The Pandrol Group Pension Scheme has secured a £45m bulk purchase annuity transaction with Royal London.
This latest buy-in covers around 200 members. Royal London worked in collaboration with the Trustee Board, Pandrol Limited and their respective advisers.
“We are delighted to have been able to take the opportunity to complete this transaction, securing all of our members’ pensions with a highly reputable insurer. This successful outcome reflects an ambitious collaboration between the Trustee and Pandrol, supported by proactive and practical advice from our advisers,” said Susan Anyan of Capital Cranfield on behalf of the trustee board.
“Working closely with the Trustee, Pandrol and their respective advisers in a sole-insurer capacity enabled us to deliver a smooth and efficient transaction that reflects our mutual values and our commitment to brilliant customer outcomes,” said Victoria Smith, BPA Origination Manager at Royal London.
“With a clear focus on collaboration and execution, we look forward to supporting the Scheme over the coming months and years to continue to deliver benefits to members.”
Barnett Waddingham provided actuarial, administration, investment advice and provided risk transfer support to the trustee. Mark Roberts of Barnett Waddingham is the scheme actuary, while CMS are the scheme’s legal advisors. Both Barnett Waddingham and CMS have been in place as advisers since the scheme was established in 2000. PwC and Gunnercooke provided advice to Pandrol.
“It has been great to lead this transaction. Having been a long-standing client of Barnett Waddingham, we were able to ensure that the Scheme was well prepared and able to move quickly when an opportunity to secure members’ benefits arose. The collaborative approach taken by the trustee board, the Employer, all advisers and Royal London has been key to the success of the project,” said Richard Gibson, Risk Transfer Partner at Barnett Waddingham.
Royal London has now announced ten buy-in transactions in 2025, covering the benefits of over 5,500 pension scheme members. They have ranged in size from the £22m transaction with the London Waste Pension Scheme through to the £275m transaction with the Grant Thornton Pensions Fund.
