The rise in deficit was driven by a £19bn fall in asset values from £766bn to £747bn, while liabilities remained broadly flat, reducing by just £10bn from £798bn to £788bn, from 2017 to the end of 2018.
However, the movements mask a volatile year, in which pension schemes were in surplus for five months from May to September. December alone saw the deficit increase by £24bn to £41bn, almost entirely due to increasing liabilities as corporate bond yields fell, partially offset slightly by a fall in market implied inflation.
Le Roy van Zyl, Partner at Mercer, said: “2018 was a turbulent year and it is disappointing to see it finish in deficit after finally reaching a surplus for the first time since Mercer began regularly monitoring the position. While the return to deficit is unwelcome, we are still in a markedly better position compared to the very large deficit following the 2016 Brexit vote. However, the significant volatility demonstrates the importance of schemes locking in gains when opportunities to take risk off the table arise.”
Andrew Ward, Partner at Mercer, added: “2018 was a record year for premiums paid to insurers for buy-ins and buy-outs, with more than £20bn of DB obligations being insured. We forecast nearly one third of a trillion pounds to be paid by UK private sector DB pension schemes over a three-year period, from 2019 - 2021. While the direction of travel is clear, it is important schemes consider how prepared they are for any market shock. With continued Brexit related uncertainty, trustees must ensure the risks they’re running are consistent with their objectives and protects their sponsors’ long term financial security.”
Mercer’s data relates to about 50% of all UK pension scheme liabilities and analyses pension deficits calculated using the approach companies have to adopt for their corporate accounts. The data underlying the survey is refreshed as companies report their year-end accounts. Other measures are also relevant for trustees and employers considering their risk exposure. But data published by the Pensions Regulator and elsewhere tells a similar story.
|
