power of regulation to move it forward. On the left and in the centre, politicians promise regulation to avoid the excessive risk-taking that almost led to the collapse of the global financial system in 2008.
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Features
Unilever sees 26% opt-out from AE joiners on tax grounds
Unilever has seen slightly more than one in four of its tiny non-scheme member population opt out, with the majority close to or having reached the lifetime allowance limit for tax-privileged saving.
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Vodafone scheme completes CWW merger with £325m employer payment
Vodafone has contributed £325m to its defined benefit scheme as it completes the transfer of the Cable & Wireless Worldwide Retirement Plan, after purchasing the rival telecoms company in 2012.
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NESPF beefs up governance to prep for Scottish LGPS reform
North East Scotland Pension Fund plans to establish a dedicated governance team – incorporating communication responsibilities – to deal with the increased workload produced by local government pension scheme reforms.
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Unite mulls launching CDC scheme as unions back risk sharing
Unite is considering establishing a collective defined contribution scheme, as union groups voice their support for defined ambition benefit structures that share risk between employees.
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Features
Imperial Tobacco ups employer contributions after funding drop
Imperial Tobacco has increased contributions to its UK defined benefit scheme to boost its winding-up funding level, which has dropped by 12 percentage points, according to its latest valuation.
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Barking and Dagenham plans social housing investment to hedge inflation
The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Pension Fund plans to invest around £25m in social housing in order to hedge against inflation and diversify away from traditional assets.
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Local government schemes reject forced passive CIV proposals
Local authority schemes have rejected government proposals to mandate pooling assets into a passively managed common investment vehicle, but did see benefits in other suggestions put forward.
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Features
EE closes scheme to future accrual on affordability concerns
Telecoms company EE has closed the defined benefit section of its scheme to future accrual in order to equalise benefits offered to members in a structure which will be more sustainable for the company.
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Features
Are iPads harming or helping trustee boards? The cases for and against tablet governance
Any other business: In the technology world, a recently unearthed speech by Steve Jobs in 1983 predicting the world dominance of the personal computer is clear evidence of the Apple co-founder’s vision.
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Features
Isle of Wight fund mulls ethical investment policy after council reclaims public health role
Isle of Wight Pension Fund is considering setting its own policy on social, environmental and ethical factors to be considered when making investment decisions, after the council took back responsibility for public health.
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Features
Institutional investors warn pension funds not to become shadow banks
Chief investment officers at two historic institutions have raised concerns about pension funds stepping into the space left by banks constrained by tougher capital requirements, pointing to the potential risks and costs.
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Features
How the DA pensions bill could affect your scheme
Schemes have been left pondering how their benefit structures would be considered under the the government’s latest pensions bill, which codified three types of pension scheme, including “shared risk” schemes.
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Features
What the regulator's record-keeping survey can tell your scheme
Many schemes are still failing to properly assess the quality of their common and conditional data, results from the Pensions Regulator’s 2014 record-keeping survey show.
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Features
Schemes line up bulk commutation after Budget grants derisking opp
Consultants have reported more schemes considering bulk trivial commutation exercises, in an attempt to drive down administration costs and liabilities, after the amount members could take as a lump sum was increased.
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FeaturesCaterpillar trims active equities to fill LDI buffer fund
Caterpillar Pension Plan has cut its active equity exposure and plans to sell out of property as part of a trigger-based derisking strategy to boost its liability-driven investment portfolio.
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FeaturesSiemens shrinks deficit with asset-backed funding deal
Engineering and electronics company Siemens has set up a Scottish limited partnership for its UK defined benefit scheme to provide additional security for members, shutting a large part of its deficit and stabilising the company’s cash flow.
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Features
Small schemes see LDI market opening up as pooled funds grow
Small and medium-sized pension funds are coming around to liability-driven investment strategies, with pooled funds providing half the growth in the number of mandates last year as the LDI market exceeded the £500bn mark.
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Features
How JPMorgan and RBS give DC members retirement flexibility
JPMorgan and Royal Bank of Scotland are working to offer members of their defined contribution schemes flexibility in how they access their retirement savings, in light of the Budget reforms.