IPE's United Kingdom Coverage – Page 264
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News
Waltham Forest appoints HSBC for investment advice
[17:20 CEST 07-09] UK - The London Borough of Waltham Forest has awarded a £150,000 (€171,585) contract to HSBC Actuaries & Consultants for investment consultancy services to its pension fund. HSBC were chosen from five interested parties who made offers.
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News
Hammersmith and Whitbread reveal strategic decisions
[15:30 CEST 04-09] UK – The London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham has decided against adopting a currency hedge strategy for its £438.5m (€503.4m) pension fund, but will keep the option under review.
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NewsUK DB liabilities top £1trn
[17:15 CEST 01-09] UK – The combined pension liabilities shown in company accounts for the UK’s 200 largest privately-sponsored pension schemes has reached £500bn (€567bn) for the first time, according to Aon Consulting.
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News
Lothian focuses on alternatives in new strategy
[17:00 CEST 01-09] UK – Lothian Pension Fund is set to increase its allocation to alternative assets from 24% to 35% in a gradual transition to its new investment strategy.
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FeaturesUK: A chink of light
A small compromise in the treatment of accrued rights might signal a more flexible approach to benefit indexation in the future, finds Liam Kennedy
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Country Report
Accounting for deficits
As UK pension funds continue to battle with worrying deficit levels, there is likely to be more bad news before things get better, finds Richard Lowe
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Country ReportBeset by complications
With DB in retreat and a conspicuous lack of public debate on the future of supplementary retirement provision, where now for UK pensions? Gill Wadsworth assesses progress, including the profound changes in the Pension Act 2008
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Country Report
De-risking redefined
The new importance of bond yields for UK schemes’ solvency underlines the re-thinking of liability-driven investing, bond mandates and the need for tactical decision making, finds Martin Steward
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Country Report
A DC smörgåsbord
Simon Pearse recommends that UK pension trustees should use the Personal Accounts model as a benchmark for their own DC schemes
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Country Report
PADA’s 2012 challenge
Nyree Stewart investigates how the Personal Accounts Delivery Authority is faring in its task of delivering a national low cost DC scheme within three years
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Country Report
Basic principles
Richard Lowe assesses the UK’s Investment Governance Group and its ongoing work
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Country Report
Still a realistic option
Charlie Finch and Ken Hardman consider the future direction of the pension buyout market in the UK
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Country Report
Buyouts take a backseat
Buy-in deals are taking over from buyouts as the current economic climate stifles access to sufficient capital, finds Gill Wadsworth
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NewsDiageo uses escrow funds to plug pensions deficit
[16:00 CEST 28-08] UK – Diageo, the drinks giant, is transferring money set aside in an escrow account into its closed defined benefit pension fund, in a bid to improve the scheme’s deficit.
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News
Nottingham considers pension merger
[16:55 CEST 27-08] UK – Nottinghamshire County Council is considering a potential merger of its two Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) funds, ahead of the next triennial valuation in 2010.
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NewsCumbrian pensions funding drops to 56%
[16:45 CEST 25-08] UK – The Cumbria County Council pension fund had a 56% funding level at the end of March 2009, according to figures from the council's statement of accounts.
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News
UK self-certified schemes to require 7.6% contribution
[17:00 CEST 21-08] UK – Initial draft regulations outlining the requirements under which employers will be able to "self-certify" that their existing pension scheme meets the criteria for auto-enrolment, are likely to require a minimum contribution threshold of 7.6% of qualifying earnings, IPE has learned.
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News
UK DC assets rise almost 7% in July
[16:40 CEST 19-08] UK – The combined value of the UK's defined contribution (DC) pension assets rose by £31bn (€36bn) in July and returned schemes collectively to the same levels recorded in September 2008, suggests data presented by Aon Consulting.
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News
Improved equity returns lower pension deficits
[16:55 CEST 11-08] UK – Positive activity in the equity markets lowered the UK’s total pensions deficit last month, however the aggregate funding level of UK pension funds is still at a deficit of £158bn (€184bn).
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News
BT assets covered 57% of benefits in 2008
[16:10 CEST 10-08] UK – BT Pension Scheme, the £31.3bn pension fund of the telecoms giant, would have had enough assets to cover 57% of members’ benefits with an insurance company by the end of 2008 had its sponsor collapsed, the latest annual report has revealed.
