All M&G articles – Page 2

  • Opinion

    Asset manager mergers: How they affect pension schemes

    2017-08-30T00:00:00Z

    Analysis: The recent uptick in mergers and acquisitions activity in the asset management industry has sparked debate among experts over potential ramifications for schemes. Fees, innovation and relationships with managers could all be affected.

  • Leicestershire tops up opportunity pool
    Features

    Leics sees opportunity in bank loans investment

    2017-06-29T00:00:00Z

    Leicestershire County Council Pension Fund has committed to a new capital release fund investment as part of its growing opportunity pool allocation, as banks look to free up capital.

  • Is the 'gilts plus' model broken?
    Opinion

    Is the 'gilts plus' model broken?

    2017-04-28T00:00:00Z

    The best way to calculate scheme liabilities has been the topic of much debate since defined benefit deficits have started making the headlines. So is the gilts plus model appropriate? Six experts, including from the Pensions Regulator, come together to discuss the merits of different valuation methods.

  • Opinion

    How should trustees and employers negotiate valuations?

    2017-04-13T00:00:00Z

    Should trustees and scheme sponsors discuss valuation methodology or are there bigger concerns? Paul McGlone from Aon Hewitt, David Weeks from the Association of Member Nominated Trustees, Jonathan Reynolds from Capital Cranfield Trustees, Leslie Scrine from the M&G Group Pension Scheme, Andrew Cheeseman from Pan Trustees and Andrew Young from the Pensions Regulator talk about their experience on both sides.

  • Opinion

    What alternative valuation methods can schemes use?

    2017-04-13T00:00:00Z

    What options do schemes have apart from ‘gilts plus’ to find out how well funded they are? Paul McGlone from Aon Hewitt, David Weeks from the Association of Member Nominated Trustees, Jonathan Reynolds from Capital Cranfield Trustees, 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.

  • 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.

  • Opinion

    Industry reaps rewards of apprenticeship programmes, but challenges remain

    2017-03-29T00:00:00Z

    Any other business: Apprenticeships are on the rise in the pensions industry, and while they appeal to an increasing number of people as a debt-free alternative to university, the apprenticeship levy and the prospect of jumping straight into a full-time job are still hurdles to be overcome.

  • Getty Images
    News

    Dairy Crest churns up a new investment strategy

    2017-02-03T00:00:00Z

    The Dairy Crest Pension Fund has derisked while restructuring its investment portfolio by moving away from UK investment grade credit and ‘going global’, as schemes continue to reassess the purpose of their credit exposures.

  • The Pensions Trust
    News

    Pensions Trust leaps into lending gap with £125m private debt commitment

    2016-03-01T00:00:00Z

    The Pensions Trust entered the private debt space with a commitment of £125m at the beginning of this year, as it looks to use the withdrawal of banks from the sector to generate growth.

  • William Nicoll
    Opinion

    Should Britain’s pension schemes support the UK economy?

    2016-01-22T00:00:00Z

    From the blog:UK pension schemes have no obligation whatsoever to help the national economy. Pension scheme trustees are legally bound to try and make investments that provide returns to pay pensions. And nothing more.

  • Mars
    News

    How consumer behaviour is changing schemes’ property portfolios

    2015-11-20T00:00:00Z

    News Analysis: The evolving habits of UK consumers have compressed yields across the retail property sector over recent years, but experts say there are still attractive opportunities for pension fund investors searching for returns.

  • News

    East Riding moves deeper into niche alts in hunt for yield

    2015-08-26T00:00:00Z

    East Riding Pension Fund has pushed further into the alternatives space over the past 12 months with an £80m investment in social housing plus increased allocations to aircraft leasing and healthcare royalties.

  • News

    Falkirk targets social housing with £30m investment

    2015-06-12T00:00:00Z

    Falkirk Council Pension Fund is joining the ranks of local authorities investing in social housing, with a £30m allocation, as experts debate the strengths of the asset class.

  • Opinion

    Global equities survey – part one

    2015-05-03T00:00:00Z

    Equity investors who held their nerve after the horror show that played out in the global markets post 2008 have been well rewarded.

  • Opinion

    Global equities survey – part two

    2015-05-03T00:00:00Z

    All good things must come to an end and there is growing concern among global fund managers that the recent run of good fortune from equity markets is starting to wane.

  • Opinion

    Why your bank's loss is your pension fund's gain

    2015-02-09T00:00:00Z

    A low-yield environment has understandably driven many pension funds to think again about increasing credit risk in their investment portfolios. 

  • News

    Pip to seed separate renewables fund as it seeks FCA approval

    2015-01-30T00:00:00Z

    The Pensions Infrastructure Platform has said plans to expand its offering by adding a renewables fund this year, as UK schemes continue to seek inflation-linked returns. 

  • Opinion

    Do schemes fully understand their fixed income risks?

    2014-11-26T00:00:00Z

    Aon Hewitt's Tim Giles, Hymans Robertson's Carl Hitchman, Law Debenture's David Felder, M&G Investments' William Nicoll and the Pension Protection Fund's John St Hill discuss the different types of fixed income risk in the second of this three-part panel discussion.

  • Opinion

    How should you benchmark your manager?

    2014-11-26T00:00:00Z

    In the final part of this three-part debate on fixed income, Aon Hewitt's Tim Giles, Hymans Robertson's Carl Hitchman, Law Debenture's David Felder, M&G Investments' William Nicoll and the Pension Protection Fund's John St Hill run through the different options for measuring the performance of a fixed income manager.

  • Opinion

    How is monetary policy uncertainty affecting fixed income?

    2014-11-26T00:00:00Z

    As interest rates remain low, the fixed income market is struggling to remain attractive to investors. Aon Hewitt's Tim Giles, Hymans Robertson's Carl Hitchman, Law Debenture's David Felder, M&G Investments' William Nicoll and the Pension Protection Fund's John St Hill look at the effects of economic policy on the asset class.