• Press releases
  • Standard Life completes 200m GBP buy-in transaction with the Agfa Group Pension Plan
  • The Bulk Purchase Annuity is the second buy-in completed between Standard Life and the Agfa UK Group Pension Plan, covering the vast majority of its remaining liabilities

Standard Life, part of Phoenix Group, has concluded a £200 million Bulk Purchase Annuity (“BPA”) transaction with the Agfa UK Group Pension Plan (“the Plan”). This BPA arrangement completed in September, covering the benefits of 770 members.

This transaction forms the second part of the Plan’s de-risking journey, following a £230 million partial buy-in completed in 2021 which covered 70% of the Plan’s pensioner liabilities. Following completion of this transaction, the benefits of the vast majority of members of the Plan are now secured with Standard Life.

Hymans Robertson acted as the lead advisers to the Trustee for this transaction, while legal advice was provided by Squire Patton Boggs LLP.

Rhian Littlewood, Senior Business Development Manager at Standard Life, commented: “The completion of this transaction marks an important milestone for the Plan. We are pleased to have been able to build on the first stage of its de-risking journey undertaken in 2021 by working closely with the Trustee to monitor pricing and affordability. Once the opportunity arose, we moved quickly to complete a transaction within two weeks, which was crucial to locking in long-term security for all Plan members. The premium payment was also structured to accommodate the timescales required to disinvest the assets, while still locking into the price opportunity.”

Tom Clark, The Chair of the Trustee, Agfa UK Group Pension Plan, said: “I am delighted that we have been supported by Agfa, and our advisers Hymans Robertson and Squire Patton Boggs, to enable to us to reach a second buy-in agreement with our chosen provider Standard Life. The partnership with Standard Life has allowed us to make extraordinary progress in our de-risking strategy.”

James Mullins, Partner and Head of Risk Transfer Solutions at Hymans Robertson, said, “We first started working with the Plan’s Trustee in 2016. At that time the Plan was in a tough position with a low funding level, a high level of investment risk and with a sponsoring employer in a mature market. We worked with the Trustee to build a comprehensive strategy to improve the position. Just over six years later, I’m delighted to have been able to help the Trustee to get to a position where they have insured their members’ benefits, capturing two excellent buy-in opportunities with Standard Life along the way.

                                                    -Ends-


 

 

Media enquiries
For further information, photos, video content or interviews, contact:

Jennifer Smallwood/Samantha Griffith
Senior PR Manager/PR Consultant
Standard Life, part of Phoenix Group
07858 367818/07752 465345
Jennifer_Smallwood@standardlife.com/Samantha_Griffith@standardlife.com

Notes to editors

About Standard Life

  • Standard Life is a brand that has been trusted to look after peoples’ life savings for nearly 200 years
  • Today it proudly serves millions of customers who come to Standard Life directly, through advisers and through their employers’ pension scheme
  • Standard Life is part of Phoenix Group, the largest long-term savings and retirement business in the UK. We’re proud to be building on nearly 200 years of Standard Life heritage together
  • Our products include a variety of Pensions, Bonds and Retirement options to suit people’s needs, helping our customers to invest and save for their future. We’re proud to offer a leading range of sustainable and responsible investment options
  • We support our customers on their journey to and through retirement with comprehensive, easy-to-understand guidance so they can invest in the right way for their needs, and plan a future they feel confident about

Share via

Press releases