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The Occupational Pension Schemes (Investment) Regulations 2005

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Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Occupational Pension Schemes (Investment) Regulations 2005 and shall come into force on 30th December 2005.

(2) In these Regulations—

“the 1995 Act” means the Pensions Act 1995;

“the 2004 Act” means the Pensions Act 2004;

“the FSM Act” means the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000M1;

“collective investment scheme” has the same meaning as in Part 17 of the FSM Act, but includes arrangements of the type described in paragraphs 4 and 9 of the Schedule to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Collective Investment Schemes) Order 2001 M2 (arrangements not amounting to a collective investment scheme);

[F1“default arrangement”, means an arrangement, within the meaning of regulation 3 of the Occupational Pension Schemes (Charges and Governance) Regulations 2015 (default arrangement) which would be a default arrangement within the meaning of that regulation if that regulation were modified as follows-

(a)

in paragraph (1)(a) omit “qualifying”, and for “relevant jobholders” substitute “workers”;

(b)

in paragraph (2)(b) omit “subject to paragraph (3),”;

(c)

omit paragraphs [F2(3), (4), (6)(a), (7) and (8)]; and

(d)

in paragraph [F3(9)]-

(i)

in the definition of “relevant date” omit the words after “regulation 1(2)”; and

(ii)

omit the definitions of “relevant jobholder” and “staging date”;]

“employer-related loan” has for the purposes of regulations 12, 14 and 15 the meaning given in regulation 12(4);

“insurance policy” means a contract of a kind referred to in [F4Article 2(3) of the Solvency 2 Directive, but excluding a contract of a kind referred to in Article 2(3)(b)(iii) or (iv) of that Directive];

F5...

“qualifying insurance policy” means an insurance policy issued by an insurer which is—

(a)

a person who has permission under Part 4 of the FSM Act to effect or carry out contracts of long-term insurance; F6...

(b)

F6...

[F1“relevant scheme” has the same meaning as in the Occupational Pension Schemes (Administration) Regulations 1996;]

“recognised stock exchange” has the same meaning as in section 841 of the Taxes Act;

F7...

“scheme” (except in the expression “collective investment scheme”) means an occupational pension scheme;

“small scheme” means a scheme with fewer than 12 members, where—

(a)

all the members are trustees of the scheme and either—

(i)

the provisions of the scheme provide that all decisions which fall to be made by the trustees are made [F8by the unanimous agreement of] the trustees who are members of the scheme, or

(ii)

the scheme has a trustee who is independent in relation to the scheme for the purposes of section 23 of the 1995 Act M3 (power to appoint independent trustees), and is registered in the register maintained by the Authority in accordance with regulations made under subsection (4) of that section; or

(b)

all the members are directors of a company which is the sole trustee of the scheme, and either—

(i)

the provisions of the scheme provide that any decisions made by the company in its capacity as trustee are made by the unanimous agreement of all the directors who are members of the scheme, or

(ii)

one of the directors of the company is independent in relation to the scheme for the purposes of section 23 of the 1995 Act, and is registered in the register maintained by the Authority in accordance with regulations made under subsection (4) of that section;

[F9 “the Solvency 2 Directive” means Directive 2009/138/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the taking-up and pursuit of the business of Insurance and Reinsurance (Solvency II); ]

“specified qualifying insurance policy” means a qualifying insurance policy which is a contract falling within paragraph III of Part II of Schedule 1 to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001M4;

“Taxes Act” means the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 M5.

(3) Regulations 12(4)(b), 13(3) and 15(1) must be read with—

(a)section 22 of the FSM Act (classes of activity and categories of investment);

(b)any relevant order under that section; and

(c)Schedule 2 to that Act (regulated activities).

(4) Subject to paragraph (5), in these Regulations, and for the purposes of section 35 (investment principles) and section 40 (restriction on employer-related investments) of the 1995 Act, “employer”, in relation to a scheme which has no active members, includes every person who was the employer of persons in the description of employment to which the scheme relates immediately before the time at which the scheme ceased to have any active members in relation to it.

(5) In these Regulations [F10, save in relation to regulation 16A], “employer”, in relation to a multi-employer scheme, or a section of a multi-employer scheme, includes—

(a)in the case of a scheme which has no active members, every person who was the employer of persons in the description of employment to which the scheme, or section, relates immediately before the time at which the scheme, or section, ceased to have any active members in relation to it unless after that time—

(i)a debt under section 75 of the 1995 Act M6 (deficiencies in the assets) becomes due from that person to the scheme, or section; and

(ii)either—

(aa)the full amount of the debt has been paid by that person to the trustees or managers of the scheme, or section; or

(bb)in circumstances where a legally enforceable agreement has been entered into between that person and the trustees or managers of the scheme, or section, the effect of which is to reduce the amount which is payable in respect of the debt, the reduced amount of the debt has been paid in full by that person to those trustees or managers; and

(b)in any other case, any person who has ceased to be the employer of persons in the description of employment to which the scheme, or section, relates unless—

(i)at the time when he so ceased, the scheme, or section, was not being wound up and continued to have active members in relation to it; and

(ii)a debt under section 75 of the 1995 Act became due at that time from that person to the scheme, or section, and either—

(aa)the full amount of the debt has been paid by that person to the trustees or managers of the scheme, or section; or

(bb)in circumstances where a legally enforceable agreement has been entered into between that person and the trustees or managers of the scheme, or section, the effect of which is to reduce the amount which is payable in respect of the debt, the reduced amount of the debt has been paid in full by that person to those trustees or managers.

Textual Amendments

F5Words in reg. 1(2) omitted (1.1.2016) by virtue of The Solvency 2 Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/575), reg. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 24(2)(a)

Marginal Citations

M2S.I. 2001/1062; paragraph 9(1)(a) was substituted by S.I. 2001/3650.

M3This section was substituted by section 36(4) of the 2004 Act.

M6Section 75 was amended by section 271 of the 2004 Act.

Statement of investment principles

2.—(1) The trustees of a trust scheme must secure that the statement of investment principles prepared for the scheme under section 35 of the 1995 Act is reviewed—

(a)at least every three years; and

(b)without delay after any significant change in investment policy.

(2) Before preparing or revising a statement of investment principles, the trustees of a trust scheme must—

(a)obtain and consider the written advice of a person who is reasonably believed by the trustees to be qualified by his ability in and practical experience of financial matters and to have the appropriate knowledge and experience of the management of the investments of such schemes; and

(b)consult the employer.

(3) A statement of investment principles must be in writing and must cover at least the following matters—

(a)the trustees' policy for securing compliance with the requirements of section 36 of the 1995 Act (choosing investments);

(b)their policies in relation to—

(i)the kinds of investments to be held;

(ii)the balance between different kinds of investments;

(iii)risks, including the ways in which risks are to be measured and managed;

(iv)the expected return on investments;

(v)the realisation of investments; F11...

[F12(vi)financially material considerations over the appropriate time horizon of the investments, including how those considerations are taken into account in the selection, retention and realisation of investments; and]

[F13(vii)the extent (if at all) to which non-financial matters are taken into account in the selection, retention and realisation of investments; F14...]

[F15(c)their policy in relation to—

(i)the exercise of the rights (including voting rights) attaching to the investments; and

(ii)undertaking engagement activities in respect of the investments (including the methods by which, and the circumstances under which, trustees would monitor and engage with relevant persons about relevant matters) [F16and]]

[F17(d)their policy in relation to the trustees’ arrangement with any asset manager, setting out the following matters or explaining the reasons why any of the following matters are not set out—

(i)how the arrangement with the asset manager incentivises the asset manager to align its investment strategy and decisions with the trustees’ policies mentioned in sub-paragraph (b);

(ii)how that arrangement incentivises the asset manager to make decisions based on assessments about medium to long-term financial and non-financial performance of an issuer of debt or equity and to engage with issuers of debt or equity in order to improve their performance in the medium to long-term;

(iii)how the method (and time horizon) of the evaluation of the asset manager’s performance and the remuneration for asset management services are in line with the trustees’ policies mentioned in sub-paragraph (b);

(iv)how the trustees monitor portfolio turnover costs incurred by the asset manager, and how they define and monitor targeted portfolio turnover or turnover range; and

(v)the duration of the arrangement with the asset manager.]

[F18(4) For the purposes of this regulation—

“appropriate time horizon” means the length of time that the trustees of a trust scheme consider is needed for the funding of future benefits by the investments of the scheme;

“beneficiaries” means a person, other than a member of the trust scheme, who is entitled to the payment of benefits under the scheme;

“financially material considerations” includes (but is not limited to) environmental, social and governance considerations (including but not limited to climate change), which the trustees of the trust scheme consider financially material;

“non-financial matters” means the views of the members and beneficiaries including (but not limited to) their ethical views and their views in relation to social and environmental impact and present and future quality of life of the members and beneficiaries of the trust scheme;

[F19“portfolio turnover costs” means the costs incurred as a result of the buying, selling, lending or borrowing of investments;]

“relevant matters” includes (but is not limited to) matters concerning an issuer of debt or equity, including their performance, strategy, [F20capital structure, management of actual or potential conflicts of interest,] risks, social and environmental impact and corporate governance; and

“relevant persons” includes (but is not limited to) an issuer of debt or equity, an investment manager, [F21another stakeholder] or another holder of debt or equity.]

[F22“stakeholder” means a person or a group of persons who has an interest in the issuer of debt or equity;

“targeted portfolio turnover” means the frequency within which the assets of the scheme are expected to be bought or sold;

“time horizon” means the time period over which the trustees evaluate the performance of the asset manager; and

“turnover range” means the minimum and maximum frequency within which the assets of the scheme are expected to be bought or sold.]

Textual Amendments

F14Word in reg. 2(3)(b)(vii) omitted by virtue of S.I. 2018/988, reg. 4(2)(a)(iii) (as amended) (1.10.2019) by virtue of The Occupational Pension Schemes (Investment and Disclosure) (Amendment) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/982), regs. 1(2), 4(2)(a)(i)(aa) (with reg. 5)

[F23Additional requirements in relation to default arrangement

2A.—(1) The trustees or managers of a relevant scheme must prepare a statement of the investment principles governing decisions about investments for the purposes of the default arrangement, and that statement must be in writing and must cover at least the following matters—

(a)the aims and objectives of the trustees or managers in respect of such investments;

[F24(aa)their policy in relation to investment in illiquid assets;]

(b)their policies in relation to the matters mentioned in regulation 2(3)(b) [F25and, if that scheme has 100 or more members, regulation 2(3)(c) and (d)] in respect of the default arrangement; and

(c)an explanation of how the aims and objectives mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) [F26, the policy mentioned in sub-paragraph (aa)] and the policies mentioned in sub-paragraph (b) (together “the default strategy”) are intended to ensure that assets are invested in the best interests of the group of persons consisting of relevant members and relevant beneficiaries.

[F27(1A) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(aa), their policy in relation to investment in illiquid assets must include—

(a)a statement as to whether or not investments held for the purposes of the default arrangement will include illiquid assets;

(b)where those investments will include illiquid assets—

(i)a description of the age profile of those members in respect of whom investments will be held in illiquid assets;

(ii)an explanation of whether investments will be held directly in illiquid assets, or via a collective investment scheme;

(iii)an explanation of the types of illiquid assets in which investments will be held; and

(iv)an explanation of why the trustees or managers have a policy of investing in illiquid assets including their assessment of the advantages to members of investing in illiquid assets, when compared to investments in other classes of assets;

(c)where those investments will not include illiquid assets, an explanation of why the trustees or managers have a policy of not investing in illiquid assets; and

(d)an explanation of whether the trustees have any plans to invest in illiquid assets or increase their investment in illiquid assets, in the future.]

(2) The trustees or managers must review both the default strategy and the performance of the default arrangement—

(a)at least every three years; and

(b)without delay after any significant change in—

(i)investment policy; or

(ii)the demographic profile of relevant members.

(3) The trustees or managers must, in particular, review the extent to which the return on investments relating to the default arrangement (after deduction of any charges [F28and transaction costs] relating to those investments) is consistent with the aims and objectives of the trustees or managers in respect of the default arrangement.

(4) The trustees or managers must revise the statement prepared in accordance with paragraph (1) after every review unless they decide that no action is needed as a result of the review in paragraph (3).

(5) For the purposes of this regulation and regulation 4A, a person is a relevant member or a relevant beneficiary if assets relating to that member or, as the case may be, that beneficiary (as defined in regulation 4), are invested in the default arrangement.

[F29(6) For the purposes of this regulation, “transaction costs” has the meaning given in regulation 2(1) of the Occupational Pension Schemes (Charges and Governance) Regulations 2015.]

[F30(6A) For the purposes of this regulation “illiquid assets” means assets of a type which cannot easily or quickly be sold or exchanged for cash and where assets are invested in a collective investment scheme, includes any such assets held by the collective investment scheme;]

[F31(7) This regulation does not apply to a scheme or a section of a scheme which is a collective money purchase scheme for the purposes of Part 1 of the Pension Schemes Act 2021.]]

Textual Amendments

[F32Additional requirements in relation to qualifying collective money purchase schemes

2B.—(1) The trustees of a qualifying collective money purchase scheme must ensure that the statement of investment principles prepared under section 35 of the 1995 Act covers their policy in relation to investment in illiquid assets with respect to assets held for the purposes of the qualifying collective money purchase scheme.

(2) For the purposes of this regulation, their policy in relation to investment in illiquid assets must include—

(a)a statement as to whether or not investments held for the purposes of the qualifying collective money purchase scheme will include illiquid assets;

(b)where those investments will include illiquid assets—

(i)a description of the age profile of those members in respect of whom investments will be held in illiquid assets;

(ii)an explanation of whether investments will be held in respect of the qualifying collective money purchase scheme directly in illiquid assets, or via a collective investment scheme;

(iii)an explanation of the types of illiquid assets in which investments will be held; and

(iv)an explanation of why the trustees have a policy of investing in illiquid assets including their assessment of the advantages to members of the qualifying collective money purchase scheme of investing in illiquid assets, when compared to investments in other classes of assets;

(c)where those investments will not include illiquid assets, an explanation of why the trustees have a policy of not investing in illiquid assets; and

(d)an explanation of whether the trustees have any plans to invest in illiquid assets or increase their investment in illiquid assets for the purposes of the qualifying collective money purchase scheme, in the future.

(3) For the purposes of this regulation—

“illiquid assets” has the same meaning as in regulation 2A(6A); and

“qualifying collective money purchase scheme” has the meaning given in regulation 2(1) of the Occupational Pension Schemes (Charges and Governance) Regulations 2015.]

Textual Amendments

Application of regulation 2 in relation to multi-employer schemes

3.—(1) In the application of regulation 2 to a scheme in relation to which there is more than one employer, the requirement imposed by paragraph (2)(b) of that regulation—

(a)where a person has been nominated by all the employers to act as their representative for the purposes of that paragraph, is to consult that person;

(b)where no person has been so nominated but the employers have not all notified the trustees that they need to be consulted, is (subject to paragraph (2)) to consult all the employers; and

(c)where no person has been so nominated and the employers have all notified the trustees that they need not be consulted, does not apply.

(2) Where the trustees specify a reasonable period (not being less than 28 days) within which they must receive representations from the employers, sub-paragraph (1)(b) does not require them to consider any representations received after the end of that period.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

Investment by trustees

4.—(1) The trustees of a trust scheme must exercise their powers of investment, and any fund manager to whom any discretion has been delegated under section 34 of the 1995 Act M7 (power of investment and delegation) must exercise the discretion, in accordance with the following provisions of this regulation.

(2) The assets must be invested—

(a)in the best interests of members and beneficiaries; and

(b)in the case of a potential conflict of interest, in the sole interest of members and beneficiaries.

(3) The powers of investment, or the discretion, must be exercised in a manner calculated to ensure the security, quality, liquidity and profitability of the portfolio as a whole.

(4) Assets held to cover the scheme's technical provisions must also be invested in a manner appropriate to the nature and duration of the expected future retirement benefits payable under the scheme.

(5) The assets of the scheme must consist predominantly of investments admitted to trading on regulated markets.

(6) Investment in assets which are not admitted to trading on such markets must in any event be kept to a prudent level.

(7) The assets of the scheme must be properly diversified in such a way as to avoid excessive reliance on any particular asset, issuer or group of undertakings and so as to avoid accumulations of risk in the portfolio as a whole. Investments in assets issued by the same issuer or by issuers belonging to the same group must not expose the scheme to excessive risk concentration.

(8) Investment in derivative instruments may be made only in so far as they—

(a)contribute to a reduction of risks; or

(b)facilitate efficient portfolio management (including the reduction of cost or the generation of additional capital or income with an acceptable level of risk),

and any such investment must be made and managed so as to avoid excessive risk exposure to a single counterparty and to other derivative operations.

(9) For the purposes of paragraph (5)—

(a)an investment in a collective investment scheme shall be treated as an investment on a regulated market to the extent that the investments held by that scheme are themselves so invested; and

(b)a qualifying insurance policy shall be treated as an investment on a regulated market.

(10) To the extent that the assets of a scheme consist of qualifying insurance policies, those policies shall be treated as satisfying the requirement for proper diversification when considering the diversification of assets as a whole in accordance with paragraph (7).

(11) In this regulation—

“beneficiary”, in relation to a scheme, means a person, other than a member of the scheme, who is entitled to the payment of benefits under the scheme:

“derivative instrument” includes any of the instruments listed in paragraphs (4) to (10) [F33of Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001]M8;

“regulated market” means—

(a)

F34...

(b)

[F35a UK regulated market or an EU regulated market within the meaning of Article 2.1.13A and 2.1.13B respectively of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on markets in financial instruments; or]

(c)

any other market for financial instruments—

(i)

which operates regularly;

(ii)

which is recognised by the relevant regulatory authorities;

(iii)

in respect of which there are adequate arrangements for unimpeded transmission of income and capital to or to the order of investors; and

(iv)

in respect of which adequate custody arrangements can be provided for investments when they are dealt in on that market;

“technical provisions” has the meaning given by section 222(2) of the 2004 Act (the statutory funding objective).

Textual Amendments

Marginal Citations

M7Section 34 was amended by section 5 of the Trustee Delegation Act 1999 (c. 15), by paragraph 49 of Schedule 12 to the 2004 Act and by S.I. 2001/3649.

M8OJ No. L145, 30.04.2004 pl.

[F36Investments relating to a default arrangement

4A.  Where regulation 4(2) does not apply to a relevant scheme, the assets allocated to the scheme’s default arrangement must be invested—

(a)in the best interests of relevant members and relevant beneficiaries; and

(b)in the case of a potential conflict of interest, in the sole interest of those members and beneficiaries.]

Textual Amendments

Borrowing and guarantees by trustees

5.—(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the trustees of a trust scheme, and a fund manager to whom any discretion has been delegated under section 34 of the 1995 Act, must not borrow money or act as a guarantor in respect of the obligations of another person where the borrowing is liable to be repaid, or liability under a guarantee is liable to be satisfied, out of the assets of the scheme.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not preclude borrowing made only for the purpose of providing liquidity for the scheme and on a temporary basis.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

Disapplication of section 35 of the 1995 Act and of regulations 2 [F37, 2B] and 3 in respect of certain schemes

6.—(1) Section 35 of the 1995 Act and regulations 2 [F38, 2B] and 3 do not apply to any of the following schemes—

(a)a scheme which has fewer than 100 members; or

(b)a scheme which—

(i)is established by or under an enactment (including a local Act), and

(ii)is guaranteed by a public authority.

(2) In this regulation—

“enactment” includes an enactment comprised in, or in an instrument made under, an Act of the Scottish Parliament;

“local authority” means—

(a)

in relation to England, a county council, a district council, a London borough council, the Greater London Authority, the Common Council of the City of London in its capacity as a local authority or the Council of the Isles of Scilly;

(b)

in relation to Wales, a county council or county borough council;

(c)

in relation to Scotland, a council constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 M9 (constitution of councils);

(d)

an administering authority as defined in Schedule 1 to the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 1997 M10 (interpretation);

“public authority” means—

(a)

a Minister of the Crown (within the meaning of the Ministers of the Crown Act 1975) M11;

(b)

a government department (including any body or authority exercising statutory functions on behalf of the Crown);

(c)

the Scottish Ministers;

(d)

the National Assembly for Wales, or

(e)

a local authority.

Textual Amendments

Marginal Citations

Disapplication of regulations 4 and 5 in respect of schemes with fewer than 100 members

7.—(1) Regulations 4 and 5 do not apply to a scheme which has fewer than 100 members.

(2) Where regulation 4 does not apply to a scheme by virtue only of paragraph (1), the trustees of the scheme in exercising their powers of investment, and any fund manager to whom any discretion has been delegated under section 34 of the 1995 Act in exercising the discretion, must have regard to the need for diversification of investments, in so far as appropriate to the circumstances of the scheme.

Modification of regulation 2 in respect of wholly-insured schemes

8.—(1) Where, on the preparation or revision of a statement of investment principles under regulation 2, a scheme is a wholly-insured scheme and the trustees do not consider that it should cease to be such a scheme—

(a)sub-paragraphs [F39(b), (c) and (d)] of regulation 2(3) shall not apply; and

(b)the statement of investment principles must cover the reasons for the scheme being a wholly-insured scheme.

(2) In this regulation, “wholly-insured scheme” means a trust scheme, other than a stakeholder pension scheme within the meaning of section 1 of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 M12 (meaning of “stakeholder pension scheme”), which has no investments other than specified qualifying insurance policies.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2), “investments” shall not include—

(a)cash held on deposit by the trustees or managers pending payment to the insurer or to members of the scheme;

(b)cash held on deposit by the trustees or managers to meet accrued liabilities or administrative expenses; or

(c)any investments arising from voluntary contributions.

Textual Amendments

Marginal Citations

Partial disapplication of regulation 4 in respect of schemes being wound up

9.—(1) The requirements of paragraphs (3) to (7) of regulation 4 shall apply in respect of a scheme which is being wound up except to the extent that—

(a)they conflict with any obligations placed on the trustees arising in consequence of the winding up under or by virtue of the 1995 Act or the 2004 Act, or

(b)it is not reasonably practicable to give effect to them having regard to circumstances in connection with the winding up.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), a scheme shall be taken to be being wound up during the period which—

(a)begins with the day on which the time immediately after the beginning of the winding up of the scheme falls, and

(b)ends when the winding up of the scheme is completed.

Connected and associated persons

10.—(1) Section 249 of the Insolvency Act 1986 M13 (connected persons) shall be modified in its application for the purposes of section 40 of the 1995 Act (restriction on employer-related investments) and these Regulations so that a company shall not be connected with another company solely by reason of one or more of its directors being a director of that other company.

(2) Section 74 of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985 M14 (associated persons) shall be modified in its application for the purposes of section 40 of the 1995 Act and these Regulations to apply as if it contained the same provisions as sections 249 (as modified by paragraph (1)) and 435 (associated persons) of the Insolvency Act 1986.

Marginal Citations

Prescription of investments as employer-related investments

11.  For the purposes of section 40(2)(e) of the 1995 Act, the following are prescribed as employer-related investments—

(a)the proportion attributable to the scheme's resources (whether directly or through any intervening collective investment scheme) of any investments which—

(i)have been made by the operator of any collective investment scheme, and

(ii)would have been employer-related investments if they had been made by the scheme;

(b)any guarantee of, or security given to secure, obligations of the employer or of any person who is connected with, or an associate of, the employer, and for the purposes of section 40 of the 1995 Act and these Regulations a guarantee or security given by the trustees or managers shall be regarded as an investment of resources of the scheme equal to the amount of the obligations guaranteed or secured;

(c)any loan arrangement entered into with any person whereby the trustees' or managers' right to or expectation of repayment depends on the employer's actions or situation, unless it was not the trustees' or managers' purpose in entering into the arrangement to provide financial assistance to the employer;

(d)where any of a scheme's resources are invested in an insurance policy the terms of which permit—

(i)the premiums or other consideration for the rights acquired under the policy, or

(ii)any monies otherwise credited to or for the benefit of the trustees or managers or the members,

to be invested in a fund created only for the purposes of that policy, the proportion of the scheme's resources invested in that policy which is the same proportion as B is of A where—

  • A represents all the assets of the insurer held in the fund, and

  • B represents that part of A which would, if invested by the scheme, be employer-related investments; and

(e)where any of a scheme's resources are invested in an insurance policy (not being resources invested in a fund created only for the purposes of that policy) the terms of which permit the trustees or managers or the employer to direct that—

(i)some or all of the premiums or other consideration for the rights acquired under the policy, or

(ii)any monies otherwise credited to or for the benefit of the trustees or managers or the members,

are invested in employer-related investments, any investments made by the insurer from those premiums or other consideration or monies, which would have been employer-related investments if they had been made by the scheme.

Restrictions on employer-related investments

12.—(1) This regulation [F40applies to schemes] except small schemes.

[F41(2) Subject to regulations [F4213, 16, 16A and 16B], not more than five per cent. of the current market value of the resources of a scheme may at any time be invested in employer-related investments.

(2A) Subject to regulations 14, 15, [F4315A, 16, 16A and 16B], none of the resources of a scheme may at any time be invested in any employer-related loan.

(2B) Subject to [F44regulations 16 and 16A], employer-related loans under regulations 14, [F4515, 15A, 16A(9) and 16B] are to be regarded as employer-related investments for the purposes of determining the percentage of a scheme’s resources invested in employer-related investments under paragraph (2).]

(3) [F46Subject to regulations 16A and 16B,] none of the resources of a scheme may at any time be invested in any employer-related investment the making of which involves the entering by the trustees or managers into a transaction at an undervalue where the agreement to enter into that transaction was made on or after the 6th April 1997.

(4) In this regulation and in regulations [F4714, 15 and 15A] “employer-related loan” means—

(a)a loan mentioned in section 40(2)(d) of the 1995 Act (including, for the purposes of this regulation only, one which falls within section 40(2)(d) by virtue of section 40(3) of that Act);

(b)a security mentioned in section 40(2)(a) of the 1995 Act which is an instrument creating or acknowledging indebtedness, except any such security which is listed on a recognised stock exchange; and

(c)an employer-related investment prescribed as such by regulation 11(b) or (11)(c).

(5) In paragraph (3), “transaction at an undervalue” has the same meaning in relation to trustees and managers as it has in section 238(4) of the Insolvency Act 1986 (transactions at an undervalue (England and Wales)) in relation to a company to which that section applies.

Textual Amendments

Investments to which restrictions do not apply

13.—(1) Regulation 12(1) shall not restrict or prohibit investments to which this regulation applies.

F48(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F49(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F50(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5) This regulation applies to sums due from the employer to the trustees by virtue of a provision in an order under section 7 of the 1995 Act M15 (appointment of trustees) such as is permitted by section 8(1) of that Act M16 (orders appointing trustees may provide that certain sums are to be treated as a debt due from the employer to the trustees).

(6) This regulation applies to sums which fall or fell to be treated as debts due from the employer to the trustees or managers by virtue of—

(a)section 75(2) and (4) of the 1995 Act M17 (deficiencies in the assets);

(b)section 88(2) of the 1995 Act M18 (schedules of payments to money purchase schemes: supplementary – amounts not paid in accordance with the payment schedule); F51...

(c)section 228(3) of the 2004 Act (failure to make payments)[F52;

(d)section 59(2) of the 1995 Act (determination of contributions: supplementary); or

(e)section 60(5) of the 1995 Act (serious underprovision),]

and to sums which would fall to be so treated by virtue of any of those sections were they not already debts due from the employer to the trustees or managers.

F53(7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F54(8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F55(9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(10) Subject to paragraph (11), where the disposal of assets on the winding up of a scheme would otherwise result in a contravention of these Regulations [F56and where it would not be reasonably practicable to otherwise dispose of them], any employer-related investments held before the commencement of the winding up may be retained while the scheme is being wound up, but there shall be no new investment in employer-related investments while the resources retained under this paragraph exceed five per cent. of the current market value of the resources of the scheme.

(11) Paragraph (10) does not apply to permit the retention of—

(a)employer-related investments which were, prior to the commencement of the winding up, held in contravention of these Regulations or of the Occupational Pension Schemes (Investment) Regulations 1996 M19; or

(b)employer-related loans to which regulation 14(2)(c) applies.

(12) This regulation applies to a loan to the employer or a company associated with the employer, if the scheme has fewer than 100 members, and—

(a)the scheme provides benefits for directors of a company which is the employer, or such directors and others;

(b)there is a qualifying insurance policy taken out under the scheme which is specifically allocated to the provision of benefits under the scheme and the directors' interests under which are used as security for the loan;

(c)Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs' requirements concerning the loan have been satisfied;

(d)the directors agreeing to the interests under the policy concerned being used as security for the loan have so agreed in writing, and

(e)the loan was made and the security given before 9th August 1999.

F57(13) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Marginal Citations

M15Section 7 was amended by section 35(1) of the 2004 Act.

M16Section 8 was substituted by section 35(2) of the 2004 Act.

M17Section 75 was amended by section 271 of the 2004 Act.

M18Section 88 was amended by paragraph 65 of Schedule 12 to the 2004 Act.

M19S.I. 1996/3127; those Regulations were amended by the other instruments referred to in the Schedule to these Regulations.

Transitional provisions

14.—(1) Where on the 6th April 1997 the resources of a scheme were invested in—

(a)employer-related loans (including such loans as are mentioned in regulation 5(2)(a) of the Occupational Pension Schemes (Investment of Scheme's Resources) Regulations 1992 M20 (“the 1992 Regulations”) which were in being on 18th December 1996 and to which regulation 13 does not apply; or

F58(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

those investments may be retained in accordance with paragraph (2).

(2) To the extent that the employer-related investments mentioned in paragraph (1) consist of—

(a)employer-related loans to which regulation 5(2)(a) of the 1992 Regulations applied before 6th April 1997, they may, where by virtue of contractual or other legal obligations repayment cannot be required immediately, be retained until the earliest date on which repayment can be enforced;

(b)securities of the type referred to in regulation 12(4)(b) which, immediately before 6th April 1997, were employer-related investments and—

(i)regulation 5(2)(d) of the 1992 Regulations applied to them; or

(ii)they were investments which did not contravene the 1992 Regulations,

they may be held until the earliest date on which having regard to contractual and other legal obligations, disinvestment may be effected;

(c)an employer-related loan the terms of which have, before 1st January 1996, been specifically approved by a court having jurisdiction in relation to the scheme as being in the interests of the members of the scheme, then, provided that the terms of the loan as so approved are not changed, such part of the loan, repayment of which cannot be required other than on the commencement of the winding up of the scheme, may be retained until the winding up of the scheme commences;

(d)any employer-related loans which do not contravene the 1992 Regulations and to which sub-paragraphs (a) to (c) do not apply, they may be retained until the earliest date on which having regard to the contractual and other legal obligations repayment can be enforced;

F59(e). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) If any investment referred to in paragraph (2) is listed on a recognised stock exchange, it may be retained for a period of no more than six months beginning with the date on which it was listed.

(4) There shall be no new investment in employer-related investments while the resources of a scheme retained in employer-related investments (other than investments authorised by regulation 13) exceed five per cent. of the current market value of the resources of the scheme.

(5) In this regulation—

“loans” does not include any sums regarded as loans under section 40(3) of the 1995 Act (restrictions on employer-related investments); and

“retained”, in relation to a loan, means left undischarged.

Textual Amendments

Marginal Citations

M20S.I. 1992/246; those Regulations were revoked by S.I. 1996/3127.

Loans that become employer-related

15.—(1) If either a loan or a security which is an investment creating or acknowledging a debt becomes an employer-related loan on or after 6th April 1997 as a result of a change in the ownership of the employer or the person to whom the loan was made, the loan or security may be retained until whichever is the latest of—

(a)the date falling two years after the date on which it became an employer-related loan; or

(b)where repayment cannot by virtue of contractual or other legal obligations be required or, in the case of securities, disinvestment effected before the date mentioned in sub-paragraph (a), the earliest date on which repayment can be enforced, or disinvestment effected.

(2) In paragraph (1)—

(a)“loan” does not include any sum regarded as a loan under section 40(3) of the 1995 Act; and

(b)“retained” means left undischarged.

[F60Deposits

15A.—(1) Regulation 12(2A) shall not prohibit an investment in paragraph (2) of this regulation to the extent that it can be construed as an employer-related loan mentioned in [F61regulations 12(4) or 16A(5)] of these Regulations.

(2) This regulation applies to any employer-related investment of resources in an account (including a current, deposit or shared account) with—

(a)a person who has permission under Part 4 of the FSM Act (permission to carry on regulated activities) to accept deposits;

F62(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . or

(c)the Bank of England.]

Textual Amendments

Multi-employer schemes

16.—(1) Where a scheme in relation to which there is more than one employer is divided into two or more sections and the provisions of the scheme are such that—

(a)different sections of the scheme apply to different employers or groups of employers (whether or not more than one section applies to any particular employer or groups including any particular employer);

(b)contributions payable to the scheme by an employer, or by a member in employment under that employer, are allocated to that employer's section (or, if more than one section applies to the employer, to the section which is appropriate in respect of the employment in question); and

(c)a specified part or proportion of the assets of the scheme is attributable to each section and cannot be used for the purposes of any other section,

then regulations 10 to [F6315A] shall apply as if each section of the scheme were a separate scheme.

(2) Where—

(a)a scheme which has been such a scheme as is mentioned in paragraph (1) is divided into two or more sections some or all of which apply only to members who are not in pensionable service under the section; and

(b)the provisions of the scheme have not been amended so as to prevent the conditions mentioned in paragraph (1)(a) to (c) being satisfied in relation to two or more sections; but

(c)those conditions have ceased to be satisfied in relation to one or more sections (whether before or after 6th April 1997) by reason only of there being no members in pensionable service under the section and no contributions which are to be allocated to it,

then regulations 10 to [F6415A] shall apply as if the section in relation to which those conditions have ceased to be satisfied were a separate scheme.

(3) For the purposes of paragraphs (1) and (2), there shall be disregarded any provisions of the scheme by virtue of which contributions or transfers of assets may be made to make provision for death benefits; and where paragraph (1) or (2) applies and contributions or transfers are so made to a section (“the death benefits section”) the assets of which may only be applied for the provision of death benefits, the death benefits section shall also be treated as if it were a separate scheme for the purposes of regulations 10 to [F6515A].

(4) For the purposes of paragraphs (1) to (3), there shall be disregarded any provisions of the scheme by virtue of which on the winding up of the scheme assets attributable to one section may be used for the purposes of another section.

(5) [F66Subject to regulations 16A and 16B,] where there is more than one employer in relation to a scheme (other than a scheme to which paragraph (1) or (2) applies), and at least two of those employers are persons who are neither a company nor a person connected with that company nor associates of each other—

(a)regulation [F6712(2)] shall apply with the substitution for the words “employer-related investments” of the words “ investments which are employer-related investments in relation to a particular employer, and employer-related investments overall must not exceed a prudent level and in any event must not exceed 20 per cent. of the current market value of the scheme ”; and

(b)for regulation 14(4) there shall be substituted—

“(4) There shall be no new investment in employer-related investments while—

(a)the resources of a scheme retained in investments which are employer-related investments in relation to a particular employer (other than investments authorised by regulation 13) exceed five per cent. of the current market value of the resources of the scheme; or

(b)more than 20 per cent. overall of the current market value of the resources of the scheme is retained under this regulation in employer-related investments.”.

Textual Amendments

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

[F68Authorised Master Trust schemes

16A.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), this regulation applies to a scheme which is—

(a)a Master Trust scheme to which Part 1 of the Pension Schemes Act 2017 (Master Trusts) applies (and where that scheme provides money purchase benefits in conjunction with other benefits, references to that scheme are to the scheme only to the extent that it provides money purchase benefits);

(b)authorised in accordance with section 5(4)(a) of the Pension Schemes Act 2017 (decision on application for authorisation of a Master Trust scheme); and

(c)used by 500 or more employers.

(2) This regulation continues to apply to a scheme during any period of less than two years in which the number of employers using the scheme falls below 500.

(3) If a scheme to which this regulation applies ceases to be authorised in accordance with section 5(4)(a) of the Pension Schemes Act 2017, this regulation continues to apply to the scheme until the date which is two years after the date on which a decision to withdraw authorisation from the scheme becomes final in accordance with section 35 of the Pension Schemes Act 2017 (when a decision to withdraw authorisation becomes final).

(4) For the purposes of determining whether the scheme complies with regulation 12(2) (restrictions on employer-related investments), “employer-related investments” means—

(a)shares or other securities issued by a relevant person;

(b)land which is occupied or used by, or subject to a lease in favour of, a relevant person;

(c)property (other than land) which is used for the purposes of any business carried on by a relevant person;

(d)loans to a relevant person;

(e)any guarantee of, or security given to secure, obligations of a relevant person, and for the purposes of section 40 of the 1995 Act and these Regulations a guarantee or security given by the trustees or managers shall be regarded as an investment of resources of the scheme equal to the amount of the obligations guaranteed or secured;

(f)any loan arrangement entered into with any person whereby the trustees’ or managers’ right to or expectation of repayment depends on the actions or situation of a relevant person, unless it was not the trustees’ or managers’ purpose in entering into the arrangement to provide financial assistance to the relevant person;

(g)the proportion attributable to the scheme’s resources (whether directly or through any intervening collective investment scheme) of any investments which—

(i)have been made by the operator of any collective investment scheme, and

(ii)would, if they had been made by the scheme, have met any of the descriptions set out in sub-paragraphs (a) to (f);

(h)where any of a scheme’s resources are invested in an insurance policy that meets the description set out in regulation 11(d), the proportion of the scheme’s resources invested in that policy which is the same proportion as B is of A where—

  • A represents all the assets of the insurer held in the fund, and

  • B represents that part of A which would, if invested by the scheme, have met any of the descriptions set out in sub-paragraphs (a) to (f); and

(i)where any of a scheme’s resources are invested in an insurance policy that meets the description set out in regulation 11(e), any investments made by the insurer from the premiums or other consideration or monies described in regulation 11(e), which would have met any of the descriptions set out in sub-paragraphs (a) to (f) if they had been made by the scheme.

(5) For the purposes of determining whether the scheme complies with regulation 12(2A) and for the purposes of regulation 12(2B), “employer-related loan” means—

(a)a loan to a relevant person (including one which falls within this description by virtue of section 40(3) of the 1995 Act);

(b)a security described in paragraph (4)(a) which is an instrument creating or acknowledging indebtedness, except any such security which is listed on a recognised stock exchange;

(c)an employer-related investment prescribed as such by regulation 11(b), which meets the description set out in paragraph (4)(e); and

(d)an employer-related investment prescribed as such by regulation 11(c), which meets the description set out in paragraph (4)(f).

(6) For the purposes of regulation 12(3), “employer-related investment” has the meaning set out in paragraph (4).

(7) In regulation 13(10) (investments to which restrictions do not apply), “employer-related investments” has the meaning set out in paragraph (4).

(8) Regulation 16(5)(a) (multi-employer schemes) applies with the omission of “and in any event must not exceed 20 per cent of the current market value of the scheme”.

(9) If an investment falls within the definition of “employer-related investments” set out in paragraph (4) or the definition of “employer-related loan” set out in paragraph (5) on or after 1st October 2022, other than as a result of new investment by the scheme, the investment may be retained, or left undischarged, until whichever is the latest of—

(a)the date falling two years after the date on which it first fell within the definition set out in paragraph (4) or paragraph (5); and

(b)where repayment cannot by virtue of contractual or other legal obligations be required, or where disinvestment cannot be effected before the date mentioned in sub-paragraph (a), the earliest date on which repayment can be enforced or disinvestment effected.

(10) Paragraph (9) does not apply in respect of any sum regarded as a loan under section 40(3) of the 1995 Act.

(11) For the purposes of this regulation—

“active member” has the meaning set out in section 124(1) of the 1995 Act (interpretation of Part I);

“employer” means a person who employs or engages persons who are, or are entitled to become, members of the scheme, including at least one active member of the scheme;

“money purchase benefits” has the meaning set out in section 181(1) of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 (general interpretation);

“relevant person” means a scheme funder, a scheme strategist or any person who is connected with, or an associate of, a scheme funder or a scheme strategist;

“scheme funder” and “scheme strategist” have the meanings set out in section 39 of the Pension Schemes Act 2017 (interpretation of Part 1); and

“securities” has the meaning set out in section 40(2A) of the 1995 Act (restrictions on employer-related investments) and must be read in accordance with section 40(2B) of that Act.]

Textual Amendments

[F68Schemes to which regulation 16A ceases to apply

16B.  To the extent that

(a)an investment becomes an employer-related loan or an employer-related investment as a result of regulation 16A ceasing to apply to a scheme; and

(b)repayment or disinvestment cannot be effected immediately by virtue of contractual or other legal obligations,

the investment may be retained until the earliest date on which, having regard to contractual and other legal obligations, repayment or disinvestment can be effected.]

Textual Amendments

Scheme undertaking cross-border activities

F6917.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Revocations

18.  The instruments listed in column 2 of the Schedule to these Regulations are revoked to the extent specified in column 3 of that Schedule.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

Stephen C. Timms

Minister of State,

Department for Work and Pensions

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