Hedge fund Davidson Kempner and asset manager M&G are vying to be among the first to inject capital into Britain’s £1.4 trillion ($1.77 trillion) pension sector, according to industry sources.
In a “capital-backed journey plan,” investors provide extra capital to a pension scheme in return for investment returns above an agreed level after a set period.
There has only been one such deal so far, but the market is expected to grow as an alternative to bulk annuities, which involve transferring a pension scheme to an insurer.
“There is a lot of private capital out there that would like to deploy its capital in this market,” said Derek Steeden, a director at PwC.
Most of Britain’s 5,000 defined benefit pension schemes were in deficit after the global financial crisis.
However, rising interest rates have now put most in surplus, making bulk annuities, considered the gold standard for pension safety, more affordable.
Some employers, though, prefer to continue running their pension schemes with the help of investor capital.
“Running schemes on could present an opportunity for members to receive higher benefits and companies to see a return of some of the billions of pounds of contributions they have sunk into UK pension schemes,” said Simon Turner, a partner at consultants Mercer.
M&G confirmed to Reuters via email that it was entering the market.
Davidson Kempner is also considering offering such deals, according to Steeden, Turner, and another source. Davidson Kempner declined to comment.
Investment firm Aspinall Capital Partners pioneered the first capital-backed deal in 2020.
Aspinall’s Chief Investment Officer Michael O’Connor expressed optimism about completing another deal this year and more in 2025, noting significant interest “behind the scenes.”
Pensions specialist Punter Southall, collaborating with private equity firm Carlyle and institutional investors, is working on deals for pension schemes with assets of at least £250 million.
Principal Richard Jones mentioned that their Pension Safeguard Solution had a pipeline of deals and hoped to complete “one, maybe two” this year.
Clara-Pensions, a superfund, is also exploring a capital-backed structure, which does not sever the link between the employer and the pension scheme, according to Turner. Clara declined to comment.
Industry veteran Edi Truell’s Pension SuperFund Capital has offered significant capital for Thames Water’s pension scheme.
Truell mentioned offering “a couple of hundred million” pounds.
Thames Water declined to comment.
While not all capital-backed journey plans are regulated, some may be assessed by The Pensions Regulator.
The regulator plans to publish guidance later this year on issues trustees should consider when choosing such plans, a spokesperson told Reuters.
Demand for these deals is rising as pension schemes reassess their funding positions after the mini-Budget in September 2022, which led to a spike in UK government bond yields and forced pension funds to liquidate assets rapidly.