De-risking

Punter Southall has named Colette Christiansen as its head of de-risking solutions.

With demand for bulk annuities predicted to reach £350bn by 2026, supply may not be able to keep up, which could push up pricing. Kristian Brunt-Seymour looks at whether it is an issue and what it means for schemes.

The Pension Protection Fund (PPF) has launched a consultation on changes to actuarial assumptions in valuations used in sponsor insolvencies and to determine risk-based levies.

The total funding level of the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) 7800 index has worsened for the fourth month in a row, after further gilt yield falls.

The majority of respondents in this week's Pensions Buzz agree with Neil Woodford's investment firm that de-risking has worsened scheme deficits.

The number of bulk annuity market participants is expected to rise by 57% over the next five years according to Barnett Waddingham.

Pirelli has completed a longevity swap transaction with Zurich for £600m of liabilities across its two main defined benefit (DB) pension schemes.

De-risking is actually "de-returning", Woodford Investment Management has said in a damning attack on low-risk investment strategies.

Defined benefit (DB) pension schemes could have access to much-needed cash flow through a short-term equivalent of a buy-in service, according to PwC.

Royal Bank of Scotland's (RBS) defined benefit (DB) pension scheme has reached 120% funding after the bank made a big cash payment to plug its deficit hole.