From buy-in to buy-out: why clearing hurdles early is essential
A buy-in is a significant milestone in a pension scheme’s journey for trustees, sponsors, and advisers. However, moving from buy-in to buy-out can be long and complex, involving multiple concurrent projects and for this reason, many stall. Professional trustees must ensure projects run to time and cost and, if not, be ready to have difficult […]
A smooth landing to wind-up
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.
F2 Chemicals secure £8m buy-in
As Trustee to F2 Chemicals Limited, we’re delighted to have successfully guided their scheme into an £8m buy-in, with the completion helping secure the benefits of all its scheme members. Acting as the Chair of the Trustees for the scheme, Mark Johnston was thrilled with the outcome: “Working with F2 Chemicals, we are delighted to […]
Micro schemes in maximum focus
At our Endgame Solutions Conference earlier this summer, one of the most insightful sessions turned the spotlight onto a part of the market often left in the shadows: micro schemes. I was pleased to chair the discussion and was joined by a panel of expert colleagues from across the industry, including Adam Davis (K3/Isio), Alma […]
Planning better journeys for buy-ins and buy-outs
Drawing on practical experience from real transactions, let’s take a look at the common pitfalls and key success factors that schemes must consider to deliver smooth, timely, and member-focused insurance transactions in the current market. Ready, set, go! At Vidett’s recent Endgame Solutions Conference at Silverstone, our third session, ‘Beyond Blame – Building Better Outcomes’, […]
Vidett assist a PPF+ £7m buy-in
We assisted Just Group in completing a £7m buy-in with The McGregor Construction (Highlands) LimitedPension Plan (the Plan). Acting as Plan Trustee, the buy-in was completed in April 2025 and secured the benefits of 66 pensioner and 8 deferred members above PPF levels. Chérilyn Lamonby and Stewart Graham worked collaboratively with Just Group, Beacon, PwC, […]
Shaping Tomorrow: Our podcast relaunches!
Newly renamed ‘Shaping Tomorrow’ – our podcast series is evolving. Come with us as we meet a range of pension industry experts who take a deeper dive into the relationships, ideas, discoveries and innovations that help us achieve great results. In episode one of our reimagined series, you’ll meet our new host, client director Clare […]
Avimo agrees £50m full buy-in
It was good news all round, with the recent announcement of Avimo and their £50 million full scheme buy-in, securing the benefits of all its 611 scheme members. Acting on the deal with Rothesay and Thales UK, client director Jim Robson was pleased with the outcome: “This outcome has been really positive. from a relative […]
Vidett aid £250m buy-in of five schemes
We were once again thrilled to play our part in another buy-in, this time to the value of £250m, that saw the benefits for members of five separate schemes secured in the combined transaction. On the completion of the deal, client director James Double was happy to reflect: “We’ve been working intensely on this project […]
Vidett help complete £20m buy-in
Our recent hand in the completion of a £20m transaction for a defined benefit scheme, was a welcome result for all involved, including client director Chris Halewood: “Working in collaboration ISIO and DLA Piper, the trustees and scheme sponsor, we were able to get comfortable with Utmost’s proposition very quickly. It became abundantly clear significant […]
Talking endgame: trustee insights and perspectives
As professional trustees, we bring essential skills to all defined benefit (DB) pension schemes and particularly during endgame transactions. This was a hot topic at our ‘Endgame Solutions Conference‘, where myself, Becky Wood, Ben Salmons and Mark Johnston discussed our experiences and insights, alongside the session’s chair, Joanna Carter from XPS. A busy year In […]
Royal London announce £30m buy-in
We were delighted to see Rich Ingham, Phil Williams and Duncan Willsher recently assist Royal London with the successful completion of a £30 million full scheme buy-in for The Retreat York Pension Scheme. Working alongside K3 Advisory, First Actuarial and Wrigleys Solicitors; the transaction was a market first for Royal London, a new entrant to the […]
The bulk annuity market: a new wave
At our Endgame Solutions Conference in May, I chaired an engaging panel discussion titled ‘New insurers entering the market and future outlook’, where I was joined by: Adam Davis, Managing Director at K3 Advisory; Dweenisha Caleechurn, Pensions Director at PwC; Gurbani Swanni Leach, Director at M&G; and Gary Needham, Head of BPA Business Development at […]
Buy-in: a piece of cake
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.
Getting ‘under the bonnet’ (of the insurer decision-making process)
Understanding the insurer decision-making process and what drives their triage is crucial for trustees and sponsors to secure the best deals for buy-in and buy-out transactions. At our ‘Endgame Solutions Conference,’ I chaired a discussion on how to do this alongside fellow industry experts: Pete Jennings (Just), Adrian Somerfield (L&G), Costas Yiasoumi (formally WTW, now […]
Vidett assists £100m buy-in
Client director Mark Johnston and associate director Ben Salmons were both happy to see their work help the recent completion of a £100m buy-in. The transaction for a client from the travel catering industry, saw the benefits secured for all of the scheme’s 2,100 members. On reflection of the deal, chair of the trustee, Mark Johnston commented: […]
Mullin’ over the buy-in market
Client director Becky Wood recently joined Hymans Robertson’s James Mullins for his podcast looking into how new insurers are shaking up the buy-in market. Areas of discussion included the impact these new insurance companies entrances are making to the buy-in market and the key considerations for smaller schemes looking to complete buy-in transactions. Watch the […]
Vidett help complete £880m buy-in
Client directors Kate Leigh and Mark Cliff were thrilled to be key members of our team, that helped complete an £880m buy-in for the Rolls-Royce & Bentley Pension Fund. The transaction demonstrated innovation, precision and sound engineering; securing the benefits for the pension scheme’s c.6,000 members. On reflection of the deal, Kate Leigh commented: “The completion […]
Speeding up a small scheme buy-in
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.
Trustee Talks with Becky Wood
Becky Wood, our head of the Endgame Solutions team, recently took some time out of her busy schedule, to talk to Asset TV; the specialist publication best known for creating cutting edge CE and CPD accredited content for the largest investment community in the world! In their latest episode of Trustee Talks, host Sam Rossiter […]
The journey to buy-in and buy-out
Watch our video explaining the typical journey a pension scheme will go through buy-in to buy-out, and eventually wind-up; something we have lots of success with, having taken many pension schemes through their end-to-end journey. If this sounds like something you’d like to hear more about, then please visit our ‘Endgame solutions’ webpage.
Vidett helps complete £400m buy-in for leading UK technology company
Acting as Chair of Trustees, Vidett helped secure the future benefits for 4,000 scheme members by supporting Just Group’s £400m buy-in. This transaction has removed any investment and longevity risks posed by the sponsoring employer. On completion of the deal, Mark Johnston commented: “We are delighted to have now achieved pension security for all members […]
Vidett secures £66m buy-in for the NICEIC Pension Scheme
Acting as sole trustee, James Double and James Duggan of Vidett supported the Electrical Safety First pension scheme in agreeing a £66m buy-in with Just. This secured the retirement benefits of 237 pensioners and 154 deferred members. Commenting on the deal, James Double said: “As an independent trustee, the security of members’ benefits is at […]
Lessons learned from a £600m buy-in
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.
Securing a speedy £160m buy-in for Repsol Sinopec
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.
Vidett helps secure Thomas Cook pension benefits in £900m deal
As professional trustee to the Thomas Cook Pension Plan (the Plan), we’re very pleased to confirm we have completed a £900m buy-in with Aviva to secure the benefits for all (over 12,500) members. The Vidett team involved with the Plan are Mark Johnston, Steve Southern and Nikhil Patel. The deal, which completed on 4 May, […]