In an article for International Corporate Rescue, Samantha Brown and John Whiteoak, examine the Pensions Regulator’s draft policy on investigating and prosecuting the new pensions criminal offences which are due to come into force this Autumn. The article highlights various points which the authors hope will be addressed in the final policy, including the mixed … Read more

The Pension Regulator’s latest Annual Funding Statement covers a lot of ground, emphasising the need for trustees to determine how their covenant has been impacted by Covid-19 and Brexit and to assess whether they are on track to reach their long-term funding target. Where a recovery plan is needed, affordability remains a key consideration and, … Read more

This blog first appeared on our Competition blog. On 29 April 2021, the UK National Security and Investment (NSI) Bill received Royal Assent. The NSI Act 2021 introduces significant legislative reforms which will overhaul the review of transactions and investments on national security grounds in the UK, against a backdrop of tightening of foreign direct … Read more

With the most significant reforms to UK pensions regulation for nearly two decades due to come into force later this year, we are delighted to launch our new UK pensions regulation hub to help you keep track of our latest thinking on the new regulatory requirements and the emerging risks. On the hub you will … Read more

The Pension Regulator has published for consultation its much anticipated draft guidance on how it intends to police the new pensions criminal offences due to come into force this Autumn. The draft guidance suggests that the Regulator will use these new powers sparingly and that they are not intended to fundamentally change commercial norms or … Read more

The Pension Schemes Act 2021, which will introduce new pension criminal offences, £1m regulatory fines and new requirements relating to funding and climate-related risks, received Royal Assent on 11 February 2021 but most of its provisions do not come into force imediately. Most of these measures are likely to come into force during the next … Read more

The Pensions Minister, Guy Opperman, has confirmed the Government’s timetable for implementing key elements of the Pension Schemes Act 2021. In a written ministerial statement published on 2 March, the Minister has confirmed the Government’s intention to introduce the new criminal offences and regulatory sanctions by the Autumn and to consult on draft regulations to … Read more

The Pension Schemes Act 2021 finally received Royal Assent yesterday, paving the way for the most significant reform of the regulatory regime for defined benefit (DB) pension schemes since its introduction in 2006. The Act introduces new criminal offences and new regulatory powers for the Pensions Regulator that could: significantly impact corporate activity, including M&A … Read more