Defined benefit
In-depth reporting on defined benefit (DB) pensions for our pension fund and asset management readers from IPE’s award-winning journalists
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NewsGerman pension funds drawn into scrutiny over withholding tax fraud investigations
BaFin survey and court proceedings keep pension funds in focus as Germany pursues withholding tax fraud claims
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AnalysisDutch DC revolution rolls on as largest pension fund gets green light
ABP hails ‘milestone’ of DNB approval for its transition plan, while government commissioner warns countrywide process ‘cannot afford major failures’
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AnalysisIPE DACH Briefing: Germany’s pension overhaul marks shift towards funded retirement
In the second pillar, industry experts are urging social partners to discuss ways to expand defined contribution pensions, including through auto-enrolment
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NewsUniversities fund consults on cutting contribution rate to 16.4% after funding improves
USS’s improved funding position opens consultation on lower contributions while prompting debate over scheme’s long-term direction
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NewsRegulatory roadmap aims to steer UK pensions through reforms
The Pensions Regulator’s five-year strategy focuses on sustainable income in retirement
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NewsUK government launches consultation process on £25bn DC scale rules
Department for Work and Pensions seeks industry feedback on implementing £25bn DC scale requirements before consulting on detailed regulations in 2027
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NewsUK outlines roadmap for DC assessments, scale reforms and DB changes
Government confirms timelines for DC value-for-money assessments, consolidation reforms, guided retirement and DB surplus measures
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NewsGermany’s changing pension buyout market sparks foreign investors’ interest
Plans to reform Germany’s pension regulatory and policy system that are expected to boost the country’s pension buyout market have sparked the interest of foreign investors, say industry experts. In June, Alterssicherungskommission – Germany’s Pension Security Commission – published a government-backed report in which it urged social partners to fully ...
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NewsUBS proposes overhaul of Swiss pension system with fully funded first pillar
A proposed overhaul of Switzerland’s pension system has sparked debate over funding, member choice and transition costs
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Opinion PiecesWhen pension professionals hold the key to a nation’s fortunes
Jos Vermeulen, head of solution design at Insight Investment, says a well-designed DB surplus regime could be a win-win on many levels
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NewsDB endgame strategies reshape professional trustee market, WTW finds
Growing DB endgame activity is driving governance changes, boosting sole trusteeship and regulatory oversight
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NewsTPR backs innovative DB endgame options as scheme surpluses grow
Improving UK defined benefit funding positions prompts regulator to support broader endgame strategies beyond traditional buyouts
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NewsUK consults on DB surplus release rules as industry sees boost for run-on strategies
Draft regulations would allow surplus extraction above low-dependency funding threshold, reshaping defined benefit endgame strategies
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NewsCredit Suisse pension fund de-risks as cash outflows reshape strategy
The changes mark a shift towards a more permanent environment of structural cash outflows, prompting a realignment of the investment process
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NewsJust Group completes buy-ins with two separate UK pension funds
Hartwells Pension Plan (1971) and The Church of Scotland Pension Scheme for Ministers and Overseas Missionaries have secured buy-in transactions with Just Group
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NewsDB surplus extraction expected to fall short of industry expectations
Expectations of widespread surpluses across DB schermes may not reflect the realities of extraction, says the PPI
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Country ReportPensions in the UK report 2026: Reforms courting controversy
The new Pension Schemes Act has sparked concerns that it hands too much control to the government
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NewsVatican bank boosted by pension fund gains as net assets rise to €815m
Improved pension fund reserves and investment gains helped drive Vatican bank profitability and net assets higher
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NewsGerman pension sector weighs in on proposed IORP II overhaul
German industry, government and supervisors warn proposed IORP II changes risk undermining occupational pension provision
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NewsUK regulator targets DB, hybrid schemes over dashboards data preparedness
TPR warns DB schemes’ inaccurate value data could undermine pensions dashboards ahead of October connection deadline
