Author: Mark McCord
The increasing frequency and magnitude of cyber-attacks on British businesses have prompted the UK’s pensions industry to consider its own resilience, especially during de-risking processes when scheme members’ data is at a heightened state of vulnerability.
Recent M&A activity could continue as market continues to boom.
Dutch schemes are moving to buy-outs to sidestep recently introduced rules that require all defined benefit plans to runoff and switch to defined contributions frameworks by the start of 2028.
Insurers have to be more creative to win pension schemes’ business, with enhanced and value-added member services the main focus of innovation
Germany’s pension market has been slow to embrace full risk transfer deals but a weakening economy and rising geopolitical instability are breathing life into the sector.
Lack of blockbuster deals but market remains busy as more schemes seek to de-risk.
The Prudential Regulation Authority, the UK insurance regulator, has increased its scrutiny over the use of funded reinsurance in recent times, but its use should still continue.
The Irish pension risk transfer market slow to get going amidst regulatory logjams.
There has been significant activity in bulk purchase annuity buy-ins in the UK in recent years, which at some point will need to move to buy-out so that the original scheme can wind-down.
New UK pensions surplus access rules could help resuscitate capital-backed journey plans.