All Governance articles – Page 8
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FeaturesUN goals can act as guide for schemes making societal impact
The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals list 17 ambitions to improve the lives of people globally, spanning matters of poverty, equality, environmentalism and health. Much of the focus of the SDGs is on the developing world, yet lessons can be taken from the ambitions and used to improve the lives of people in the UK.
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NewsPPF 7800 surplus remains ‘solid’ in October
On the go: The aggregate surplus of the 5,318 schemes in the PPF 7800 Index remained “solid” in October, narrowing to £103.2bn from £108.8bn at the end of September, while the funding ratio decreased to 105.9 per cent from 106.4 per cent during the same period.
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NewsUSS directors sued over climate inaction and breaches of duty
Two university lecturers, backed by a number of branches of the University and College Union, have filed a wide-ranging legal action against the directors of the Universities Superannuation Scheme, accusing them of multiple failings with respect to the controversial 2020 valuation, and of inaction around climate change commitments.
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NewsESG factors more important to investors than financial metrics
ESG spotlight: A roundup of the latest news on environmental, social and governance initiatives, including a survey showing institutional investors believe ESG is more important than financial metrics when it comes to evaluating a company’s long-term attractiveness, and more signatories to the Make My Money Matter charter.
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NewsAlmost a quarter of trustees unsure of endgame strategy
On the go: There are still doubts among trustees about their defined benefit schemes’ long-term strategy, as almost a quarter of these professionals (23.9 per cent) are unsure of their endgame strategy, a survey has revealed.
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NewsBig funds invest £128bn in fossil fuels, LCP urges net-zero action
ESG spotlight: A roundup of the latest news on environmental, social and governance initiatives, including research by Friends of the Earth that found the UK’s largest pension funds have no “credible plan” to divest the £128bn currently held in fossil fuels, and a call from LCP for defined contribution schemes to take meaningful action on net-zero ambitions.
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NewsTPR to demand more asset information from schemes in 2023
The Pensions Regulator has confirmed it will press on with reforming the asset class information it collects via the scheme return, in a consultation response published on Thursday.
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NewsGreen finance roadmap still missing key details
The government has published its “roadmap to sustainable investing”, laying out a number of new reporting requirements. However, some experts have warned that the plan does not go far enough to make a real difference.
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NewsPPF pays out £1bn but fraud compensation claims raise concerns
The Pension Protection Fund paid out £1bn in member compensation in 2020-21, but there are concerns as potential claims with a value in excess of £358m against its Fraud Compensation Fund vastly exceed the money available to pay them, according to the PPF’s annual report.
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NewsUSS employers call for union co-operation ahead of strike ballot
Universities UK, the group representing 340 Universities Superannuation Scheme employers, has called on trade unions to co-operate with it as it bids to reform the embattled pension scheme.
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NewsOpperman lauds ‘transformational’ climate requirements
Pensions minister Guy Opperman has lauded the government’s “utterly transformational” approach to climate reporting requirements, while promising legislation on “simpler statements” and the “statements season” in the near future.
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NewsPPF 7800 surplus jumps £25bn in September
On the go: The latest update of the PPF 7800 Index shows the aggregate surplus of the 5,318 defined benefit schemes measured jumped by more than £25bn to £108.8bn at the end of September, up from £83.2bn at the end of August.
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News‘Greenium’ concerns remain around second green gilts issuance
On the go: The second issuance of the government’s green gilts is expected on October 18. While the first issuance was significantly oversubscribed, concerns about the “greenium” have deterred some pension schemes from investing.
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NewsPodcast: Mandating net zero could ‘cut straight through’ fiduciary duties
Podcast: The government mandating default funds be aligned with ‘net zero’ would be a way around concerns about fiduciary responsibility, but there are questions about what this would mean in practice. Stuart O’Brien, partner at Sackers, and Gareth Stears, pensions technical consultant at Aries Insight, discuss environmental, social and governance issues, social housing, and the Pensions Regulator’s controversial criminal powers.
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NewsGovernance burden does not translate into value, industry says
On the go: Pensions professionals have said the burden of the increased level of scheme governance is not worth the value it brings, a survey from XPS Pensions Group has found.
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NewsIsio snaps up Premier Pensions
On the go: Isio has announced the acquisition of Premier Pensions, subject to approval by the Financial Conduct Authority.
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NewsPodcast: No way to avoid the indexation ‘rules lottery’ as inflation bites
Podcast: High inflation will spur more schemes to look to switch from the retail price index to the consumer price index, but there is still no way around the “rules lottery”. Eversheds Sutherland partner Stuart Earle and Aon partner Lynda Whitney discuss inflation, the botched attempt to raise the normal minimum pension age, and a new value for money framework.
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NewsTPR warns small schemes: Prove value or wind up
On the go: The Pensions Regulator has warned smaller defined contribution pension schemes they will need to demonstrate their value to members or wind up, as more stringent rules come into force next month.
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NewsRiver and Mercantile joins green gilts issuance
On the go: River and Mercantile has announced its participation in the government’s inaugural green gilts issuance.
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NewsTaskforce lays out measures to boost schemes’ voting powers
The Taskforce on Pension Scheme Voting Implementation has called on the Department for Work and Pensions and the Financial Conduct Authority to create templates and requirements aimed at boosting asset owners’ ability to vote, especially in pooled funds.