Linklaters

Linklaters today launches Pensions for Business, a new initiative to assist those with responsibility for managing pension fund issues at a corporate level, given the direct and ever increasing impact of those issues on the corporate bottom line. As part of this launch, Linklaters is hosting a seminar at the London Stock Exchange focusing on the corporate, trustee and Regulator perspectives of the challenges associated with controlling risk, cost and volatility of defined benefit provision.

Pensions for Business is designed to help companies respond to the challenges posed by:

• the trend - evident in recent pensions legislation - to increase their pension fund obligations whilst weakening their influence in certain key areas;
• investment and demographic shifts; and
• the need to have regard, in a balanced and even handed way, to the claims of key stakeholders.

It is aimed at those who manage pension fund issues as part of their day-to-day remit or as part of a special remit connected to a particular strategic decision, for example to undertake a reorganisation, acquisition or disposal of a business.

Claire Petheram, pensions partner at Linklaters, said:

“Both the level and volatility of costs associated with defined benefit pension funds have spiralled of late and the need to introduce a measure of control in relation to pension fund costs has become a key corporate objective.

“Pensions for Business puts the spotlight firmly on practical and effective steps which can be taken to achieve this objective. These steps range from invoking pre-existing powers of a company in relation to its pension fund to optimum effect to those which will give rise to a need for discussion or even negotiation with pension fund trustees and possibly members.”

As part of the initiative, Linklaters is introducing a Pensions for Business newsletter and will be holding further client seminars. For further information and to receive a copy of the newsletter, contact pensionsgroup@linklaters.com.

For further information contact:
Sarah Peters on +44 20 7456 2153 / sarah.peters@linklaters.com or
Claudia Georgiades on +44 20 7456 3037 / claudia.georgiades@linklaters.com