DB schemes to pay out third of a trillion pounds in next three years

£300bn of liabilities

James Phillips
clock • 2 min read

Defined benefit (DB) schemes are set to rid themselves of more than £300bn of liabilities between 2019 and 2021 as they continue to mature, Mercer predicts.

The investment consultancy said a combination of payments to aging members, bulk annuity deals, member transfers, and tax-free lump sums would lead to the significant figure. The consequence is that schemes will continue to improve their funding positions while seeing a huge amount of risk removed, it added. Most significantly, Mercer said £90bn of bulk annuity deals will be agreed over the next three years, averaging £30bn a year to break 2018's current record-breaking figure of £18.6bn. Willis Towers Watson has also predicted a £30bn figure for next year. Partner Andrew Ward said...

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James Phillips
Author spotlight

James Phillips

Professional Pensions journalist from 2016-2022

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