Mercer

Mercer Investment Consulting has announced its intention to focus on Responsible Investment (RI) by appointing a specialist in the field.

At least 30% of defined benefit occupational pension schemes are prepared to risk ‘triggering' regulatory follow-up by setting funding targets below the levels set by the Pensions Regulator.

Underlying longevity and investment risks of final salary schemes could see more schemes using inflation swaps and bulk annuities to try and reduce their liabilities.

Funding targets for pension schemes will increase by around 10%, despite the pension deficits of FTSE 100 companies falling £8bn over the last month.

Draft amended regulations on how age discrimination will be applied to pensions could affect at least a third of pensions schemes, claims Mercer.

One in five members of defined benefit schemes could discover they will only receive 50-60% of their pension if their scheme was to wind up now.

Over 75% of employers are committed to providing a pension despite continuing high costs, particularly for final salary schemes.

The effects of age discrimination legislation on pensions and employee benefits may have to be proved by case law.

An education and communication programme for members of both defined benefit (DB) and defined contribution (DC) occupational pension schemes is being offered by Mercer Human Resource Consulting as part of its all-in-one retirement service.

Pension scheme deficts for the top 350 UK companies have increased by almost a quarter in 2005, claims research by Mercer Human Resource Consulting.