All articles by Tom Dines – Page 13
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NewsCentrica skirts pricey bonds with real assets, alts continue march
Centrica Pension Scheme is riding the wider trend towards real assets, in a bid to match liabilities, gain inflation linkage and reduce the need to buy overpriced bonds.
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News
Corporate governance tops Unilever ESG agenda
Data analysis: Close to half of Unilever Pension Fund’s engagement activity in 2014 centred on corporate governance as wider trends emphasise environmental issues, calling into question the terms used when reporting such activity.
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News
Is 55 too young to cash in a DC pension?
The age at which members can access their pension pots should be increased, according to a white paper, but some experts say those in ill health should not be held back from drawing their cash.
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News
Slow movers are risking returns, experts warn
Pension schemes risk losing potential returns by moving too slowly when changing investment strategy, with some waiting months between investigating and implementing, consultants have said.
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News
Havering struggles to find local infra for growth
The £506m London Borough of Havering Pension Fund is looking to invest in local infrastructure projects, but the need to balance this with strong returns is hampering its search.
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Opinion
Industry starts wish list for new pensions minister
After years of profound legislative change, many people in the pensions industry are calling on new pensions minister Ros Altmann to usher in an era of relative calm. Some of these same people would also like her to push for an independent retirement savings commission.
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Opinion
How do you run a trustee election?
Following a largely unexpected result last week, the United Kingdom has a team in place to try and steer the country towards greater prosperity, opportunity and fairness (we hope).
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NewsSainsbury's closes deficit after strong asset returns
Sainsbury’s Pension Scheme has reduced its deficit by £28m, despite low interest rates and a fall in the real discount rate, as many schemes struggle to control their funding levels.
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News
LGPS cuts fixed income as schemes prep for rate rises
The Local Government Pension Scheme withdrew more than £1bn from fixed interest securities in the past year, signalling that the sector is preparing for an interest rate rise, investment experts say.
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NewsUK schemes feeling pressure to add risk in chase for return
More than three-quarters of UK pension funds that increased allocations to equities in the past six months cited pressure to meet funding requirements as a driver, according to research.
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News
Surrey opts for LDI to harness funding gains
Surrey County Council Pension Fund has put a liability-driven investment platform in place to capture rises in the funding level, after falling gilt yields wiped out last year’s gains.
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NewsOlympic Airlines judgment prompts calls for slack in PPF rules
The Supreme Court this week ruled against trustees of the Olympic Airlines SA Pension Scheme’s claim for greater Pension Protection Fund compensation, but lawyers are calling for a loosening of insolvency criteria for entry into the lifeboat.
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NewsJohn Lewis deficit swells by £250m, steadfast on strategy
John Lewis Pension Scheme’s deficit has risen by close to £250m since the start of 2014, but the company plans to stick to its strategic counter-measures agreed earlier this year.
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Opinion
Is fiduciary management right for your scheme?
The fast-growing world of fiduciary management can be a controversial topic for pension schemes.
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News
Cultural norms could inform UK DC outcomes, PPI report shows
The Australian experience of defined contribution indicates UK pensioners could deplete their retirement pots too early, a report warns, but experts say what we can learn from overseas systems is limited.
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News
Council fund pins impact allocation to health and employment projects
Waltham Forest Pension Fund has begun drawing down its impact investment mandate into a range of projects, as pension schemes increasingly measure the social and environmental effects of their decisions.
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News
LGPS funds feel the pressure as local pension boards get off the ground
Public sector pension funds are under pressure to compile their pension boards ahead of the August 1 deadline, but some report being “stretched” by the wait for guidance on the reform.
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News
Battle of growth v consolidation in DC market
Pension providers should cut costs by close to a third to capitalise on opportunities in the UK’s defined contribution market, a white paper has said, but consultants questioned the potential for new market entrants.
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News
DB-DC proposals trigger benefit questions
The Financial Conduct Authority has issued a consultation on transfers out of defined benefit schemes, but experts say a disparity between definitions of money purchase benefits could lead to confusion.
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News
Essex latest pension fund to commit to direct lending
Essex Pension Fund has become the latest to introduce an allocation to direct lending into its alternatives portfolio, as scheme interest in the asset class ratchets up.