Third of DB schemes will close doors in next 5 years

The research shows just under two thirds (62%) of NAPF fund members expect to keep the schemes open over the next five years, with only 1% of DB schemes expecting to close to current employees. However, the number of DB schemes which remained open to new members was already beginning to fall in 2007 down to 31% from 33% in 2006. The drop follows falls in the equity markets; a situation which has a history of accelerating DB scheme closures to new members. The dotcom crash in 2001 for example provided a catalyst for DB scheme closure rates, which hit 83%, and slackened to 70% when the ma...