The Regulator’s draft Code on funding defined benefits aims to strike a balance between employers’ pension obligations and their ability to invest in sustainable business growth. There’s a greater emphasis on living with risk: understanding and managing it, rather than eliminating it. The key is to hold three elements – funding, investment and the employer covenant – in balance. This article looks at how trustees are supposed to do this, and how the Regulator will measure their success.
The following article is a discussion of a draft of tax regulations recently approved by Parliament.
The new regulatory framework for defined contribution pension arrangements is now live. It applies to all trust-based schemes providing DC-type benefits, whether wholly DC, elements such as AVCs in a defined benefit scheme or DC benefits with a DB underpin. The Regulator expects trustees to assess their schemes against its quality features and will monitor compliance. The following article provides an overview of the framework.
The Regulator has published a new and much more detailed statement on its approach to asset-backed funding arrangements. While acknowledging the advantages of these structures in principle, it is concerned to ensure that trustees take potential risks into account before signing up, and have a back-up plan available in case things go wrong. This article looks closely at the Regulator’s concerns.
Dormant pots carry a significant administration and cost burden for pension schemes; the number of these pots could increase quickly once the power to make short service refunds from DC schemes is abolished (expected in 2014). What can administrators do to limit the burden of dormant pots? This bulletin sets out options to help schemes and members minimise the accidental creation of DC pots and consider the full range of options for dealing with existing deferred pots.
This article focuses on tensions in litigation that involves obligations to produce vs. not to produce documents in different jurisdictions (United Kingdom, France, United Sates, China, and Hong Kong).
This article explores the use of alternative working patterns in a number of jurisdictions around the globe. In particular, we look at Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, the UK and the US.
This Top Ten provides guidance on due diligence reviews for cloud computing vendors and systems.
This QuickCounsel reviews some options for structuring multinational software licences and considers key issues that vendors and customers need to address in the licence agreement.
The purpose of this InfoPAK is to assist corporate counsel in understanding and making decisions about the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and global anti-corruption law. Included is a summary of the Act, the role of the various government agencies, enforcement trends, and a discussion of steps companies can take to mitigate risk and fulfill their obligations under the Act. <p><b>Also included is a summary of anti-corruption laws in: Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Russia, Singapore, and Thailand.</b></p>