Defined Benefit
LDI indices launched to 'improve governance and transparency'
A suite of liability driven investment (LDI) indices has been launched by STOXX and RiskFirst to aid trustees and consultants select, monitor and challenge managers.
What is the purpose of a pension scheme?
British Airways and the trustees of one of its pension schemes are set to argue over the purpose of a pension scheme, leading to an impactful judgment for DB pensions. James Phillips explores the issue
DB superfunds will not take off, say over half of respondents
Defined benefit (DB) 'superfund' consolidators will not take off, according to 52% of this week's Pensions Buzz respondents.
Pension freedoms could add £25bn to accounting costs
Pension freedoms could add £25bn to the accounting costs of UK companies if no action is taken, a Xafinity Punter Southall study reveals.
RBS agrees to pay up to £3.5bn to shore up pension fund
Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has signed an agreement to inject up to £3.5bn into its main defined benefit (DB) pension scheme, in preparation for ring-fencing legislation.
Unison members 'narrowly' accept USS offer
Just over half (52%) of Unison members voted to accept a pledge to keep defined benefit provision in the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) until at least April 2019 in an "above-average" turn-out.
LDI dominance will 'come to an end' by 2021
Liability-driven investment's (LDI) dominance as a trend in UK defined benefit (DB) pension scheme investment will come to an end by 2021, according to research.
Green defends BHS record: 'I behaved like a gentleman'
Sir Philip Green has hit back at critics over his handling of BHS and its pension schemes, saying he "behaved like a gentleman".
University staff accept USS offer, ending strikes
Staff at universities across the country are to end strike action after accepting the latest offer on the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS).
TPR met with GKN trustees nine times over two years
The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has revealed it had nine meetings with the pension fund trustees of GKN from April 2016 to March 2018.
Church of England Pensions Board issues £50m of bonds
The Church of England Pensions Board has issued £50m of bonds to purchase additional properties for its clergy retirement housing scheme.
Pre-1997 benefits should not have statutory inflation protection, say half of respondents
Granting statutory protection to pre-1997 benefits in defined benefit (DB) schemes would be an unfair cost to sponsors and would force even more closures, according to this weeks' Pensions Buzz respondents.
Pension transfer values back on the rise after months of stability
Pension transfer values rose last month from £232,000 at the end of February to £235,000 by the end of March, according to Xafinity's Transfer Value Index (TVI).
We need a joined-up approach to costs
Caroline Escott says there should be alignment between the various policy and regulatory initiatives on value for money to avoid overburdening trustees.
Tesco DB deficit plunges by £2.8bn after changing discount rate calculation
Supermarket giant Tesco has halved its overall defined benefit (DB) deficit after adapting its discount rate calculations to better reflect trends in long-dated corporate bond yields.
How corporate DB schemes are diverging from public sector funds
A Blackrock survey reveals corporate and public sector defined benefit schemes are on increasingly diverging paths. Kim Kaveh explores the data.
DB transfers on the rise; member communication remains paramount
More members are transferring out of defined benefit (DB) pension schemes when informed of the option, which suggests trustees must think carefully about member communication, according to research.
Bentley workers vote for strike over DB closure plans
Bentley Motors staff have voted for industrial action over the planned closure of the defined benefit (DB) Rolls Royce and Bentley Pension Fund (RRBPF) to future accrual.
DB funding level drops on back of US-China trade war fears
The aggregate defined benefit (DB) funding level worsened in March, hitting its worst level since last August, the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) has said.
TPR's funding statement is a treasure trove of gems but far from unexpected
Patrick Bloomfield says the regulator is being more vocal about its view of what 'fair treatment' means, with the threat of using its powers to intervene
FTSE 350 pension accounting deficit slashed by £4bn in Q1
The combined deficit of FTSE 350 defined benefit (DB) schemes fell to £72bn in the first quarter of 2018, according to Mercer's pensions risk survey.
TPR's funding statement warns trustees to act on high dividends to protect members
Strong employers should consider contributing more money to reduce pension deficits over a shorter period of time, especially where they are paying out excessive shareholder dividends, the watchdog has said.
LGPS Central launches with three pooled funds
The LGPS Central pool has opened for business with 11 mandates spanning £12bn of assets as the government's pooling deadline arrives.
Will the white paper be a catalyst for DB consolidation?
The adoption of consolidation among DB funds has been slow to date. Paul Murphy asks if the white paper will act as a catalyst for smaller schemes to join master trusts
