A turning point for FTSE350 pensions?

After a number of difficult years, let’s hope that 2017 is seen as the turning point for the defined benefit (DB) pension schemes of the UK’s largest public companies.

Although contributions to pay down DB scheme deficits are on the increase, companies appear to be in a healthier position to deal with this based on the increase in free cashflow over the period. 

With equities performing strongly and bond yields having a quiet year, the funding position improved for many of the FTSE350 DB schemes. Overall, the aggregate IAS19 deficit for companies in the FTSE350 reduced from £62bn in 2016 to £55bn in 2017.

While this is all good news, it would not take much to tip the balance the other way. Our analysis suggests that a 0.5% fall in bond yields could push the aggregate deficit of the FTSE350 DB schemes up to £85bn.

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Simply click on the sector or region that you are interested in to see how your company compares to the overall picture.

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Further highlights of the research include:

Transfer payments continue to rise

The benefits paid from the FTSE350 DB schemes totalled £42bn in 2017, with around £14bn of this being a result of transfers to defined contribution (DC) schemes. This means that the FTSE350 companies are now paying out to DB scheme members an amount close to half of the UK Government’s State Pension budget.

Dividends vs. deficit contributions stable

With the Pensions Regulator’s focus becoming ever more concentrated on this issue, the average deficit contribution paid by FTSE350 companies as a proportion of dividends remained at 10% in 2017.

Affordability on the increase

Pension deficits as a proportion of market capitalisation reduced in 2017, while deficit contributions as a proportion of free cashflow remained steady, despite another increase in deficit contributions.

Intergenerational fairness

Contributions to DB schemes made up close to 70% of the FTSE350 companies’ total pension cost. Given that the majority of current employees will be earning benefits in a DC scheme, are they paying the price for the generous promises made to the previous generation?