Case studies
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Simulating a data breach
- Matthew Wickett
- case study, cyber security, governance
As part of the general code of practice's effective system of governance requirements, many pension scheme's are implementing Incident Response Plan's in case of a data breach.
But how comfortable are trustees with using the policies they've put in place? We ran a simulation to find out...
Finding a buy-in for a small scheme
- Fiona Lawrance
- endgame, endgame solutions, small schemes, trusteeship
Explaining how we eventually got the best outcome for our scheme through collaboration and a team effort, this case study details the ins and outs of small scheme navigation.
Exiting PPF assessment with a DB consolidator
- Kerry Jones
- sponsor financial distress & restructuring
Read about how Kerry Jones and the Vidett team restored full benefits for members of the Debenhams Retirement Scheme through a ground-breaking solution with Clara Pensions.
Improving member outcomes for M&CO
- Kevin Dolan
- sponsor financial distress & restructuring
Learn how Kevin Dolan and the Vidett team improved security for pension scheme members' when the Sponsor was facing the threat of insolvency.
Planning for a potential insolvency
- Vidett
- sponsor financial distress & restructuring
Read about how the Vidett team's contingency planning helped keep member benefits secure in the face of the potential insolvency of the pension scheme's sponsor.
Administrator performance reviews
- Julia Palmer
- adviser reviews, defined benefit (DB), defined contribution (DC), general code, pension scheme governance, pensions, The general code of practice, trusteeship
It’s a trustee’s responsibility to ensure that their pension schemes are run as effectively as possible to help achieve the best outcomes for members. Download our case study to find out how we turned an uncertain situation into a positive outcome.
Project Crown: beating the odds
- Kevin Clark
- small schemes
Learn how Kevin Clark helped this small scheme defy the odds against a volatile market due to the 2022 gilts crisis - helping the small scheme go from deficit to wind-up in a short amount of time.
Buy-in: a piece of cake
- Mark Johnston
- buy-in, endgame, endgame solutions, trusteeship
Learn how Mark Johnston and Ben Salmons collaborated at pace - alongside external parties - to help a client by achieve a quicker-than-normal buy-in for their pension scheme.
Speeding up a small scheme buy-in
- James Duggan
- buy-in, endgame solutions, small schemes
In this case study we explore how James Duggan and Kevin Kenneally worked alongside our endgame solutions and small schemes teams to help a client by achieve a swift buy-in for their small pension scheme.
Exiting an insured arrangement
- Chris Halewood
- small schemes
In this case study we explore how Chris Halewood and the small schemes team brought benefits to a client by helping them exit an insured arrangement.
Corporate restructuring for Communisis
- Kevin Dolan
- corporate restructuring, sole trustee, sponsor covenant, sponsor financial distress & restructuring
In this case study we were tasked with optimising member benefits for a pension scheme who's sponsor was experiencing significant financial distress. Read the case study to see how we helped.
Smooth operations
- Vidett
- governance, secretarial & resourcing
This case study looks at the way we helped this client’s pension trustees by leading pension scheme operations, looking after all day-to-day activities, effectively managing trustee priorities and ensuring the plans run smoothly.
It also looks at how our team ensures the pension trustees benefit from transparency and cost efficiency.
Helping trustees with a sponsor covenant self-assessment
- Kathy Trusler
- case study, pension scheme governance, pensions, sponsor covenant
In this case study, the trustees decided not to obtain an independent covenant review, but needed help documenting their own assessment to formally record their considerations and evidence. Read the case study to see how we helped.
Lessons learned from a £600m buy-in
- Kirsty Furze
- buy-in, case study, endgame solutions, pensions
In this case study we share the wisdom we gained during the buy-in for a client with £1.6bn in assets. These lessons allowed us to achieve the buy-in within the set time frame and secure £600mn for our client.
Achieving efficiencies across multiple pension schemes
- Wayne Phelan
- case study, defined benefit (DB), pension scheme governance, scheme secretary, trusteeship
This case study shows how we, as an independent trustee and scheme secretary, improved both cost and time efficiency for a client with four separate defined benefit (DB) pension schemes. This included streamlining our client’s trustee boards and delivered noticeable benefits for the company, trustees and members.
Packaging small/medium schemes to achieve competitive buy out terms
- Sarah Booth
- PPF
The extremely busy buy out market has made it very difficult to get quotes. This case study looks at how our idea to package 3 schemes together brought an insurer to the table who wouldn’t have quoted if they’d been approached for a PPF+ buyout for each scheme separately.
How a leading commercial bank benefits from using a healthcare trust
- Kevin Clark
- Healthcare & medical trusteeship, pensions, trusteeship
Businesses are increasingly using healthcare trusts to provide medical benefits for employees. This case study looks at an international bank that’s used a healthcare trust for over 15 years and shows how well it works for them.
Fiduciary manager selection
- Vidett
- case study, fiduciary manager selection
We were appointed trustee in 2018. An early task was working with the trustee board to consider whether engaging a fiduciary manager would be an appropriate measure to help mitigate funding risks.
Securing a speedy £160m buy-in for Repsol Sinopec
- James Chalk
- buy-in, case study, defined benefit (DB), endgame solutions
Whilst acting as the sole trustee for the Repsol Sinopec Pension and Life Scheme, see what we did to help them capitalise on an improvement in scheme funding levels.
This case study is a great example of how we quickly secured members benefits through collaboration and teamwork.
PPF case: lack of governance and poor internal controls
- Laura Fenton-Williams
- PPF
This case study looks at how an appointment as a pension trustee to a pension scheme going through Pension Protection Fund (PPF) assessment could rarely be described as straightforward.
Master trust selection & transition
- Alex Davies
- case study, master trust, trusteeship
This case study displays how we helped a pharmaceutical company with a hybrid scheme select and then move to a DC master trust. Our trustee training and four stage selection process allowed our client to select the master trust that best suited their scheme’s needs.
GMP equalisation
- James Duggan
- communications, GMP equalisation & rectification
This case study looks at how we managed GMP reconciliation and equalisation for a client where rectification of pension increases was also needed. Wrapping them into one project ensured benefits were only amended once, making member communications clearer.
Sole trusteeship & a successful small scheme buy-in
- Kevin Clark
- case study, endgame solutions, small schemes, sole trustee, sole trusteeship
We were appointed by the Brick Development Association (BDA) to succeed trustee directors who were retiring. Past trustee minutes going back down the years talked about aspirations of possibly winding the pension scheme up.
DC section transfer to master trust – RSPCA Pension Scheme
- Kathy Trusler
- defined contribution (DC), master trust
As Chair of the Trustee we were involved with the selection of the master trust. As secretary to the trustee, we helped manage the transition of the DC section to the master trust and its subsequent wind up.
Benefitting from outsourced pensions management
- Mark Johnston
- pensions management, scheme secretary, trusteeship
More and more employers are choosing to outsource their pension manager role, as are pension trustees for their scheme secretary role. This case study looks at how one of our clients took this route, combining both roles in one person. It also covers the benefits the company and pension trustees gained from having this type of easy, cost effective access to pensions expertise.
Working collaboratively with a scheme sponsor to develop a long term strategy
- James Double
- sole trustee
We were appointed as sole trustee for a scheme where relationships between the previous trustees and employer had broken down.
This case study looks at what we did to help reduce funding volatility, quickly implement new investment mandates and revitalise the employer's relationship with the scheme.
Working quickly to understand true buyout position
- James Double
- endgame, endgame solutions
This case study looks at how, as pension trustee, we found we could advanced this pension scheme towards buy out much more quickly than originally anticipated. Having locked down investment risk and agreed reduced contributions from the pension scheme sponsor, we're now moving towards a full insurance broking exercise. Sharing this 'quick test' approach across the Vidett team has enabled other pension trustee boards to check whether their funding position is stronger than they thought.