August 2022
22Aug

Planets aligning for U.S. pension funds to offload their liability risk

U.S. corporate pension plans have reached a sweet spot in their derisking journeys that will enable them to pull the trigger on pension risk transfer transactions, including plan terminations. Their funding levels have risen primarily due to rising interest rates that are lowering pension liabilities even as plan assets have fallen due to the challenging return environment that has characterized the first half of 2022. "For corporate pension plans, this what they've been waiting for, for years," said Michael Moran, New...

August 22, 2022
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12Aug

The Vanguard Participant Saving Rate Index

By Jeffrey W. Clark & Jean A. Young Saving rates are fundamental to retirement wealth accumulations. In this paper, we assess whether Vanguard defined contribution plan participants are saving optimally in their current workplace retirement plan. ● We find that 7 in 10 defined contribution plan participants are saving at rates that would enable them to attain a 65% replacement rate in retirement. Saving rates include both the employee elective contributions and any employer contributions. ● We find that a modest increase...

August 12, 2022
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12Aug

Clorox to terminate primary U.S. pension plan

The Clorox Co., Oakland, Calif., is terminating is primary U.S. pension plan. The household products company's board of directors approved the resolution May 17 to terminate the plan, according to its 10-K filing with the SEC on Wednesday. The company plans to settle the plan with a combination of lump sums to participants and the purchase of a group annuity contract from an insurance company to transfer the remaining assets and liabilities, the filing said. The completion of the termination is expected...

August 12, 2022
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11Aug

UK. TPR advises employers to shield schemes from refinancing costs

Companies and pension scheme trustees should take steps to protect their schemes and their employer covenant from the fallout of any refinancing that they have undertaken, according to David Fairs, the Pensions Regulator’s executive director of regulatory policy, analysis and advice. In a blog published on August 10, Fairs acknowledged the trend of employers seeking to boost their liquidity in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic. This, he noted, would include the agreement of new borrowing facilities, or extension of...

August 11, 2022
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10Aug

UK. Pensions: More than 1 million workers not participating in workplace scheme

Around a fifth of workers at small medium sized (SMEs) enterprises that are eligible for a workplace pension are not participating in schemes, a new research shows. Analysis of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) data from Broadstone found nearly 1.2 million SME employees could be falling through the "pension accumulation gap". Read also U.K. pension regulator calling on plan sponsors to support pension scam prevention strategy  It also found pension participation is "stalling" at SMEs, warning employers at these companies to...

August 10, 2022
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05Aug

CFA Society Germany proposes merger of occupational with private pension systems

CFA Society Germany, the association of investment professionals, has proposed the merger between the country’s occupational and private pension systems under a format based on models in place in Sweden and Canada to cut administrative and sales costs that would lead to an increase in the level of pensions. The models would cater for two different market segments, one including savers opting for a standardised, state-run pension product, and another for savers who demand control over investments, the association said...

August 5, 2022
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04Aug

Coca-Cola Consolidated to terminate primary U.S. pension plan

Coca-Cola Consolidated Inc., Charlotte, N.C., plans to terminate its primary U.S. pension plan. The consolidated bottling company said it began the process of terminating the plan during the first half of 2022, according to its 10-Q filing with the SEC on Tuesday. Read also CF Industries offloads $375 million in U.S. pension liabilities In the filing, the company said it plans to offer a lump sum to "certain plan participants" before completing the purchase of a group annuity contract from an insurance...

August 4, 2022
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04Aug

U.S. corporate pension plan funding holds steady in July above 93% – 3 reports

U.S. corporate pension plan funding ratios remained relatively stable in July after months of poor investment returns had negatively affected the health of the plans, according to three new reports. Legal & General Investment Management America in its report estimated the average funding ratio of the typical U.S. corporate pension plan rose to 95% as of July 31 from 94% a month earlier. LGIMA in its latest Pension Solutions Monitor cited positive equity returns during the month, noting the S&P 500...

August 4, 2022
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July 2022
28Jul

U.S. House Votes to Restore Delphi Corp Salaried Pensions

The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday voted 254-175 to pass legislation that would restore the pensions of 20,000 salaried retirees of Delphi Corp., of which more than 5,000 live in Ohio. It’s the brightest sign yet for those workers whose pensions were assumed by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. in 2009 when General Motors was steered through bankruptcy by the Obama Administration. The measure now moves to the U.S. Senate, which may take up the bill as early as today. Under...

July 28, 2022
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20Jul

FedEx to deliver $800 million to U.S. pension plans in fiscal year 2023

FedEx Corp., Memphis, Tenn., plans to make $800 million in voluntary contributions to its U.S. pension plans during its fiscal year ending May 31, 2023. The shipping company disclosed the contribution in its 10-K filing with the SEC on Monday. The injection of cash into the plans will come despite the lack of minimum required contributions under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. In the most recent fiscal year ended May 31, FedEx contributed $533 million to the plans. FedEx...

July 20, 2022
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