Understanding
the Employer Covenant
Trustees of defined benefit pension schemes need to understand the ability and willingness of the sponsoring employer to fund the pension scheme. Only then can they: • determine an appropriate investment strategy. By understanding and monitoring the employer covenant, trustees are better able to make decisions on: • what margins for prudence need to be made in their funding
assumptions. In today’s uncertain economic client trustees need an independent review of an employer’s covenant to comply with guidance issued by the Pensions Regulator and to limit personal risk. The depth and extent of a review can vary, depending on the circumstances. The approaches can vary from: • obtaining regular presentations from a senior representative
of the employer at trustee meetings. Employer covenant reviews can be a stressful and time consuming experience
for the employer. With appropriate planning and advice, an employer should
not experience any undue inconvenience or unexpected demands at the end
of the exercise. |
We
provide a flexible and timely approach to assessing the employer’s
support for a scheme. We understand that employers experience the ups
and downs of commercial life and trustees need to adopt an appropriate
response. We offer a multi-tiered approach so that trustees can meet their
duties in relation to their assessment of the employer’s covenant.
Our approach caters for all schemes, large and small, and provides clear
recommendations for the trustees to consider. Transaction support We recognise and understand that, at times, a scheme can be a challenge as well as a benefit. Employers can benefit enormously from a well structured, appropriately funded scheme. However, that same scheme can produce challenges for the employer and Trustees in the areas of risk, funding and transaction structuring. These areas need to be planned and managed as an integral part of the business. Typically, we are instructed by employers and Trustees in the early
stages of a proposed transaction. As experienced professional advisers
we are able to review the circumstances and suggest ways in which the
transaction can be progressed to a successful conclusion. We make full
use of the services and support offered by the Pensions Regulator to
offer structured solutions and as licensed insolvency practitioners
we are able to fully demonstrate and explain the potential problems
if transactions do not proceed. We also provide advice on how to minimise the cost of the PPF levy,
the restructuring of organisations and strategic planning for corporate
entities as well as pension arrangements. |
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