Solving the DB funding challenge

The PPF's latest Purple Book reveals the significant underfunding challenges in the DB universe, and these will stay with us for the long-term, says Jonathan Stapleton.
On the face of it, the latest edition of the Pensions Universe Risk Profile - the publication more colloquially known as The Purple Book - shows an increasingly positive outlook for defined benefit schemes....
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DB sponsors could defer contributions for higher tax relief under Budget measures
Changes to corporation tax announced in the Spring Budget could see defined benefit (DB) scheme sponsors defer contributions in favour of tax relief, according to Barnett Waddingham.
Exclusive: DB sponsor profit warnings trend continues unwelcome escalation
Defined benefit (DB) pension scheme sponsors issued 249 profit warnings last year, 90% of which were specifically related to the coronavirus pandemic, according to EY.
Two-in-three DB sponsors issue profit warnings in 2020
“Mounting red flags of financial stress” have meant almost two-thirds of listed companies with defined benefit (DB) schemes have issued profit warnings this year, EY says.
Justin Corliss: Making the case for partial DB transfers
Half-way house
A Covid-19 tax relief raid could exacerbate generational pensions divide
With rumours once again swirling around the future of pensions tax relief in the run up to this year's Budget, any reduced incentive for long-term savers could risk further exacerbating the generational divide in pensions, says Tom Selby