Just Group has completed a £42 million full-scheme buy-in for The Scottish Milk Limited Retirement Benefits Plan (“the Scheme”).
The Scheme is sponsored by First Milk (“the Sponsor”), a British farmer-owned dairy co- operative.
The transaction was completed in June 2024 and secures the benefits of all 452 members, of which 292 are pensioners and a further 160 deferred members.
PwC were lead pension risk transfer adviser on the transaction, providing support and advice to the Joint Working Group consisting of Trustee and Sponsor representatives. Mercer provided actuarial and investment advice to the Trustees, EY provided covenant advice to the Trustees, and legal advice was provided to the Trustees by Burness Paull, to the Sponsor from Brodies, and to Just Group by Pinsent Masons.
Just Group reported record total Defined Benefit (DB) sales in H1 2024 of £1.9bn, up 31%, and completed 55 transactions (H123, 35).
Martin Parker, Senior Business Development Manager at Just Group, said: “We are delighted to have been selected by the Trustees to complete a full-scheme transaction to secure the benefits for all 452 members of this Scheme. Collaboration was key on this transaction and we worked closely with the Scheme’s advisers and legal teams to structure a deferred premium element that enabled the deal to progress. This transaction is evidence of a vibrant bulk annuity market that’s working for schemes of all sizes.”
Zahir Fazal of BESTrustees, and Chair of the Trustees of the Scheme, commented: “The transaction marks a key step in the Trustees’ journey to enhance the security of member benefits and the Trustees are extremely grateful for the ongoing engagement and support from the Sponsor to enable this positive transaction to be executed. Collaboration was the key to success and the PwC team worked collaboratively with the other advisers and with Just to ensure the Scheme was well prepared and the transaction structure suited all parties.”
Dweenisha Caleechurn, Head of Bulk Annuities at PwC, added: “We are proud to have advised the Trustee and Sponsor on this bespoke deferred premium transaction, resulting in such a positive outcome for all parties. The extensive preparatory work allowed the Scheme to be nimble and execute a transaction ahead of planned timescales, evidencing the ongoing opportunities for well-prepared schemes of all sizes in this lively pension risk transfer market.”
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