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.
Congratulations to Becky Wood and Ben Salmons
It was a double celebration for Vidett this week, as Professional Pensions named two of our team winners at one of the pension industry’s most prestigious evenings! Becky Wood was named the Women in Pensions ‘Trustee of the Year’ after accolades including leading our Endgame Solutions team and helping set up the Endgame Perspectives Group, […]
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’, […]
Trustee Talk: James Chalk talks covenant
Client director James Chalk joined Asset TV’s Sam Rossiter for their episode that centered on the subject of sponsor covenant. Looking at the recent recording, James commented: “As many schemes move towards their endgame or a run-on structure, there is a danger that sponsor covenant is forgotten about. In this edition of Trustee Talk I […]
How insurers can support DB members at and through retirement
Earlier this month, Becky Wood (Client Director and Head of Endgame Solutions) was invited to represent Vidett at Just Defined Benefit Solutions’ webinar focussed on understanding how bulk purchase annuity insurers can support defined benefit members as they move through to buy-out and how the FCA Consumer Duty outcomes are achieved. Joining Becky on the […]
Finding a buy-in for a small scheme
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.
The buy-in journey – webinar series
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 […]
Becky Wood guests for Excellence in Endgames
Our head of Endgame Solutions – Becky Wood – was a guest for Hymans Robertson’s ‘Excellence in Endgames’ series, joining host James Mullins as well as Iain Church and Baljit Khatra from Royal London. Together they explored tailored strategies and actionable insights designed to help smaller pension schemes stand out and succeed. Reflecting back on […]
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 […]
Trustee Talk: defined benefit endgame with Clare Routledge
This month, client director Clare Routledge caught up with Asset TV’s Sam Rossiter, ready to discuss defined benefit (DB) pension schemes, and their journey to endgame. Commenting on the latest episode, Clare said “With record levels of DB surpluses come decisions for trustees on how to use those surpluses. In this edition of Trustee Talk […]
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 […]
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 […]
Beyond traditional buy-outs: viewing alternatives through different lenses
Endgame continues to be one of the hottest topics in the pensions industry, with the conversation expanding beyond traditional buy-outs to a range of alternative solutions, such as the establishment of a public consolidator and a heightened focus on schemes running on indefinitely. We recently hosted our Endgame Solutions Conference, bringing together over 250 professionals […]
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 […]
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 […]
Vidett Endgame Solutions Conference 2024
We’re excited to be holding our Vidett Endgame Solutions Conference in Manchester this May. This year we’ll be hosted by the National Football Museum. This charitable organisation will be giving us the keys to their wonderful home – the iconic Urbis Building – in the heart of Manchester and just a short walk from Manchester […]
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 […]
Buyout – it’s not all about the price
Trustee Director James Chalk joined Mercer for the latest episode of their endgame series. Entitled ‘Buyout – it’s not all about the price’; this episode explored the considerations that trustees and sponsors are taking into account when selecting an insurer for a bulk annuity deal. With other factors such as an insurer’s financial strength and […]
Shoosmiths on TAP: the later stages of a risk transfer project
Trustee Director Becky Wood recently spoke to Shoosmiths on TAP for their latest episode on risk transfer. In episode two of the risk transfer series hosted by Suzanne Burrell (Partner, Shoosmiths), Becky joins Adam Davis (Managing Director, K3 Advisory) on the panel focusing on the later stages of a risk transfer project. They discuss what […]
Capturing investment opportunities
Our first ever Risk Transfer Conference bought over 200 professionals from the industry together at Villa Park. The day was made up of various panels, including one with representatives from Isio, Legal and General, Linklaters and Cardano. The session looked at how we can capture different investment opportunities in the run up to a transaction, […]
Providing sponsors with certainty
Vidett’s inaugural ‘Risk Transfer Conference’ took place at Villa Park earlier this year; attracting over 200 attendees from across the pension industry. I hosted a fantastic session on ‘Providing sponsors with certainty’, where we discussed the vital role of sponsors in the risk transfer stage of a pension scheme’s life. On the day, I was […]
The human experience in risk transfer
Vidett recently held its inaugural ‘Risk Transfer Conference,’ which attracted over 200 attendees from across the pension industry. I hosted an interesting session focused on ’The Human Experience’ and was joined by speakers Joe Craig from Quietroom, Ariel Cecchi from Behavioural Finance and Jamie Dobbin from PIC. We discussed how people interact with the process […]
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, […]
Working quickly to understand true buyout position
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.
Vidett Risk Transfer Conference 2023
We hosted our first Risk Transfer Conference on Tuesday 28 February 2023 at one of England’s premier stadiums: Villa Park. The day saw over 200 guests from the pension risk transfer community join us for a day of topical conversations, with over 24 experts joining us in six separate panel discussions. Topics? The Human Experience […]