IPE's United Kingdom Coverage – Page 281

  • News

    SHPS extends benefit options as deficit passes £600m

    2009-04-23T12:00:00Z

    [13:00 CEST 23-04] UK – The Social Housing Pension Scheme (SHPS) is to offer a defined contribution (DC) option to employers for the first time after the latest valuation revealed its deficit had increased to £633m (€715m) at the end of September 2008, from £209m the previous year.

  • News

    LAPFF tackles KBC over remuneration

    2009-04-22T15:45:00Z

    BELGIUM – [16:50 CEST 22-04] UK/BELGIUM – The Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF) has called on members to take action at the annual general meeting (AGM) of banking and life insurer KBC over remuneration concerns.

  • News

    Railways scheme's buffers hit by losses

    2009-04-22T15:10:00Z

    [16:10 CEST 22-04] NETHERLANDS - SPF, the large pension fund for the railways sector, lost 19.2% on investments last year, while its assets dropped from €12bn to €9.5bn and the cover fell to 121%.

  • News

    UK Budget cuts higher rate tax relief (updated)

    2009-04-22T13:25:00Z

    [14:25 CEST 22-04] UK – Alistair Darling, chancellor of the Exchequer, has confirmed tax relief on pension contributions for high earners will be reduced from 40% to 20% from April 2011.

  • News

    Reed Elsevier boosts its pension fund coffers

    2009-04-21T15:50:00Z

    [16:50 CEST 21-04] NETHERLANDS – Publishing house Reed Elsevier will pay €54m into its pension fund over the coming five years, to support measures taken to restore the funding shortfall of the scheme.

  • News

    SHPS to review benefits in light of valuation

    2009-04-21T15:20:00Z

    [16:20 CEST 21-04] UK – The Social Housing Pension Scheme (SHPS) is to consult with members about possible new benefit options and contribution rates later this year as it expects the actuarial valuation will reveal increased costs.

  • News

    UK gov't warned against cutting pension tax relief

    2009-04-20T16:10:00Z

    [17:10 CEST 20-04] UK – Pensions industry experts have the UK government not to abolish higher rate tax relief on pension contributions as such a move would not be straightforward to introduce and could undermine confidence in pensions, leading to a general levelling-down of provision.

  • News

    TPR hints at flexibility in corporate planning

    2009-04-17T13:05:00Z

    [16:35 CEST 17-04] UK – The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has acknowledged the extra pressure trustees and employers are facing in the current economic conditions and agreed the importance of its regulation remaining "proportionate and targeted".

  • News

    Alderney pensions deficit doubles

    2009-04-16T15:15:00Z

    [16:15 CEST 16-04] UK – The States of Alderney, part of the British Channel Islands, has reported the deficit in its staff pension scheme had doubled by the end of 2008 as a result of the economic downturn.

  • News

    DB deficit hits £242bn despite changes to data

    2009-04-14T16:15:00Z

    [17:15 CEST 14-04] UK – Updated scheme valuations have improved the estimated funding position of defined benefit (DB) schemes in the Pension Protection Fund's (PPF) 'eligible universe' by around £15bn (€16.9bn), though the reality is deficits have widened further.

  • News

    Over two-fifths UK workers not 'adequately' saving

    2009-04-14T16:00:00Z

    [17:00 CEST 14-04] UK – Over 40% of the total UK workforce is failing to make "adequate" provision for retirement, yet almost a fifth claim nothing could persuade them to either start or increase their pension saving, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) has warned.

  • Aviva ends non-contributory part of DC scheme
    News

    Aviva ends non-contributory part of DC scheme

    2009-04-09T16:05:00Z

    [17:05 CEST 09-04] UK – Aviva has confirmed members of its UK defined contribution (DC) scheme will have to start paying a minimum of 1% from July, rising to 2% in April 2010.

  • Aon UK cuts contributions in favour of matching
    News

    Aon UK cuts contributions in favour of matching

    2009-04-08T15:50:00Z

    [16:50 CEST 08-04] UK – Aon UK has confirmed it is reducing the standard rate of employer contributions to its money purchase pension scheme, but will match additional employee contributions up to set levels.

  • News

    Employers warned over cost of deferred DC

    2009-04-07T15:20:00Z

    [17:20 CEST 07-04] UK – Employers need to address the extra costs associated with administering defined contribution (DC) schemes for deferred members, as large firms could be spending more than £500,000 on ex-employees, Towers Perrin has warned.

  • PPF considers shift in levy payment strategy
    News

    PPF considers shift in levy payment strategy

    2009-04-06T15:20:00Z

    [16:20 CEST 06-04] UK – Pension Protection Fund executives are discussing a series of potential changes to the funding of the pensions lifeboat which could eventually see employers contribute higher levy sums during positive economic cycles but make lower payments during times of recession and market downturn.

  • News

    Berkshire funding level drops to 72%

    2009-04-03T15:55:00Z

    [16:55 CEST 03-04] UK – The Royal County of Berkshire Pension Fund has told members there is no "serious financial shortfall" in the pension fund, despite admitting its funding level has fallen from 99.9% in March 2007 to 72% in November 2008.

  • News

    Longevity drives up MP pension costs

    2009-04-02T15:15:00Z

    [16:15 CEST 02-04] UK – Members of Parliament (MPs) have been told their contributions to the £367.2m Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund (PCPF) will rise after the latest actuarial report revealed the pension deficit had increased to £50.9m as a consequence of improved longevity.

  • News

    Labour Court tells SR Technics to fund deficit

    2009-04-01T16:05:00Z

    [17:05 CEST 01-04] IRELAND – The Labour Court has recommended the Irish arm of SR Technics should "fully fund" the pension deficit in both the SR Technics scheme and the firm's share of the Irish Airlines' Superannuation Scheme.

  • News

    Royal Mail pension may become new public scheme

    2009-02-27T15:45:00Z

    [16:45 CET 27-02] UK – The Postal Services Bill published this week by the UK government includes provisions for the secretary of state for business and enterprise (BERR) to establish a "new public scheme" into which members of the Royal Mail Pension Plan (RMPP) could be transferred into.

  • News

    Investments may need clearance under 'vague' TPR code

    2009-02-26T14:15:00Z

    [15:15 CET 26-02] UK – The Pension Regulator's (TPR) draft code of practice on the 'material detriment' test is "too vague" and could lead to pension schemes requiring clearance on normal business activity such as changes in investment strategy, consulting firm Mercer has warned.