All risk articles – Page 13
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OpinionThe best way to harness illiquidity
Pension schemes are facing tough times. In June, the Pension Protection Fund reported that 74 per cent of defined benefit schemes were in deficit, and this situation has been exacerbated by a prolonged low interest rate environment.
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Features
Deficits have dropped, but how should schemes react?
Analysis: While there has been a recent improvement in defined benefit pension fund deficits, market volatility, weak covenants and increasing longevity mean trustees should continue to keep a tight rein on risk and cost management.
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FeaturesLeics sees opportunity in bank loans investment
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.
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Opinion
How are DB schemes allocating to DGFs?
How are defined benefit pension schemes using diversified growth funds in their portfolios, and how can trustees choose between the various strategies on offer? Naomi L’Estrange from 2020 Trustees, Shuntao Li from Barnett Waddingham, Neil McPherson from Capital Cranfield, Murray Taylor from JLT Employee Benefits, and Percival Station from Pictet Asset Management discuss how pension funds are approaching DGFs.
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FeaturesPearson moves away from hedge funds into DGFs
The pension plan of publishing giant Pearson Group has scrapped its hedge fund exposure and invested in diversified growth funds, in a bid to control investment risk and costs as the scheme nears self-sufficiency.
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News
Employers urged to actively manage covenant
Employers and schemes must take a more active approach to managing their pension liabilities to improve covenant strength, experts say.
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Features
Imperial Tobacco fund sharpens returns focus
The Imperial Tobacco Pension Fund has cut its exposure to shares and corporate bonds in favour of alternative asset classes, with a view to increasing the scheme’s sources of return and reducing reliance on equities.
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Features
IMI derisks with buy-in and Pie
Specialist engineering company IMI has completed a pension increase exchange exercise and a buy-in, as trustees become more comfortable with liability management measures.
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Features
Is there a risk of crowding in smart beta?
Is there a risk of factor‑based portfolios becoming crowded, with increasing popularity potentially leading to overpricing and lower future returns? Eric Shirbini from ERI Scentific Beta, Julien Barral from bfinance, Alan Pickering from Bestrustees, James Price from Willis Towers Watson and Paul Black from Capital Cranfield debate whether crowding really is an issue within smart beta.
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FeaturesManchester University upgrades investment strategy
Trustees of the Manchester University Superannuation Scheme have adopted a new liability-driven investment strategy, while dropping a UK equity mandate in favour of global equities.
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News
Regulator zeroes in on dividends
The Pensions Regulator has targeted employers who pay large dividends while underfunding defined benefit pension schemes in its latest annual funding statement, increasing the pressure on trustees to secure as much funding as possible.
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FeaturesS&N dives into infra and absolute return funds
The Scottish & Newcastle Pension Plan has agreed to introduce a new allocation to infrastructure debt while increasing its absolute return exposure, as schemes seek steady returns and diversification.
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OpinionTransparency is not just about cost
Transparency is vital when it comes to ensuring value for money for customers. However, the industry needs to keep in mind that enhanced transparency will not lead to better member outcomes by overburdening trustees.
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News
Buyouts more affordable but only for a handful of schemes
Buyouts have become more feasible as annuity pricing for non-pensioners has improved, but some experts say many schemes still have a long way to go before being able to afford a buyout or buy-in transaction.
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News
Trustees overlook strategic objectives due to deficit distraction
Deficits distract the majority of trustees from focusing on the ultimate goal of paying members’ pensions, recent research has found, but some experts highlighted the role of covenant strength and scheme size in deciding where the priority should be.
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FeaturesLuxfer Group ups DGFs in portfolio restructure
Global materials technology company Luxfer Group has restructured the growth portfolio of its defined benefit scheme to invest in diversified growth funds, as research has predicted continued demand for these strategies.
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News
Pinpointing life expectancy could cut deficits by £25bn
Using more accurate assumptions on longevity could be the key to bringing down defined benefit pension scheme deficits, new research shows.
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FeaturesTfL considers a closer look at carbon exposure
The Transport for London Pension Fund plans to look into ways of analysing its carbon exposure following a member request, as experts stress that schemes need to understand exactly what they are measuring and what further steps they can take.
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OpinionQROPS: Between expat need and tax loophole
Analysis: Moving to live or work abroad is not, for most people, logistically straightforward, and planning ahead is key to ensure a smooth transition, particularly when considering long-term financial requirements, including pensions.
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NewsOne year wiser: What trustees have learnt in 2016
Any other business: From Brexit to Trump, 2016 has been a year of the once-inconceivable coming to pass. Faith in institutions, already low, has taken repeated batterings as prediction after prediction has turned out to be wrong.