TPR
Railway companies begin court battle over pensions role in franchising
A High Court battle has begun between the government and four railways companies after they were excluded from franchise bids due to their approach to the £27bn Railways Pension Scheme (RPS).
Further delays to sentencing of former trustee behind £250,000 scheme fraud
The sentencing of former Yateley Industries for the Disabled chief executive and chairman Patrick McLarry has been delayed again.
Purple Book reveals DB risk up but PPF 'bigger and stronger than ever'
Plenty of risk remains in the Pension Protection Fund's (PPF) universe but the outlook on funding levels is positive, the lifeboat says as it launches its 2019 Purple Book.
TPR to consult on DB funding code in March; Trusteeship plans in February
The Pensions Regulator (TPR) will launch the first of a two-part consultation on a revised defined benefit (DB) funding code in March, it has told PP.
Charles Counsell: 2020 will be a year of positive change
Changes are afoot in the pensions regulatory landscape in a bid to boost both security and outcomes for members. Charles Counsell reveals what you can expect from the regulator this year.
Dominic Chappell ordered to pay £9.5m into BHS pension schemes
The Upper Tribunal has told Dominic Chappell he must pay £9.5m into BHS’ pension schemes after committing actions detrimental to their funding.
Industry mostly dissatisfied with current direction of pensions policy
More than half (55%) of the pensions industry is dissatisfied with the direction of pensions policy going into 2020, according to research from the Pensions Management Institute (PMI).
Former accountant fined for misleading TPR over workplace pension duties
The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has fined a former accountant £4,987 after he failed to enrol staff into a workplace pension scheme.
Why the role of scheme secretary needs to evolve
There is a growing need for schemes to improve governance. John Reeve says better trustee support will improve their ability to meet these increasingly onerous requirements
PLSA welcomes 'legislative clarity' on pension schemes bill
The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) has welcomed the reintroduction of the pension schemes bill, after the government reaffirmed the details in the reopening of parliament this week.
TPR welcomes government's 'prompt' reintroduction of pension schemes bill
The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has welcomed the government’s latest update on the details of the pension schemes bill.
Guy Opperman: Looking ahead to 2020 - another big year for pensions
The pension schemes bill is set to boost income and protection for pension scheme members, says Guy Opperman, making 2020 a pivotal year for retirement savings.
TPR urges trustees to 'engage early and be transparent'
Trustees are being urged to engage early with The Pensions Regulator (TPR) during corporate transactions and to be transparent to protect savers.
TPR publishes research on leverage and liquidity
The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has published research on leverage and liquidity to better gauge the potential risks for defined benefit (DB) pensions and inform the Bank of England’s Financial Stability Report.
Hymans Robertson publishes third annual master trust report; flags concerns over investment risk
Master trusts have enjoyed positive returns across the three investment journey phases but there are some “early signs of concern” emerging around risk profiles, a Hymans Robertson master trust report reveals.
HSBC launches master trust after TPR authorisation
The HSBC Master Trust has become the first new master trust to be authorised by The Pensions Regulator (TPR), after having applied after the regime kicked off.
Is your governance really ticking all the boxes?
Schemes may have had a trustee board structure in place for 50 years, but is it really ticking all the governance boxes in the current – and increasingly onerous – regulatory environment, asks Karen Parry.
USS joint panel dual discount rate proposal 'broadly aligns' with TPR views
The Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) Joint Expert Panel’s (JEP) proposals for future valuations have received broad support as a way protecting the long-term interests of its members.
What pensions restructuring challenges have arisen over the past year?
Taylor Wessing has published a report gauging industry views on challenges associated with pensions restructuring. Kim Kaveh explores the findings
Pension funding levels on the up
Pensions schemes are better funded now than this time last year, according to PwC’s annual Pension Scheme Funding Survey.
TPR enforcement increases by more than 25% but debt recovery rate remains low
The Pensions Regulator’s (TPR) enforcement actions increased by more than a quarter over the last year but the recovery rate against all recoverable debt sat at just 30%, according to law firm Clyde & Co.
Metropolitan Thames Valley to open DC arrangement and appoint master trust
Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing (MTVH) is planning to set up a defined contribution (DC) pension arrangement to provide future benefits for current employees and new joiners through auto-enrolment (AE).
Five stories you may have missed this week
This week’s top stories included the selection of BlackRock as fiduciary manager for the £4bn legacy Electricity Supply Pension Scheme.
TPR publishes guidance on fiduciary manager selection
The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has published guidance detailing how schemes that use fiduciary managers should run a competitive tender process when appointing a manager.
