News

An interesting article in Pensions Expert from Andy Boorman, BESTrustees’ director and member of the Society of Pensions Professionals, in which he explains the importance of the regulator’s work on trusteeship and how independence and lack of conflicts can raise standards in professional trustee work. As a profession, we must engage fully with the regulator’s review of oversight in the professional trustee industry and work to define a template for professional trusteeship which serves all stakeholders well. At the heart of everything has to be the overarching principle of independence in our conduct and decision-making in order to secure good …

The WCF Ltd Staff Retirement Benefits Scheme has announced a £7.2m buy-in for the scheme’s remaining 122 deferred members. The Sponsor, WCF Ltd, a logistics, retail, e-commerce, and leisure company, based in the UK,  worked closely with BESTrustees and adviser Gallagher. In less than five months, the trustees and Gallagher steered the buy-in to its final signing with Legal & General, working closely with several other parties to deliver a swift and favourable outcome. BESTrustees was the professional trustee, Gallagher acted as risk transfer broker, scheme actuary, and provided consultancy services on investment and administration and Eversheds Sutherland acted as …

The Trustee of the Huntsman Pension Scheme have announced a £205 million buy-in transaction with M&G plc, securing the pension scheme benefits of over 660 retirees and deferred pensioners in the scheme. The insuring entity is The Prudential Assurance Company Limited, M&G’s wholly-owned subsidiary offering life and pensions solutions. The Trustee, M&G and their advisers worked hard to complete this transaction within the first quarter of 2025. The collaboration of all parties was critical in reaching this milestone with M&G’s premium locked to the Scheme’s assets, comprising of gilts and credit, over that period. The Trustee’s Chair, John Shipman, working …

BESTRUSTEES’ client Molins UK Pension Fund has secured a £249m buy-in deal with Aviva. The bulk purchase annuity (BPA) transaction – completed in June – secures the benefits of over 3,500 members of the scheme, which is sponsored by Mpac Group. BESTrustees’ trustee chair Sanjay Gupta said: “We are pleased to have achieved this significant step that will provide greater security for members’ benefits. The collaborative and constructive approach between the trustee, Mpac Group and our advisers has helped to secure this very positive outcome.” Aviva BPA deal manager Paul Donnelly added: “We’re pleased to have supported the trustees of …

The Trustees of the Carr’s Group Pension Scheme, chaired by Rachel Tranter of BESTrustees, have completed a c.£44m buy-in transaction with Aviva to cover 216 pensioner and 56 deferred members of the Scheme. Mercer acted as lead transaction adviser using its streamlined broking process. “I am delighted to have guided the trustees through the transaction process to achieve a successful outcome which further increases the security of our members’ benefits. This transaction was very much a collaborative teamworking effort involving the trustees, the Company (Carr’s Group plc), the insurer and our professional advisers all carrying out important roles throughout the …

The Trustee of the Low & Bonar Group Retirement Benefits Scheme, chaired by Hugh Creasy of BESTrustees, and Just Group plc, have completed a c.£50m full buy-in of all remaining uninsured members of the Low & Bonar GRBS. This marked the final step on the Scheme’s derisking journey. LCP acted as lead transaction adviser using its streamlined buy-in and buy-out service. The Scheme already held two existing pensioner buy-in policies, the first of which was secured with JUST back in 2015. LCP used its streamlined buy-in and buy-out service and the previous pensioner buy-ins were also completed through this service, …