- 05.08.08
On 31 July 2008 Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs published updated guidance on the registration requirements for Trust or Company Service Providers (TCSPs) and Accountancy Service Providers (ASPs) under the new Money Laundering Regulations.
- 29.07.08
Rules covering non-cash benefits will change this year for pregnant employees with a childbirth expectance week of 5 October 2008 or later.
- 17.06.08
The credit crunch is biting ... your scheme's sponsoring employer is facing insolvency ... what can the trustees and advisors do before the insolvency to lay the foundations for a smooth PPF (Pension Protection Fund) assessment period?
- 21.04.08
The Occupational Pension Schemes (Transfer Values) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 were published on 11 April 2008, and are due to come into force on 1 October 2008. Wragge & Co's legal experts analyse what this could mean for you and your organisation.
- 17.04.08
On 14 April 2008, the Government announced plans to give increased anti-avoidance powers to the Pensions Regulator. Read Wragge & Co's analysis of the Government proposals.
- 15.04.08
Wragge & Co LLP has expanded its Human Resources group with the appointment of Richard Lee as partner from 1 May 2008.
- 03.04.08
In September 2007 the Regulator published draft revised clearance guidance. Following consultation, the Regulator has now finalised this guidance. Read Wragge & Co's expert advice on what this could mean for you.
- 01.04.08
Money laundering regulations require some paid pension scheme trustees to register with HM Revenue and Customs. Read Wragge & Co's expert assessment of what this could mean for your organisation.
- 28.03.08
Despite Communities and Local Government's promises to have regulations a year in advance, the final form administration, benefit and transitional regulations were very late in coming.
- 25.03.08
On 6 April 2008 new regulations published by the Department for Work and Pensions on employer debt come into force. Wragge & Co's expert analysis explains all.
- 11.03.08
The Pensions Regulator has published draft guidance on conflicts of interest.
- 04.03.08
The deadline for Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) administering authorities to publish their first revised governance compliance statement has moved from 1 March 2008 to 1 June 2008. - 15.02.08
The money laundering regime requires certain service providers, including some paid pension scheme trustees, to have in place systems to prevent money laundering as well as to report any suspicious transactions to the Serious Organised Crime Agency. - 12.02.08
The deadlines are fast approaching for employers and trustees to ensure that they are paying the lowest pension protection levy for 2008/09 as possible. - 08.02.08
Partnerships between the public and the private sectors often involve a TUPE transfer of employees from the public body to the contractor. - 17.01.08
The new Local Government Pension Scheme will be introduced from 1 April 2008. Under the new arrangements, scheme employers will have an increased role in determining the level of any ill-health pension payable to a member. - 04.01.08
Pensions legislation has been a constant state of change for the last few years. The recent introduction of the second Pensions Bill in 2007 into the House of Commons continues this trend.
- 19.12.07
How readily should courts correct errors in documents signed off by trustees and employers? What role should trustees have in scrutinising those documents in the first place? The case of Smithson v Hamilton suggests some interesting answers.
- 10.12.07
The Regulator's Determination Panel has issued a determination in relation to a case involving the acquisition of an employer. It relates to the proposed takeover of Telent plc by Pension Corporation.
- 21.11.07
The Pension Protection Fund Ombudsman (PPFO) has issued his first determination in relation to the High-Point Rendel Pension Scheme. The PPFO concluded that the failure score had been correctly determined. - 29.10.07
On or before 1 March 2008, Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) administering authorities will have to publish their first revised governance compliance statement. - 18.10.07
The Companies Act 2006 is the largest piece of legislation ever passed by Parliament. The Act is intended to simplify and modernise company law rather than to make wholesale changes to the current law. - 10.10.07
The objective of the Code is to promote accountability of fund managers to their clients. - 01.10.07
It's a year since discrimination on the grounds of age was prohibited for employers (and pension scheme trustees) under regulations which came into force on 1 October 2006 (and 1 December 2006). - 17.09.07
The Pensions Regulator introduced the clearance procedure in April 2005. It allows the regulator to confirm whether or not a particular event, action or situation will lead it to use its anti-avoidance powers. - 07.09.07
Since 1999 a non-statutory framework has existed governing the treatment of employees' pension benefits when best value authorities outsource services to the private sector. - 31.08.07
Pensions continue to be subject to legislative change. After what was at times a somewhat acrimonious Parliamentary process, the Pensions Act 2007 (PA07) finally received Royal Assent at the end of July. - 14.08.07
The current employer debt regime is complicated, problematic and inflexible. The De-Regulatory Review published on 25 July 2007, judicial comment and industry lobbying have all led the Department for Work and Pensions to consult on amendments to it. - 25.07.07
While the Regulator continues to develop governance good practice guidelines, it is keen to understand what schemes are actually doing governance-wise on the ground. To this end the Regulator has published its second annual governance survey. - 29.06.07
The Pensions Regulator intends to issue its first financial support direction (FSD) against the Bermudan-based Sea Containers Limited (SCL), which is currently restructuring under the US Chapter 11 bankruptcy process. - 07.06.07
Finalised regulations have been published which will introduce various measures designed to improve the administration and governance of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). - 22.05.07
The majority of DB schemes have a deficit on the buy-out basis. This has led some employers to explore ways in which they can reduce or manage this funding risk. - 17.05.07
This alert gives a short explanation of US securities class actions and highlights the key issues for trustees to decide whether or not they want to become involved in any such action. - 04.05.07
The British Vita case is an important decision dealing with the interaction between a scheme's contribution rule and the new scheme funding regime. - 13.02.07
The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has published draft regulations which will introduce various measures designed to improve the administration and governance of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). - 08.02.07
The Information Commissioner has determined that Hertfordshire County Council should disclose information about its pension scheme's private equity investments in accordance with its Freedom of Information Act 2000 obligations. - 08.02.07
The Information Commissioner has determined that Hertfordshire County Council should disclose information about its pension scheme's private equity investments in accordance with its Freedom of Information Act 2000 obligations. - 26.01.07
The majority of defined benefit schemes are in deficit on some basis. For most schemes the bulk of the deficit relates to past service benefits. Recently employers have looked for innovative ways to reduce past service liabilities. - 12.01.07
L v M Ltd is an important decision dealing with the interaction between apportionment of Employer Debt (see further below) and the Pensions Protection Fund (PPF). - 03.01.07
The large majority of DB schemes have a deficit on the buy-out basis. As a result some employers have started exploring ways in which they can reduce or manage this funding risk. - 23.11.06
In response to pressure from employers and the pensions industry, the Government decided to postpone the implementation of the pensions aspects of the age regulations from 1 October 2006 to 1 December 2006 and promised to amend them. - 13.10.06
The pensions aspects of the Age Discrimination Regulations were due to come into force on 1 October 2006. - 19.06.06
From 1 October 2006 the Age Regulations will come into force and it will be unlawful for: - 17.01.06
New cross-border requirements came into force on 30 December 2005. Broadly speaking, trustees must not accept contributions from an employer in relation to active members (other than certain seconded employees) who work in another EU member state. - 06.01.06
New scheme funding requirements came into force with effect from 30 December 2005. These will apply retrospectively to any scheme valuation with an effective date of later than 22 September 2005 and signed off after 30 December 2005. - 06.01.06
New scheme funding requirements came into force with effect from 30 December 2005. These requirements apply retrospectively to any scheme valuation with an effective date later than 22 September 2005 and signed off after 30 December 2005.
- 28.07.05
We were growing old waiting for them, but the Government has finally published the draft Age Discrimination Regulations, together with its long delayed consultation paper, 'Equality and Diversity: Coming of Age'. - 25.07.05
We were growing old waiting for them but the Government has finally published the draft age discrimination regulations and its long delayed Age Consultation 2005. - 13.07.05
The Pensions Act 2004 (and in particular the approach of the new Pensions Regulator) changes the relationship between pension scheme trustees and employers quite significantly. - 15.03.05
From 6 April 2005, trustees and employers will find themselves under an obligation to notify the Regulator in relation to a wide range of events. - 23.06.03
The recent White Paper heralds another big shake up for pensions law. In particular, many employers will be worried about how the impact of the improved protection for members will affect them. - 09.01.03
A recent Employment Tribunal decision indicates that pension schemes which do not provide benefits in respect of service after normal retirement age could potentially be guilty of sex discrimination.
