Full scheme transactions to ‘dominate’ DB bulk annuity landscape in 2023

Full scheme transactions now “dominate” the defined benefit (DB) pensions bulk annuity landscape, constituting all £10bn worth of deals made so far this year, XPS Pension Group has revealed.

XPS’s Bulk Annuity Tracker showed increasing demand for full scheme transactions over the past three years, increasing from below £20bn in 2020 to above £20bn in 2022.

This increased demand for full scheme transactions was attributed by XPS to the “significant” funding gains made last year and concerns about liquidity for those schemes previously contemplating phased pensioner buy-ins.

XPS also provided insight into how much funding levels had increased, with its DB:UK tracker estimating that buyout funding levels increased by 26 per cent for a portfolio of typical schemes, rising from 69 per cent at the start of 2022 to 95 per cent at the end of the same year.

This improved affordability of full buyouts for schemes was attributed to a combination of higher gilt yields, lower cost longevity pricing, insurer competition, and asset outperformance by XPS.

XPS risk settlement partner, Harry Harper, commented: “As a result of improved scheme funding, the bulk annuity market is now busier than it’s ever been, with record volumes in the market and some insurers already in exclusivity arrangements on a number of significant buyout transactions.

“We fully expect 2023 to be a record year, exceeding 2019’s £44bn of transactions. With such high demand, we are seeing insurers become increasingly selective on which deals they’ll bid on, making it more important than ever for schemes to adequately prepare for transactions ahead of going to market.”


This article first appeared on our sister title, Pensions Age.

    Share Story:

Recent Stories


FREE E-NEWS SIGN UP

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive breaking news and other industry announcements by email.

  Please tick here to confirm you are happy to receive third party promotions from carefully selected partners.


Helping the credit challenged get mortgage ready
A rising number of borrowers are finding it harder to access mortgages due to being credit challenged - whether that’s from historic debts, a county court judgment, or having little to no credit history.

In the latest episode of the Mortgage Insider podcast, Phil Spencer is joined by Eloise Hall, Head of National Accounts at Kensington Mortgages, and Alastair Douglas, CEO of TotallyMoney.


Inside the world of high net worth lending
The mortgage market continues to evolve, and so too does the answer to the question: what is a high net worth individual in today’s market? In this episode of the Mortgage Insider podcast, host Phil Spencer is joined by Stephen Moroukian, Head of Product and Proposition for Real Estate Financing at Barclays Private Bank, and Islay Robinson, founder and CEO of Enness Global. Together, they explore what brokers really need to know when supporting high net worth individuals.

The future of the bridging industry and the Autumn Budget
MoneyAge content editor, Dan McGrath, is joined by head of marketing at Black & White Bridging, Matt Horton, to discuss the bridging industry, the impact of the Autumn Budget and what the future holds for the sector.