All articles by Sarah Cowburn – Page 4
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Features
Market trends shaping liability management in 2016
Defined benefit pension schemes across the UK struggled with soaring liabilities in 2015, but industry experts have warned against a 2016 ‘bet on interest rates’ in what could be a bumper year for tackling risk.
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News
LGPS under fire on costs to members
Reporting and cost disclosure across the Local Government Pension Scheme must become more transparent, experts have said, as a new report highlights wide disparity in the levels of charges passed on to scheme members.
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Features
Three ways to trim your liabilities in 2016
Analysis: While many defined benefit schemes have yet to explore ways to provide enhanced flexibility to members, there are three key strategies in this area that could ease the pressure of mounting liabilities in 2016.
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News
Regulator aims to 'eradicate surprises' with risk management guide
The Pensions Regulator has issued a practical guide on integrated risk management to help trustees assess and respond to covenant, investment and funding risks, but experts have said schemes will need additional help.
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News
Fid man assets surpass £100bn but cynicism persists
Pension assets under fiduciary management hit £114bn during 2015, but independent trustees remain sceptical of the alignment of interests underpinning such arrangements.
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FeaturesCash flow crisis: How to avoid becoming a forced seller
Sweeping closures of defined benefit schemes across the UK will limit the pain of future liabilities for sponsors, but have created a growing problem many pension funds have been slow to recognise: a cash flow crisis is on the horizon.
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News
What to do if your DC sponsor goes bust
Defined contribution trustees must respond quickly when scheme sponsors go into administration, particularly in scenarios where financial distress has delayed payment of contributions into the safe haven of a scheme.
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NewsBrewer's 'salami' derisking tactic is no small beer for liabilities
Midlands-based brewer Marston’s has bought in more than a third of its pension scheme liabilities since 2013 through a series of deals aimed at reducing volatility across its long-dated obligations and providing added security for members.
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NewsShire funds ‘keeping options open’ for asset pooling
A group of seven Local Government Pension Scheme funds has appointed a manager to run a joint £6.5bn passive mandate, but funds involved in the arrangement say longer-term plans for pooling are still under discussion.
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News
Tough timescales for asset pooling put LGPS on the spot
The government’s much-anticipated criteria for the reform of Local Government Pension Scheme investment contains few surprises, but industry experts have raised concerns over the tight timescales for funds to prepare and implement complex proposals.
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Features
Shropshire profits from infra but schemes struggle to fill targets
Shropshire County Pension Fund’s infrastructure investment gained 40 per cent during 2014/15, but entry into the asset class remains a challenge for some UK pension funds.
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News
Auto-enrolment pause button 'unhelpful' for momentum
An "emergency pause" could be triggered if auto-enrolment frameworks become overwhelmed by surging demand, but industry commentators say the government’s contingency plan “damages the momentum” behind the rollout of the initiative.
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NewsHow consumer behaviour is changing schemes’ property portfolios
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.
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NewsSmiths uses escrow to help slash £250m from scheme deficit
Technology and engineering conglomerate Smiths Group has signed over its £153m escrow account to its scheme in a deal that demonstrates the positive outcomes that can be achieved through strong trustee and employer collaboration.
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News
Trustees and IGCs gifted with new tools to aid DC reporting
Trustees and committees overseeing defined contribution arrangements have been thrown a line with new reporting templates to help them meet their governance obligations, but some argue a comparative framework could further strengthen the assessment of value in DC.
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News
Methodist Church seeks £25m saving by converting to CPI
The Methodist Church Council is consulting with all scheme members, including existing pensioners, on a proposal to link future pension increases to the consumer price index in an bid to temper the rising cost of defined benefit provision.
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NewsSainsbury's and ITV get creative to tackle deficit challenge
Broadcaster ITV and retailer Sainsbury’s are just two household-name employers to announce “chunky” new deficit funding to weather the harsh conditions buffeting defined benefit pension schemes.
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News
FTLive: Political will and risk to shape future of infra investing
FT European Infrastructure: Political will and risk mitigation will play a crucial role in shaping the future of infrastructure investment, as the asset class grows in importance for defined benefit portfolios.
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FeaturesMNRPF takes proactive step to monitor its fiduciary manager
Merchant Navy Ratings Pension Fund has created a three-person oversight committee to monitor the performance of its newly appointed fiduciary manager, an area of scheme investment that is notoriously difficult to benchmark.
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Features
Clwyd completes strategic overhaul on the back of strong returns
Clwyd Pension Fund reaped rewards during 2015 as it implemented the final pieces of a strategic overhaul aimed at reducing costs and risk without compromising returns.