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Press Office Contacts

Phillipa Russell
Group Communications & PR Manager

Call: 0207 469 1907  or 07425 628 292

Email Phillipa

or

Vaughan Andrewartha
Votive Communications

Call: 0207 353 9306

Email Vaughan

 

Please note that the team will not be able to help with pension scheme enquiries.

Media Releases

  • Pension scheme liabilities show signs of stability

    The UK’s Defined Benefit pension scheme liabilities have shown signs of short term stability as they remain unchanged in April, according to the latest figures from Xafinity. However, whilst many might view stability as good news, Xafinity advises that most sponsors are rightly concerned when aggregate IAS19 deficits have seemingly reached a plateau at half a trillion pounds. Download

  • Not so new funding guidance from the Pensions Regulator

    Financial markets have played havoc with the state of funding for corporate pension schemes.  The Pensions Regulator has now bowed to pressure and published his views on what should be done. Download

  • Pension scheme liabilities remain stable

    The UK’s Defined Benefit pension scheme liabilities remained unchanged in March, according to the latest figures from Xafinity, as equity markets and bond yields show little change since the end of February. Pension deficits increased by £24 billion as the value of scheme assets decreased slightly. Download

  • Companies being forced to review pension liability management plans

    Xafinity is warning that current market conditions could mean many companies are being forced to put pension liability management plans on hold.  The current level of government bond yields, driven down by the latest wave of quantitative easing, make both offers to members and the purchase of matching assets increasingly unattractive. Xafinity advises pension scheme sponsors to ensure that scheme valuations are placing an appropriate value on their liabilities. Download

  • Steve Webb speaks at Xafinity’s Spring Auto-enrolment Conference

    HR, payroll and pensions professionals are invited to attend a free conference hosted by Xafinity in London on Tuesday 22nd May 2012. ‘Auto-enrolment - It’s complicated’ is aimed at anyone who needs to understand auto-enrolment and how it will impact on businesses. Download

  • UK pension deficits jump £91billion

    The UK’s Defined Benefit pension schemes liabilities jumped £133 billion in February from £1,435bn to £1,568bn according to the latest figures from Xafinity. Most of the increase was attributable to a fall in corporate bond yields, but, critically, the figures also reflect the impact of the quantitative easing programme and a perception of continued long term, low level price inflation. Download

  • Pensions deficits - deal breaker or deal maker?

    Investment Managers and M&A professionals are invited to a free breakfast seminar on 22 March, to discuss the financial risks, posed by pensions’ deficits, that sponsoring employers face when considering corporate restructures, mergers or acquisitions. Download

  • Benign markets stabilise pension deficits

    The UK’s Defined Benefit pension schemes benefit from stability in corporate bond yields and inflation, giving rise to a small fall in deficits, says Xafinity. The £10bn fall is based on FRS17 and IAS19 accounting rules, as tracked by actuaries using the Xafinity Corporate Pension Scheme model. Download

  • UK Pension Deficits end 2011 £50 billion up

    The UK’s Defined Benefit pension schemes have ended the year £50 billion up on 2010, based on FRS17 and IAS19 accounting rules, as tracked by actuaries using the Xafinity Corporate Pension Scheme model. Download

  • UK Corporate Pension Deficits – a review of 2011

    Based on assumptions as at the end of November 2011, the Xafinity Corporate UK Pension Scheme model shows that corporate deficits have now driven through £400 bn to reach an eight month high. While the outlook for price inflation remains suppressed, corporate bond yields have started to slide and this will be harming corporate balance sheets. Download

  • Fears over underpriced inflation as UK corporate pension deficits teeter

    Based on assumptions as at the end of October 2011, the Xafinity Corporate UK Pension Scheme model shows that the aggregate deficit has increased to £327 billion. Rising stockmarket values have propelled aggregate asset values back above the £1 trillion mark, but falling corporate bond yields have wiped out any gains on corporate balance sheets. Download

  • Xafinity to host complimentary auto-enrolment conference for HR, payroll and pensions professionals

    HR, payroll and pensions professionals are invited to attend a free conference hosted by Xafinity in London on Thursday 8 December 2011. Auto-enrolment - It’s not just about pensions! is relevant for those wishing to understand and address the impact that the reforms will pose for UK businesses. Download

  • Xafinity Unveils Auto-Enrolment: The Complete Solution

    Xafinity, part of the Equiniti Group, and a leading UK provider of pensions and employee benefits, has launched the first truly comprehensive solution to auto-enrolment addressing human resource, payroll, pensions and financial challenges. Download

  • UK Corporate Pension Deficits Plummet

    Based on assumptions as at the end of September 2011, the Xafinity Corporate UK Pension Scheme model shows that the aggregate deficit has reached a record low over the year, now only standing a shade above £300 billion.  Total liabilities across occupational pension schemes have now fallen below £1.3 trillion, following further falls in the outlook for price inflation. Download

  • UK Corporate Pension Deficits Beat the Stock Market Woes

    Based on assumptions as at the end of August 2011, the Xafinity Corporate UK Pension Scheme model shows that liabilities have eased back slightly to £1.3 trillion.  The outlook for price inflation has again saved the day during a turbulent period in equity markets, with the aggregate deficit ending over £200 billion lower than one year ago. Download

  • DC fund volatility is avoidable

    Xafinity, the leading UK provider of pensions and employee benefits, advises that despite seeing UK equities fall by almost 20% in a week, DC investment volatility is avoidable and schemes should take a more active stance now, ahead of auto-enrolment. Download

  • Xafinity Pension Trust appoints Bridge Trustees

    The Xafinity Pension Trust, one of the UK’s leading mastertrusts, has appointed Bridge Trustees as its Professional Trustee. Download

  • Xafinity: UK Corporate Pension Deficits Prowl Around £370 Billion

    Based on assumptions as at the end of July 2011, the Xafinity Corporate UK Pension Scheme model shows that liabilities remain at £1.4 trillion.  In an almost exact reversal of the previous month’s fortunes, the outlook for price inflation has eased back and corporate bond yields have tightened up again. Download

  • Xafinity Bridges DC Challenge

    The Pensions Regulator has published its response to enabling good member outcomes in work-based pensions.  In it, the regulator notes that mastertrust schemes have the potential to be a force for good, particularly through the economies of scale and strong governance they afford.  This is a comment echoed by the Workplace Retirement Income Commission. Download

  • Xafinity: UK Corporate Pension Deficits Hold Firm Thanks to De-risking

    Based on assumptions as at the end of June 2011, the Xafinity Corporate UK Pension Scheme model shows that liabilities are holding firm at £1.4 trillion.  While the outlook for price inflation is once again picking up, rising corporate bond yields have come to the rescue of company balance sheets. Download

  • Regulator commences countdown to auto-enrolment

    The Pensions Regulator has started writing to UK employers regarding auto enrolment.  In the next 6 months, nearly 600 of the largest organisations employing about a third of the UK workforce will have received letters from the Regulator marking 18 months to their duty date.  Download

  • Xafinity: UK Corporate Pension Deficits Threat to Acquisitions

    Based on assumptions as at the end of May 2011, the Xafinity Corporate UK Pension Scheme model shows that liabilities are sitting at £1.4 trillion.  Despite a moderate fall back in equity values during May, the aggregate deficit across UK corporate pension schemes has fallen back a shade to £380 billion.  Download

  • Xafinity: UK Corporate Pension Deficits Reach New Depths

    Based on assumptions as at 30 April 2011, the Xafinity Corporate UK Pension Scheme Model shows that liabilities have now climbed to £1.5 trillion. Higher asset values have tempered the increase a little, but the aggregate deficit has now reached £430 billion. Download

  • Multi-employer trust based schemes: delivering good member outcomes efficiently and effectively

    In its recent consultation document, The Pensions Regulator identified multi-employer trust based schemes as having the potential to be able to deliver good member outcomes very effectively, through being able to achieve governance expertise and economies of scale. Download

  • Focus on enabling better outcomes

    In a week that the DWP closes its Call for Evidence on Regulatory Arbitrage and the Pensions Regulator closes its consultation on Enabling Better Outcome from DC schemes, Xafinity urges both parties to focus on how best to support individuals to make long term savings a success in the UK.  Download

  • Xafinity: UK Corporate Pension Deficits in the Doldrums

    March has continued the trend seen in January and February with the FTSE closing only 85 points off the start of the month.  This has helped to maintain the deficits across UK occupational pension schemes at £370 billion.  Download

  • Xafinity: UK Corporate Pension Deficits Hold Form

    Based on assumptions as at 28 February 2011, the Xafinity Corporate UK Pension Scheme model shows that liabilities in December 2011 will reach £1,383 bn.   Download

  • Belfast pension professionals gather to discuss Northern Ireland pensions issues

    Experts from the Institute of Directors, Northern Bank and hosts Xafinity Consulting will gather in Belfast next month to help businesses prepare for the upcoming workplace pension reforms.  Download

  • Xafinity: UK Corporate Pension Deficits Continue to Grow

    Based on assumptions as at 31 December 2010, the Xafinity Corporate UK Pension Scheme model shows that liabilities had again climbed; now reaching £1,334 bn.  Download

  • Why is trust trying to be removed from pensions?

    Something strange has happened recently. Certain quarters of the industry have lobbied so effectively that the Department for Work and Pensions has issued a Call for Evidence as to whether the highly supportive trust-based pension structure affords an unfair advantage over individual insurance policies where members frequently receive little, if any, support in their pension planning. Download

  • DWP Call for Evidence

    Xafinity welcomes the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) call for evidence to review the regulatory differences between trust- and contract-based defined contribution schemes. Download

  • Xafinity appoints Bill Holmes as Head of Investment Consulting

    Xafinity Consulting has announced the promotion of Bill Holmes to head Xafinity Consulting’s expanded UK investment consulting practice. Download

  • Xafinity Pension Trust - only Mastertrust to be awarded the Pension Quality Mark

    The Xafinity Pension Trust (XPT) is the first and only Mastertrust Defined Contribution (DC) pension solution to have been awarded the Pension Quality Mark (PQM) in recognition of its high levels of governance, communications and member support. Download

  • Xafinity makes senior appointments to support growth

    Leading specialist pensions services and employee benefits group, Xafinity, has announced two senior hires in their Consulting division in Scotland. Download

  • Xafinity’s autumn seminar series timed to follow Government’s spending and pensions review

    Xafinity’s autumn series of seminars have been timed to follow the Government's spending and pensions' reviews to provide delegates an opportunity to understand how pension provision is set to change in the UK.   Download

  • Press Release

    Xafinity buys PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP UK trustee pension scheme actuary, trustee investment consulting and scheme administration client business Download

  • Xafinity: Questions & Answers

    What is Xafinity buying from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP? Download

  • Budget Comment

    Xafinity Consulting actuary and head of technical, Peter Sayers, supported the Chancellor’s proposal to consult with the industry on tax relief restrictions for high income individuals and discussed the proposal to lower the annual allowance for tax-relieved pension savings. Download

  • Xafinity: The trouble with uncertainty is that you never quite know what is going to happen!

    Xafinity corporate solutions director, Robert Hunt, provides a commentary on the state of UK Corporate Pensions schemes and deficit predictions for year end, 31 December 2010. Download

  • Jon Austin joins Xafinity’s growing healthcare division

    Xafinity Consulting has announced the appointment of Jon Austin as Principal Consultant in its successful and expanding healthcare division.     Download

  • Xafinity comments on the UK Corporate Pensions deficit position following PPF announcement

    Xafinity corporate solutions director, Robert Hunt, responded to the PPF statement issued earlier this week that announced UK pension schemes had achieved a £300m surplus for the first time since June 08. Download

  • Attend a Xafinity Summer Breakfast Briefing in one of over 20 locations

    Pension, Finance and HR professionals who are responsible for setting and implementing corporate pension strategy are invited to attend one of Xafinity’s Summer Breakfast Briefings and get up to speed on current issues. Download

  • Xafinity group offering wins Loganair mandate in Scotland

     Loganair, the Glasgow based regional commuter airline and the Trustees of the Loganair Pension Scheme have appointed Xafinity Consulting and Xafinity Paymaster to provide pension administration, actuarial, investment and consultancy services. Download

  • Resurgence of unapproved schemes on its way reports Xafinity

    The popularity of unregistered pension schemes, employee benefit trusts and cash will increase as alternatives to traditional provision of benefits in light of the Government’s proposal to restrict tax relief for high-income individuals from 2011, according to pension and employee benefit specialists, Xafinity Consulting. Download

  • Pension savings don’t have to be extra taxing

    With the new tax year fast approaching, pension and employee benefit consultants, Xafinity Consulting has compiled some top tips on how to avoid extra tax charges on pension savings. The potential for increased tax arises from ‘anti-forestalling’ measures introduced by last year’s Finance Act, aimed at high-income individuals who increase their pension savings before the introduction in 2011 of restrictions on pensions tax relief.  Download

  • Xafinity: Monthly deficit update for UK Corporate Pensions moves downward in February

    Based on assumptions as at 31 December 2009, the Xafinity Corporate UK Pension Scheme model predicted a deficit at the end of 2010 of around £335 billion.  Although this deficit increased by the end of January to around £428 billion due to a decrease in bond yields and a fall in the equity markets, the position had reversed by the end of February with a predicted year end deficit of around £341 billion. Download

  • Xafinity group offering wins Marine Harvest mandate in Scotland

    Marine Harvest (Scotland) Ltd, the largest producer of high quality Scottish Salmon, and the Trustees of the Marine Harvest Pension Scheme, have appointed Xafinity Consulting and Xafinity Paymaster to provide pension administration, actuarial and consultancy services from February 2010. Download

  • Xafinity: The outlook for DB schemes in 2010

    £500 bn pensions deficit predicted for end 2010.

    Following The Pension Regulator’s publication of the fifth edition Purple Book on 19 January, Xafinity Consulting has updated and released the 2010 version of the Corporate UK Pension Scheme; a model on their website that covers over 99%  of the UK's PPF-eligible DB schemes and some 12.4 million members, thus providing the most comprehensive and accurate appraisal of pension scheme funding in the UK.     Download

  • Diary Date: Attend a Xafinity Spring Breakfast Briefing in one of over 20 locations

    Pension, Finance and HR professionals who are responsible for setting and implementing corporate pension strategy are invited to attend one of Xafinity’s Spring Breakfast Briefings and get up to speed on current issues. Download

  • Q & A Schemes in PPF assessment DC responsibilities

    Questions and answers Download

  • Schemes in PPF assessment must not lose sight of their DC responsibilities

    Xafinity, one of the UK’s leading specialist providers of pensions, employee benefits and payments expertise, has issued a warning to trustees and insolvency practitioners responsible for employers with Defined Benefit (DB) schemes in the Pensions Protection Fund (PPF) assessment period. Download

  • Xafinity appoints David Grimson

    Xafinity Consulting has appointed David Grimson to head its business development team in Leeds. Download

  • UK pension liabilities £1,204bn by end 2009, reports Xafinity

    Whilst Finance Directors and Trustees will be taking comfort from the visible and substantive improvements in global equity markets, they are likely to be dismayed by the less visible but even more substantive rise that may have occurred to their liabilities reports Xafinity Consulting.  Download

  • Engagement is key when it comes to auto-enrolment

    Companies that merely comply with the new phased-in auto-enrolment legislation, recently confirmed by pension minister Angela Eagle, will miss out on goodwill that can be generated within their employee base reports Xafinity Consulting. Download

  • Xafinity Breakfast Seminar: Regaining Control of Pensions

    Xafinity Corporate Solutions is hosting a breakfast seminar for Finance Directors and other finance professionals at The Gherkin on Wednesday, 11 November 2009 at 8.30am where guest speakers include leading financial and business journalist, Anthony Hilton, from the Evening Standard.  Download

  • Good news for people whose DB pension schemes failed them

    Things might be looking up if you’re turning 50 and you’re a member of a DB pension scheme that is going into the PPF, explained leading pension services and employee benefits group, Xafinity.   Download

  • Employers could save up to £100m each year in pension charges

    Xafinity, one of the UK’s leading specialist providers of pensions, employee benefits and payments expertise, has advised that employers could save up to £100 per former employee each year - up to £4,500 per individual throughout their pension scheme membership[1]. [1] Based upon an individual becoming a deferred member at the age of 20 and retiring at the age of 65. Download

  • Xafinity launches the ultimate pensions solution

    The poor and volatile performance of equity markets over this decade, coupled with a lack of investment guidance, has left pension scheme members increasingly worried about their retirement income. Recognising this, Xafinity, one of the UK’s leading specialist providers of pension and employee benefits, has launched an innovative model for the future of UK occupational pensions - Xafinity Pensions Trust (XPT). Download

  • Xafinity Pension Trust (XPT) Questions & Answers

    Questions & Answers Download

  • Not-for-profit organisations face real DB dilemmas

    The NSPCC’s decision to close their defined benefit pension scheme to future accrual highlights the extremely difficult decisions faced by trustees and scheme sponsors Xafinity Consulting commented today. Download

  • PPF’s radical levy proposals deferred!

    Xafinity Consulting welcomes the Pension Protection Fund’s (PPF) decision announced yesterday [30 July 2009] to defer, by at least a year until 2012/13, its proposed implementation of a radically different way of allocating the annual PPF levy between defined benefit pension schemes. Download

  • Xafinity welcomes TPR’s stance on funding in difficult times

    The latest statement issued by the Pensions Regulator (23 June 09) summarising its stance on pension scheme funding in the current depressed economic conditions has been welcomed by Xafinity Consulting. Download

  • UK Corporate Pensions Scheme: £689 billion pensions black-hole by the end of year

    UK companies providing defined benefit (DB) pensions could face a twelve-fold increase in pension deficit by the end of 2009, taking the total to a staggering £689 bn**, warns Xafinity Corporate Solutions.  Download

  • UK Corporate Pensions Scheme Model – Q & A

    Xafinity Corporate Solutions: UK Corporate Pensions Scheme Model – Q & A Download

  • Longevity Swap liabilities stay on the books

    I expect to see a number of similar deals occurring to that of Babcock International’s announced today (Babcock pension to hedge risk of longevity, FT, 13/5/09) where Babcock’s have become the first UK company to hedge against the risk that retirees will live much longer than expected. Download

  • Xafinity: Restricting tax relief is counter-productive for

    With ever-increasing life expectancy and at a time when the Government should be encouraging long-term saving, today’s Budget announcement by the Chancellor that higher-rate tax relief on pension contributions will be restricted from 2011 for those earning over £150,000 could be counter-productive for Government, says Xafinity. Download

  • Xafinity responds to PPF comments regarding change in charging structure for PPF pension levy

    Xafinity Consulting responds to Alan Rubenstein’s (new PPF Chief Executive) recent comments on raising PPF levy in good times, saying that in principle the idea is a good one: lower levies in difficult times will be appreciated by companies, but care will be needed in the execution of such a plan. Download

  • Xafinity Consulting appoints new Sales Director

    Lyndon Jones has been appointed Sales Director of Xafinity Consulting. Having begun his career as a consulting actuary, Lyndon started his own business in the 1990s, which was subsequently bought by a major plc. Lyndon then became Head of Hazell Carr’s Defined Benefit business – which Xafinity acquired in April 2008. Download

  • Xafinity urges Employers to act quickly to review their failure scores and reduce their PPF levy

    Employers wanting to contain or reduce their 2010/11 PPF levy are reminded that one of the key factors affecting the amount of PPF levy is the Dun & Bradstreet failure score that applies on 31st March 2009 reports Xafinity Consulting. Download

  • Xafinity Consulting’s Trustee Training Workshops

    Xafinity Consulting’s next Trustee Training Workshops will be held in Leeds on 25 February 2009 and London on 16 April 2009. 

    Download

  • Industry experts speaking to Finance Directors about managing pension risks in uncertain times

    Finance Directors are invited to attend Xafinity Consulting’s “Managing Pension Risk in uncertain times” pension forum on Thursday, 26 February in London or Tuesday, 3 March in Leeds. Download

  • Trustee Training Event

    Xafinity Consulting’s next Trustee Training Workshop will be held in London on 10 February 2009.  The one day open training course is designed to provide new Trustees with essential basics to cope with their new responsibilities.   For more information or to register, email kate.wehl@xafinity.com or call 0207 680 2609.  Download

  • Xafinity poll shows that 80% pension professionals think de-risking strategies are hot topics

    Buy-out and other de-risking strategies for final salary schemes were rated as a hot topic by 80% of pension professionals surveyed at the Professional Pensions Show according to Xafinity’s latest survey.  Surprisingly however, 58% of respondents said that data cleansing tools and project management was “not hot”. Download

  • Investment strategies for Trustees ranked as the hottest topic in recent Xafinity survey

    Ninety-two percent (92%) of trustees and pension managers ranked Investment strategies in Volatile Markets as their hottest issue in a recent “What’s Hot, What’s Not” survey conducted by Xafinity Consulting. Download

  • Xafinity comments on US election result and hopes for stability to be restored to the market

    David Emptage, Director, Xafinity Consulting comments:

     “Typically stock markets rally immediately after a US election regardless of which party wins.  We now know that the US will soon have a Democrat in the White House and there will be some optimism. But, we also know that President Elect Obama will be faced with the same problems that currently face the Bush Administration – the credit crunch, financial markets in turmoil and recession.”

     Download

  • Power joins Xafinity Consulting

    One of the UK’s leading specialists in employee benefit innovation and optimisation, Xafinity Consulting, has appointed Steve Power as Director, Business Development in their Reading office. Download

  • The new force in pensions comes to Scotland

    Xafinity, one of the UK’s leading specialist providers of pensions administration, employee benefits, consulting and pensions software has acquired Hazell Carr, strengthening its position as a leading player in the pensions marketplace. Download

  • 40% of senior executives are on 45th accrual rate pension schemes compared to just 3% of staff

    Xafinity, one of the UK’s leading specialist providers of pensions administration, employee benefits, consulting and pensions software, today announced the results of its annual Xafinity Consulting Executive Retirement Benefits Survey. Download

  • Ahlstrom appoints Xafinity Consulting for full pension services consulting

    Ahlstrom Chirnside Limited, the leader in high performance fiber-based materials has appointed Xafinity Consulting to provide actuarial, pensions administration, investment and consultancy services. Download

  • Xafinity Consulting wins YMCA contract

    Xafinity Consulting, one of the UK’s leading employee benefits and pension consultancies,
    has been appointed by the Trustees of the YMCA Pension and Assurance Plan following a
    competitive tendering exercise.     Download

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