All articles by Sophia Imeson – Page 9
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NewsMPs accuse Carillion of trying to 'wriggle out' of pension obligations
The Work and Pensions Committee has accused Carillion of trying to “wriggle out” of its pension obligations for the past decade, amid calls for stronger laws to prevent future scandals.
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FeaturesRobo-trustees: Would you welcome one on your board?
Any other business: For those feeling uneasy about the idea of sitting next to a Star Wars-style droid at a quarterly meeting, you can rest assured we are not likely to witness the rise of the robo-trustee anytime soon.
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FeaturesShipbuilding scheme latest to invest in private debt
The Shipbuilding Industries Pension Scheme has made a £50m commitment to private debt, as investors increase their exposure to this asset class in the search for yield.
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NewsMay's promise to protect pensions lacks concrete solutions
Theresa May has pledged to stop executives who try to “line their own pockets” by putting pension schemes at risk, but questions over resourcing and legislative issues remain.
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NewsSouthampton uni's DB closure proposal poorly timed, experts say
The University of Southampton is consulting on the closure of its defined benefit scheme for non-academic staff, a move experts have said is not well timed given current scrutiny of senior pay packages at universities.
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News
DB closure at Southampton University would hit lowest paid staff, say unions
Unions have warned that proposed pension changes at the University of Southampton will cause low-paid staff to lose thousands of pounds in retirement.
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FeaturesUnilever forks out £600m to tackle £1.2bn DB deficit
Unilever has contributed £600m to its scheme, after an actuarial valuation revealed a £1.2bn deficit. Meanwhile, the trustees have taken steps to ensure they can act quickly should there be a significant corporate event.
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Opinion
Uncharted waters: What lies ahead for LGPS pools?
When former chancellor George Osborne made clear the government’s intention to create six British wealth funds, the prospect of pooling made quite a splash.
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OpinionSchemes can reap benefits of staying in touch with retired members
Any other business: From crosswords to competitions, there are a variety of ways in which trustees can jazz up their newsletters to retired members, but how much communication with the pensioner population is actually necessary?
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Features
CPI, admin and Mums: Top 5 DB and derisking stories from 2017
Year in review: Funding and liability management took centre stage during 2017, as the debate over defined benefit pension scheme sustainability and member protection ramped up.
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News
Professional trustees told to 'comply or explain' in draft standards
The industry-led Professional Trustee Standards Working Group has drawn up a set of draft standards for professional trustees imposing a "comply or explain" regime, but some say it is lacking in clarity.
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FeaturesOxford University Press scheme invests in stressed debt
Trustees of the Oxford University Press Group Pension Scheme have made a new allocation to stressed debt, an asset class that is best suited to "fleet of foot" pension funds, experts say.
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Features
Pearson scheme upgrades comms to boost engagement
The Pearson Pension Plan has revamped its member communications and engagement strategy, using the experience to apply a similar approach to the scheme’s member-nominated trustee appointment process.
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News
UK has lowest net replacement rates of average earners in OECD
A new report has highlighted markedly low replacement rates for UK savers amid increasing pensioner poverty due to ill health, emphasising the importance of increased saving into private pensions.
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FeaturesMNOPF steers towards buy-in and DC merger
As derisking plans accelerate and sponsors seek to reduce the volatility of defined benefit scheme deficits, buy-ins are becoming increasingly attractive.
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NewsFirstGroup breaks new ground by merging funds within LGPS
Transport operator FirstGroup has become the first major private sector employer to consolidate its pension funds within the Local Government Pension Scheme, as experts agree that similar mergers could be on the horizon.
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FeaturesTRW drives up high-yield credit allocation
Trustees for the pension plan of automotive company TRW have added to the scheme's high-yield credit allocation, but opinions on the outlook for this asset class are divided.
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NewsGovt to ban cold calls before 2020, but questions remain
The government is aiming to introduce a cold-calling ban before 2020 and has opposed the idea of compulsory guidance, as the Work and Pensions Committee continues to probe officials as part of its wide-ranging inquiry into pensions freedoms.
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News
Companies must do more to disclose employment practices, report says
Only 10 per cent of FTSE 100 firms are providing meaningful commentary on the stability of their workforce, according to research highlighting pension schemes’ need for information about the employment models of the companies they invest in.
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OpinionWhen bigger is better
Editorial: When it comes to ensuring value for defined contribution members, bigger may often be better.