Triennial Valuations
TPR urged to take pragmatic approach for looming valuations
The Pensions Regulator (TPR) must adopt a “pragmatic” approach to the 15% of UK schemes that have valuation dates within the next three weeks, Aon has said.
Getting ready for 2019 triennial valuations
Susan Martin says there are lots of challenges to grapple with ahead of next year's LGPS valuations.
Trinity Mirror offers £41.2m cash for Northern & Shell pensions in planned M&A
The newspaper publisher is offering a one-off upfront £41.2m cash payment and £29.2m deficit recovery plan for the Northern & Shell defined benefit (DB) schemes as part of its planned acquisition.
AA members to move to CARE section as deficit jumps 81%
Final salary members of the AA UK defined benefit (DB) scheme are to move to a career average segment in a bid to stem the deficit.
BT considers offering trustees contingent asset deal
BT may allow the trustees of its pension schemes to take over some of its assets in the case it fails to meets its pension obligations, the firm has suggested.
DB schemes 'could save up to £30bn' through access to more timely data
Hymans Robertson has launched an analytics service to give trustees access to more accurate and timely funding and risk data, to address issues from relying on out-of-date information.
John Lewis Partnership slashes pension deficit by 43% in three years
John Lewis Partnership has announced the deficit of its UK defined benefit (DB) scheme has plummeted by £361m since its 2013 valuation.
Strange Ideas
Con Keating takes a look at different approaches to evaluating pension liabilities.
Should timing of valuations be based on scheme health?
TPR has called for the time between actuarial valuations to be based on a scheme's health, but is this a good idea? James Phillips asks trustees what they think
Cost is key factor in decline in retirement income advice
Cost and a lack of information are behind many retirees' decisions to shun advice when making retirement income choices.
TPR: Valuations not always needed every three years
Well-funded defined benefit (DB) schemes should not be subject to triennial actuarial valuations, the Pensions Regulator's (TPR) non-executive chair Mark Boyle has said.
Trustees should be more assertive about changing discount rates
Trustees need to seize the chance to have proper discussions about changing the discount rate they use to measure liabilities in wake of Brexit, says Bill Trythall.
John Lewis's pension deficit rises 54.4%
John Lewis Partnership's defined benefit (DB) deficit has increased to £1.5bn as the company reveals a 15% profit fall for the second half of the year.
Are deficits starting to spook investors?
The cost and size of pension deficits are increasing which has consequences for trustees, company directors and shareholders. Michael Klimes asks if investors are starting to worry.
Carclo issues dividend warning as deficit worsens
Plastic manufacturer Carclo has warned it might not be able to pay its last dividend of the year due to a rising pension deficit since Brexit.
Time to take action on spiralling DB deficits
As deficits soared following the Bank of England's rate cut and stimulus package, the future for DB looks even more challenging. A major re-think is needed to avert a pensions crisis, writes Stephanie Baxter
RBS scheme hits surplus after cash injection
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.
Minimising DB risks during acquisition
Having a DB scheme can be a major factor in any potential acquisition. Mike Ramsey looks at how the risks associated with DB can be minimised
How MNOPF improved its funding level despite low rates
The Merchant Navy Officers Pension Fund has raised its funding level by 10% since 2012.
How trustee/sponsor collaboration is improving valuations
Research shows employers are taking a more active role during the valuation process.
DB trustees and sponsors are collaborating more during valuations
Sponsors and trustees are working together more closely during the valuation process but larger schemes are less satisfied with negotiations, according to research by Punter Southall.
British Steel scheme deficit falls 84% after unions accept contribution cap
The funding deficit of the British Steel Pension Scheme (BSPS) has dropped from £550m to £90m as a result of cost cutting measures agreed following tough negotiations.
USS deficit rises 83% to £5.3bn in three years
Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) has seen its funding deficit increase by £2.4bn in its latest triennial valuation as low gilt yields pushed up its liabilities.
Schemes struggle to find out what they pay in fees
The majority of the pensions industry believe it is difficult for schemes to find out what they are actually paying in asset management fees, according to research from PP.