M&B schemes shift to surplus following triennial valuation

Pub and restaurant chain says all future contributions will now be paid in escrow

Jonathan Stapleton
clock • 1 min read
Toby Carvery is one of Mitchells and Butlers' brands. Image: Mitchells and Butlers
Image:

Toby Carvery is one of Mitchells and Butlers' brands. Image: Mitchells and Butlers

Mitchells and Butlers (M&B) has announced the completion of the latest triennial valuation of its pension schemes – moving to a marginal surplus from a funding shortfall on £293m in 2019.

In a trading update released yesterday (12 January 2022), the FTSE 250 pub and restaurant chain said the triennial valuation as at 31 March 2022 meant all future contributions made by the company until September 2023 would be paid into blocked escrow accounts.

This comes after M&B released its annual report and accounts for the 52 weeks ended 24 September 2022 - a report that detailed the work that both the firm and the trustees had been undertaking to reduce risk in the scheme.

It said the business had established a pensions committee to supervise and manage the company's relationship with its various pension schemes and their trustees - overseeing the Mitchells & Butlers Executive Pension Plan's £650m buy-in transaction with Legal & General in December 2021 and arrangements for its schemes implementation of GMP equalisation.

As at 24 September, the M&B schemes had, on an accounting basis, total assets of £1.7bn against liabilities of £1.4bn.

More on Industry

Just Group DB sales down 28% in 2025

Just Group DB sales down 28% in 2025

Insurer said the drop was due to a ‘lack of large deals’ but expects ‘increased market opportunity’ in 2026

Holly Roach
clock 20 January 2026 • 1 min read
Buzz: Are there fundamental concerns for the DC environment?

Buzz: Are there fundamental concerns for the DC environment?

Concerns for DC and adequacy, TPR chair candidate and insurer competition

Professional Pensions
clock 19 January 2026 • 1 min read
Trafalgar House upgrades digital member communications

Trafalgar House upgrades digital member communications

Partnership with Smart Communications to help enhance member engagement

Holly Roach
clock 19 January 2026 • 1 min read
Trustpilot