Defined Benefit
Unison commits to divesting LGPS from fossil fuels
Unison has passed a motion that says it will seek to divest the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) from fossil fuels over the next five years.
FCA plans to tighten transfer rules welcomed but more clarifications needed
The industry has broadly welcomed the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) plans to modernise processes around pension transfers in response to concerns over surging demand.
National Milk Records shareholders approve pension fund withdrawal
Shareholders have granted National Milk Records (NMR) permission to pull out of the multi-employer Milk Pension Fund (MPF) at a cost of £14.8m.
TPR pledges to 'use its teeth' and threatens section 231 action against recalcitrant employers
Trustees can expect The Pensions Regulator (TPR) to intervene in their favour if sponsors are not fulfilling their obligations to a scheme, Andrew Warwick-Thompson says.
Support for FTSE 350 schemes weakest since recession
The UK's 350 largest listed companies are becoming increasingly unlikely to be able to meet their pension obligations, PwC research has suggested.
What trustees look for in fund managers and consultants
The most important characteristics in advisers differ by scheme size, but the approach to investment is not overly dissimilar, James Phillips writes
BHS trustees write to members explaining options
Trustees of the two British Home Stores (BHS) schemes have sent 18,000 letters to members explaining the options available to them following the deal reached earlier this year.
Co-op trustees bid for £50m from bank bondholders
Trustees of the £10bn Co-operative pension fund are demanding £50m to split the scheme and enable a deal to rescue the struggling bank, according to reports.
DB transfer demand to increase by 'a third' in the next 12 months
Over 80% of advisers expect an increasing number of transfer requests from defined benefit (DB) scheme members over the next year, according to a survey.
FTSE 100 funding level drops by 3% over 2016
The combined deficit of FTSE 100 defined benefit (DB) schemes grew by more than £10bn over 2016, Barnett Waddingham research has estimated.
TPR releases tranche 12 funding data and sets expectations for DB schemes
The majority of defined benefit (DB a schemes remain affordable but many should do more to tackle increased deficits and reduce risk to pensioners, The Pensions Regulator (TPR) says.
DB deficits close as sterling weakens
The total deficit of defined benefit (DB) schemes improved marginally, latest Pension Protection Fund (PPF) data reveals.
AA members to move to CARE section as deficit jumps 81%
Final salary members of the AA UK defined benefit (DB) scheme are to move to a career average segment in a bid to stem the deficit.
Is it time to consider a new index for uprating benefits?
While the government moots allowing schemes to swap indices when rules are rigid, James Phillips explores whether a new index could end the debate
Punter Southall: Capping length of recovery plans is a bad idea
Lawmakers should not impose an arbitrary cap on the length of scheme recovery plans as this would be counter-productive according to Punter Southall's Joanne Livingstone.
Transfer values remain volatile as gilt yields fluctuate
Variation in gilt yields led to a £4,000 rise in the average estimated defined benefit (DB) transfer value over the course of May, Xafinity has estimated.
Reflections of a new professional trustee
Rachel Croft says there is a lack of clarity over what constitutes good trusteeship and governance.
Almost 500 Tata Steel workers transfer out in 12 months
The British Steel Pension Scheme (BSPS) has revealed the number of steelworkers cashing in their defined benefit (DB) pensions more than doubled to 482 in the year to March 2017.
Carclo to cancel dividends until 2018 as deficit continues to bite
Carclo has announced it does not expect to pay any dividends until at least April 2018 as its pension deficit continues to drain its reserves.
Should DB governance emulate the corporate world?
An argument has been made for DB schemes to copy corporate governance structures to boost trustees' accountability. James Phillips explores the idea
Pension accounting shortfall sees tiny increase in May
The private sector's defined benefit (DB) deficit under IAS 19 remained relatively stable over May with the shortfall increasing by just £1bn, but a different measure showed a £20bn fall.
KAS Bank launches cost transparency dashboard
A governance tool to give defined benefit (DB) schemes a full overview of their administration and investment costs has been launched by KAS Bank.
National Milk Records to pull out of Milk Pension Fund
National Milk Records (NMR) is proposing to shareholders that it withdraws from the multi-employer Milk Pension Fund (MPF).
Hoover to cut ties with pension scheme after RAA approval
Hoover has become the latest firm to cut its defined benefit (DB) pension scheme adrift after The Pensions Regulator (TPR) and Pension Protection Fund (PPF) approved the plan.
