The Pensions Ombudsman (TPO) has said it is aware of the ongoing dispute between the trustees of the Boots Pension Scheme and some scheme members after the scheme removed the option to retire on an unreduced pension at age 60.
TPO noted that it had been discussed with the relevant parties and was taking a 'lead case' approach concerning the dispute due to the number of members potentially affected by the issue. However, it said it does not intend to accept any other complaints concerning this issue while the lead complaints are being investigated. Since then, the trustee of the Boots Pension Scheme has agreed to a £4.8bn full buy-in with Legal & General (L&G), marking the UK's largest single transaction of its kind by premium size. The deal secures the benefits of all 53,000 retirees and deferred members of the scheme, meaning that it is also L&G's largest single transaction by number of members. Consequently, L&G will now take over the administration of scheme benefits from the in-house Boots Pension team, which took effect on 28 May 2025.
Gresham House has announced the final close of its Forest Fund VI at £375m in a milestone raise.
It marks both the firm's largest-ever forestry fundraiser and what is believed to be the UK's largest forestry fundraiser. The fundraising includes commitments from institutional investors, including London CIV, multiple Wales Pension Partnership member funds, and a Japanese investor. In addition, it expands on existing support from Local Government Pension Schemes and high-net-worth individuals. The capital raised in the final close will be deployed in a combination of unplanted land for productive woodland creation and established forests across the UK. Over and above the target core financial forestry returns, the fund will also contribute to carbon reduction, biodiversity preservation and flood mitigation. It is expected to sequester 4.7m tonnes of CO2 over the next 25 years.
Research from Raindrop has revealed that eight in ten working adults are unsure where all their pension pots are.
The pension finding platform also found that almost a fifth (19 per cent) were "really concerned" that they don't have enough saved for retirement. By locating lost pension pots, Raindrop said that savers can access a "much-needed boost" to bolster their retirement savings. Since its launch, Raindrop has tracked down over 50,000 lost pension pots for UK savers and recovered over £500m in lost pension savings. This included over 18,000 lost pots last year, with an average value reaching nearly £14,000. Throughout 2024, Raindrop's technology recovered £251m in lost pension pots, a 61 per cent increase on the £156m found in 2023. Raindrop co-founder and CCO, Vivan Shridharani, commented: "Billions of pounds in retirement savings are still waiting to be found – savers need to ensure they track down lost pots to ensure their value isn't being eroded. "There is clearly a huge appetite amongst savers to track down their lost pension savings – Raindrop works alongside some of the UK's largest financial providers to empower millions to take control of their retirement savings."
Quantum Advisory has unveiled a new brand identity.
The firm said its new branding represented a "complete refresh" of Quantum Advisory's visual identity and brand voice, aligning more closely with its mission of continued growth and a forward-looking approach. It features a modern new logo and a redesigned website that delivers a more intuitive user experience, streamlined navigation, and richer content, while offering greater insights into services, team, values, and specialist expertise. Quantum Advisory partner, Stuart Price, said that as the industry landscape evolves, so should we. "This rebranding exercise is more than just a new look – it's a strategic move to align with our growth, expanding offerings and commitment to progression and innovation. We've grown considerably over the last few years, and our brand needs to reflect and represent who we are today and where we're going whilst continuing to underpin what we stand for."
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