All insolvency articles – Page 4
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News
PPF and DWP appeal Hampshire methodology ruling
On the go: The Pension Protection Fund plans to appeal a judgment forcing it to pay at least half of the defined benefits expected by survivors of scheme members, while the government will appeal the finding that the PPF’s compensation cap is illegal.
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DB schemes should beware lockdown ‘inertia’
On the go: Three in four defined benefit schemes say they have taken no material action to change their investment strategies or journey plans as a result of Covid-19, but a new report from LCP warns that “inertia” could prove damaging.
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NewsPodcast: Pension schemes bill could have ‘unintended consequences’
Podcast: The pension schemes bill defines criminal offences so broadly that it could have “unintended consequences” for the running of pension schemes, potentially stifling legitimate corporate activity. Tiffany Tsang, Local Government Pension Scheme and defined benefit policy lead at the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association, and Eversheds Sutherland partner Jeremy Goodwin both agree that more clarity is needed, in an episode also covering fallout from the passage of the insolvency bill, the launch of the Make My Money Matter campaign, and a 16th century pension scheme bailout.
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One in five schemes considering superfunds
On the go: The Pensions Regulator’s interim guidance for consolidators has sparked a surge of interest by pension schemes, with one in five considering superfunds as an option for their endgame, according to a survey by Willis Towers Watson.
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Insolvency bill retains potential to damage DB schemes
Government attempts to mitigate the risk its new insolvency legislation poses to defined benefit pension schemes have only been partly successful, and company moratoriums could still see schemes lose out on valuable contributions, experts have said.
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PodcastsPodcast: PPF could face new court case on benefits
Podcast: After the ruling from the High Court that the Pension Protection Fund cap on deferred member benefits is illegal on age discrimination grounds, the pensions lifeboat could face a new legal challenge as members who have not reached retirement age have their benefits cut to 90 per cent, argues Ian Neale, director at Aries Insight. He and Sara Protheroe, chief customer officer at the PPF, discuss this topic, as well as the interim regime for superfunds and the implications of the new insolvency bill for pension schemes.
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NewsPPF cap is age discrimination, court rules
A High Court judge has ruled that a key feature of the Pension Protection Fund’s benefit structure is illegal on age discrimination grounds, leaving the defined benefit lifeboat liable for back payments to wealthier pension members.
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Cash-strapped money printer cuts deficit repair contributions
British banknote printer De La Rue has cut deficit repair payments to its defined benefit pension scheme, contingent on the success of its bid to raise an extra £100m in capital.
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News
Peers push for clarity over insolvency measures
On the go: Members of the House of Lords have pressed the government to provide clarity over the impact of new insolvency laws on pension schemes.
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No-deal Brexit could deny thousands lifeboat protection
As Covid-19 continues to wreak its devastation on the corporate landscape, dozens of pension schemes could fall into the Pension Protection Fund. However, a no-deal Brexit could scupper that option for up to one-fifth of distressed employers with an EU connection.
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Industry bodies lobby government to change insolvency bill
Pensions industry bodies are lobbying the government to make changes to the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill, which unless revised will “inevitably lead to more pensioners not receiving their benefits in full and greater strain on the Pension Protection Fund”.
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OpinionInsolvency bill leaves huge questions on interactions with DB schemes
Last month, the government published the corporate insolvency and governance bill, which has been described as the most far-reaching reform to UK insolvency law in the past 30 years.
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News
New insolvency laws could impact healthy DB schemes
On the go: New insolvency laws introduced in parliament, designed to prevent companies being forced to file for bankruptcy due to the Covid-19 crisis, could cause new hurdles for defined benefit schemes, a law firm has warned.
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News
Return of the zombies: Can trustees ‘game’ PPF?
Defined benefit trustees linked to struggling employers face tough decisions about whether to tip their sponsors into insolvency or increase their burden on the Pension Protection Fund amid the onset of a global recession, in what experts have called a regulatory grey area.
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PPF reaches 1,000th scheme transfer milestone
On the go: The Pension Protection Fund has accepted its 1000th scheme with the transfer of Carillion Rail, a section of the Railways Pension Scheme with almost 4,000 members.
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NewsMothercare UK pensioners avoid PPF haircut with restructure
A transfer of sponsor has saved Mothercare UK’s pension schemes from falling into the Pension Protection Fund, following the collapse of the retailer into administration on Tuesday.
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Lords bill seeks to give TPR dividend approval and scrap PPF cap
On the go: An ambitious bill brought before the House of Lords last week would give the Pensions Regulator approval over company dividend payments, and remove the cap on compensation payments made by the Pension Protection Fund.
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News
Field questions Thomas Cook trustee attempts to secure funding
On the go: Following the collapse of Thomas Cook, the chair of the Work and Pensions Committee Frank Field MP has probed the chair of the airline’s pension scheme trustee board on several issues.
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Thomas Cook scheme set for PPF assessment after airline collapse
On the go: The overnight insolvency of airline Thomas Cook means members of its defined benefit pension scheme are set to transfer into the Pension Protection Fund’s assessment period.
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Is regulation needed to avoid pre-pack abuse?
The government is considering legislation to prevent companies from abusing pre-pack administration to dump pension liabilities into the Pension Protection Fund, but some experts say further regulation is unnecessary.