Corporate Updates

Our quarterly Corporate Updates provide analysis and comment on topical issues for corporate sponsors of DB pension funds. Topics covered include some of the implications of recent market turbulence, liability management and de-risking options including pension scheme buyout.

If you would like assistance on any of the issues raised please contact the partner who normally advises you, or call

For more information on our corporate services please see LCP Corporate Consulting.

Recent updates

  • We live in uncertain times

    February 2010
    The new decade has commenced at a time of great uncertainty. Investment markets remain a concern, with an uncertain future for the economy and no consensus as to whether UK inflation is about to take off, stagnate, or anywhere in between. You can be sure that 2010 will also be challenging from a pensions perspective – and these challenges are best met by understanding the issues, and focusing on the risks that can be controlled. read more...

  • Emerging from the storm - what now?

    October 2009
    In this corporate update we consider the changes in the tax treatment of pensions for high earners – and the potential for these changes to have a much wider impact than their immediate targets. We also look at how financial market movements have started to help the position of pension funds under measures used for cash funding. read more...

  • Final salary pension provision - the dominoes fall?

    July 2009
    Recent developments have been remarkable as company management teams come under increasing pressure from boards and shareholders to review their pension strategy and risks. read more...

  • The winter of despair - the spring of hope?

    April 2009
    In this corporate update we we look at what companies can do to manage actuarial valuation negotiations on the liabilities and cash demands of their pension plans in these tough economic circumstances. We also look at ways that companies should engage with trustees to make real differences to their plan’s investments. read more...

  • 2009 Pension decisions - navigating the storm

    January 2009
    In this corporate update we highlight the key issues and assumptions for year end accounting for companies with Defined Benefit (or Final Salary) pension plans, and identify a number of areas in which decisions made in 2009 will help a company to control costs and manage cash. read more...

  • Credit crisis crescendo – what does it mean for pension fund sponsors?

    October 2008
    The last few weeks have been among the most eventful in the history of global financial markets – with banking frameworks throughout the world being reshaped with a speed, complexity and sheer brutality that is without precedent. read more...

  • Defined benefit pensions: exit this way.....

    July 2008
    It seems that “bad news” has been the constant theme for sponsors of defined benefit pension schemes over the last few years: the latest instalment includes escalating PPF levies, higher inflationary pension increases and government consultation on granting yet wider powers to the Pensions Regulator. read more...

  • Corporate bonds – time to take the plunge?

    April 2008
    Since the much publicised fall out in the US sub-prime mortgage market, and the ensuing global credit crunch, yields on corporate bonds have soared read more...

  • Credit crunch 2007: the agony and the opportunity

    January 2008
    In financial circles, 2007 will doubtless be remembered for the credit crunch. Obvious symptoms range from banking losses in the epicentre of the subprime mortgage earthquake, through to constrained M&A activity - and the polite but very anxious queues outside Northern Rock branches read more...

  • Sub-prime fall-out – how many more worms in the can?

    October 2007
    The crisis in US sub prime mortgages – together with the wide-ranging fall-out from this – has clearly been the number one event in financial markets for the third quarter of 2007. What is less clear is the extent and nature of further fall-out read more...

  • What use is a surplus? The forgotten headache!

    July 2007
    The latest quarter has – after a few anxious moments – seen further improvement in the pension funding position of UK plc. While addressing deficits continues to be of great concern in many cases – especially relative to increasingly demanding trustee expectations – many companies now have an accounting surplus as at 30th June 2007 read more...

  • Pensions disclosures in the spotlight

    April 2007
    For sponsors of UK defined benefit pension funds, the end of the first quarter of 2007 sees deficits typically at around the same level as the start of the year, or slightly improved read more...

  • Markets can go up as well as down!

    January 2007
    Equity markets finished 2006 strongly, with many indices approaching or even beyond their highs of 2000. The FTSE All Share returned 16.8% over the year read more...