The Pensions Administration Standards Association (PASA) has published a new de-risking jargon buster to support scheme decision-making.

The resource provides accessible, clear explanations of commonly used de-risking terms and options, including liability management exercises, buy-ins, buy outs, capital-backed journey plans, and longevity swaps. PASA explained that as defined benefit (DB) schemes increasingly mature and engage in de-risking strategies, it was “essential” that all stakeholders, including administrators, trustees, and sponsors, fully understand the terminology and implications of the different routes available. PASA chair of the de-risking journey management working group, Ian Wort, commented: "De-risking conversations often move quickly and involve a complex array of strategic, administrative and regulatory considerations. This jargon buster was developed to help demystify the language, supporting better understanding and smoother execution." PASA chair, David Fairs, added: "PASA's goal is to improve the practical delivery of administration across all areas of pension scheme management. De-risking has emerged as one of the most strategically important and operationally complex activities for DB schemes. This resource supports administrators, trustees and advisers in navigating this journey with greater confidence and clarity."

Border to Coast Pensions Partnership has launched a £2.6bn global multi-factor equity index fund.

It is the group's first index proposition, enabling partner funds to pool £2.6bn of assets into a customisable strategy and significantly reduce costs. Compared to Partner Funds' existing solutions, the global multi-factor equity index fund is expected to deliver notable annual fee savings by leveraging the benefits of collective scale and strong strategic partnerships. Designed in close collaboration with Partner Funds, the new proposition will expand cost-effective access to global equity strategies within the pool, blending stocks and targeting five traditional fundamental factors – value, momentum, quality, low Volatility, and size. The Border to Coast partnership will retain full control over the evolution of the fund, including its decarbonisation metrics and policy on exclusions. However, it has appointed global investment manager BlackRock to manage the proposition in conjunction with STOXX as the index administrator. The fund aims to outperform the MSCI All Country World Index by at least 0.5 per cent per year over rolling five-year periods.

Aegon has launched a new junior self-invested personal pension (SIPP) product.

Designed to assist financial advisers in facilitating efficient intergenerational planning, the solution offers a value-driven approach with no platform charges until the child reaches the age of 18. Aegon said the product would equip advisers with a valuable resource to help clients manage their wealth efficiently in succession, with the potential for 20 per cent tax relief on a total contribution of up to £2,880 in the tax year (before tax relief) and long-term investment growth. Aegon advisor platform managing director, Stephen Crosbie, said the addition of a junior SIPP demonstrated Aegon's commitment to delivering value-driven solutions tailored for financial advisers. "With upcoming inheritance tax implications for pensions, it's vital to equip advisers with effective planning tools," he continued. "This product is designed to help advisers guide their clients through successful wealth transfer across generations. By further enhancing our investment offerings, we empower advisers to offer a range of choices that align with their clients' evolving needs. We are dedicated to providing advisers with comprehensive frameworks to navigate complexities, helping them to achieve optimal financial outcomes for their clients."

Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC) and Court Collaboration have celebrated the topping out of its One Eastside development.

PIC forward-funded the £200m development and will own it for the long term, while Court Collaboration is delivering the development. Once tenants move in, PIC will use the rental income generated from the development to help pay the pensions of its policyholders. Almost 15,000 of these policyholders currently reside in the West Midlands, and PIC has invested more than £1bn in pensions in the region since 2012. After breaking ground in March 2023, One Eastside is expected to be completed in 2026. PIC chief investment officer, Rob Groves, said: "We are proud to have reached another milestone in our One Eastside development, with 140 of the total of 667 high-quality homes made available for rent in the heart of Birmingham. One Eastside will be the tallest building in the city and help pay the pensions of our policyholders for decades to come."

Heka has raised £10M to bring real-time identity intelligence to financial institutions.

Windare Ventures, Barclays, and other institutional investors have backed Heka's AI engine as financial institutions seek stronger defences against synthetic fraud and identity manipulation. Indeed, the organisation noted that consumer fraud is at an all-time high, with losses hitting £9.3bn last year, fueled by burner behaviour, synthetic profiles, and AI-generated content. To address this, Heka analyses publicly available web data to help financial institutions understand their customer beyond what static files can show. Its proprietary AI engine assembles digital profiles that surface alias use, reputational exposure, and behavioural anomalies. This helps financial institutions detect synthetic activity, connect with genuine customers, and act more quickly with confidence. "Hekaʼs offering stood out for its ability to address a critical need in financial services - helping institutions make faster, smarter decisions using trustworthy external data. Weʼre proud to support their continued growth as they scale in the U.S,ˮ said Barclays head of US principal investments, Kester Keating. Windare Ventures managing partner, Ori Ashkenazi, added: "Identity isnʼt a fixed file anymore. Itʼs a stream of behaviour. Heka does what most AI can't: it actually works in the wild, delivering signals that banks can use seamlessly in their workflows.ˮ

Delancey has completed the sale of an industrial estate on behalf of a UK domestic pension fund.

The real estate investment manager has announced the sale of Spa Trade Park, Kent, the latest divestment completed on behalf of its client. Built in the mid-1980s, Spa Trade Park comprises 16 units arranged across three terraces, representing a total of over 76,500 sq. ft. of space. Delancey was appointed to manage the domestic fund's £1bn core real estate portfolio in 2022 following a competitive tender process, replacing the existing manager. Commenting on the sale, Delancey chief investment officer, Dan Berger, said: "This sale reflects our disciplined disposal strategy - generating liquidity while rebalancing our client's UK real estate portfolio with greater focus on geography and asset type. It demonstrates our differentiated, proactive approach to core portfolios: drawing on our heritage as an active, opportunistic manager, creating value throughout the investment cycle, and exiting assets that no longer align with portfolio priorities to target tailored, above-benchmark returns."

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