Media

12.08.10

Johanna Garner and Simon Robinson join PensionsFirst as the company continues to expand its multi-disciplinary team

Johanna Garner and Simon Robinson join PensionsFirst
as the company continues to expand its multi-disciplinary team

PensionsFirst announces two new senior hires – both Vice Presidents – Simon Robinson who joins from Towers Watson and Johanna Garner who previously worked for Goldman Sachs.

Johanna Garner has joined PensionsFirst as a Vice President in their Professional Services area where she will be responsible for onboarding assets for new clients adopting PensionsFirst’s web-based risk management platform PFaroe. Garner has a strong track-record in banking, most recently at Goldman Sachs where she was an Executive Director.

PensionsFirst has also recruited Simon Robinson FIA as a Vice President in their Client Solutions team where he will be helping PensionsFirst’s clients to manage their pension risk and evaluate de-risking options. Robinson joins from Towers Watson where he has worked for the last five years, most recently as a Senior Investment Consultant delivering investment strategy advice to a number of large pension scheme clients.

Benjamin Reid, CEO of PensionsFirst Analytics comments “Having set ourselves the challenge of transforming the way risk is measured and managed in the DB pensions industry, we are now seeing a rapid adoption of the methodologies we have introduced and have an aggressive recruitment plan to support our growing client base. Johanna and Simon are both great additions to our team with strong track records in their fields.”

- Ends -


About PensionsFirst
PensionsFirst provides advanced risk management and advisory services to the defined benefit pensions industry. PensionsFirst aims to transform the way pension scheme sponsors and trustees measure and manage pension risk.

PensionsFirst is a very fast growing company with a highly experienced team of over 70 professionals drawn from the actuarial, capital markets and technology industries. This combination of different spheres of expertise brings an entirely new perspective to the problem of measuring and managing DB scheme risk, namely, a keen understanding of risk, the need for up to the minute and detailed data, and best practice, auditable methods.

PensionsFirst launched PFaroe® in November 2009 as a web-based service aimed at delivering fast, accurate and up-to-date scheme information, allowing users to see assets and liabilities on a single platform, analyse cash flows and conduct scenario analysis in real time. Users of PFaroe include Aga Rangemaster Group, Daily Mail & General Trust and HSBC.

Recent developments

  • In April 2010, State Street, one of the world’s leading providers of financial services to institutional investors, formed a strategic alliance with PensionsFirst marked by a minority investment in PensionsFirst Analytics
  • Dell was so impressed with PensionsFirst’s innovative technological approach, they chose PensionsFirst to be a global best practice case study and are featuring PensionsFirst in their global ‘Take your own path’ advertising campaign
  • In July 2010, PensionsFirst won two European Pensions awards: European Pensions Innovation and Technology Provider of the Year

For more information please go to www.pensionsfirst.com

Press contact
Frederick Duff Gordon
Moorgate
+44 (0)20 7377 4990

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02.07.10

“The best of the best” - PensionsFirst Analytics wins two hotly contested industry awards

“The best of the best”

PensionsFirst Analytics wins two hotly contested industry awards


LONDON, 2 July, 2010 — PensionsFirst Analytics has received two awards from European Pensions, the leading trade publication for the European pensions industry. PensionsFirst Analytics accepted European Pensions’ special new award for “European Pensions Innovation” and the award for “Pensions Technology Provider of the Year” at the European Pensions Awards ceremony, Lancaster London Hotel, on Thursday 1 July 2010.

Now in their third year, the European Pensions Awards were set up to honour investment firms, consultancies and pension providers across Europe that set the highest standards for services to European pension funds.

Ten organisations were short listed for the new European Pensions Innovation award, including Towers Watson, Mercer and Aegon.

Benjamin Reid, CEO of PensionsFirst Analytics, says, “We are honoured to receive these awards, voted for by the distinguished panel of judges from all corners of the pension industry. They are a strong endorsement of our unique proposition for pension schemes.”

Eight providers were shortlisted for the Pensions Technology Provider of the Year award, including Towers Watson and Friends Provident. PensionsFirst Analytics was the unanimous choice of the judges.

Fiona Page, CTO of PensionsFirst Analytics who accepted the awards from TV personality Ruby Wax, says, “These two awards are a huge reward for our remarkable team, which has taken a vision to change the way the DB industry measures and manages risk and created a world class product. The awards are also an endorsement of our unique approach to product development, which combines input from our broad skills base, including pensions, capital markets and technology. As a result PFaroe will provide pension managers worldwide with a powerful and intuitive tool for managing risk.”


Award details
(from the European Pensions website)

“European Pensions Innovation”
The Innovation award is for firms that have brought innovation to the pensions marketplace, be it through a particular product, service offering or overall business approach. This is a new category launched this year, designed in response to the market volatility and to recognise those firms that have responded to market pressures with originality and creativity.

“Pensions Technology Provider of the Year”
Effective and reliable pensions technology is essential for the successful running of any pension fund. This award will recognise those firms that are leaders in the field of pensions technology, and ultimately reward who is the best of the best.

The judging panel for the 2010 Awards was made up of 28 judges from across the European pensions industry, including providers, pension funds, consultants and representatives from various European pensions and investment associations. A detailed explanation of the judges' final decisions is to be published in the European Pensions Awards write-up after the Awards ceremony taking place on 1 July 2010.


About PensionsFirst Analytics

PensionsFirst Analytics provides advanced risk management and advisory services to the defined benefit pensions industry. PensionsFirst Analytics aims to transform the way pension scheme sponsors and trustees measure and manage pension risk.

PensionsFirst Analytics launched PFaroe® in November 2009 as a web-based service aimed at delivering fast, accurate and up-to-date scheme information, allowing users to see assets and liabilities on a single platform, analyse cash flows and conduct scenario analysis in realtime.

PensionsFirst Analytics has a highlyexperienced and growing team from the actuarial, capital markets and technology industries. This multi-disciplinary combination brings a new perspective to the problem of measuring and managing defined benefit pension risk. For more information visit PensionsFirst Analytics at www.pensionsfirstanalytics.com

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23.04.10

Dell use PensionsFirst as a global case study. See the video and read the PDF case study 'Revolutionising the management of pensions risk'

Dell was so impressed with the innovative way we had used and adapted their technology that they have decided to use PensionsFirst as a case study – not just for the UK but on their global website. This is one of the first video case studies they have created on any of their customers.

You can see the PDF here or watch the movie.

15.04.10

State Street and PensionsFirst Analytics Form Strategic Alliance to Offer Enhanced Capabilities to Defined Benefit Pensions Industry

State Street and PensionsFirst Analytics Form Strategic Alliance to Offer Enhanced Capabilities to Defined Benefit Pensions Industry

BOSTON and LONDON, 15 April, 2010 — State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT), one of the world’s leading providers of financial services to institutional investors, and PensionsFirst Analytics (PFA), a UK-based company providing advanced risk management and advisory services to the global defined benefits (DB) pensions industry, today announced a new strategic alliance marked by State Street’s minority equity investment in PFA.


PFA recently launched PFaroe®, a Web-based service that it expects to significantly enhance the measurement and management of DB pension risk. PFaroe provides an actionable view of plan assets and liabilities on a single platform believed to be unique in the industry. This new capability will enable pension sponsors, trustees and advisors to access detailed cash flow projections and scenario analysis. With this expanded analytics toolset, sponsors, trustees and advisors will be able to make better-informed and more timely investment and de-risking decisions.


“This alliance with PensionsFirst Analytics enables State Street to further enhance the services we bring to DB plan sponsors and reaffirms our strong commitment to this client segment,” said Joseph Antonellis, vice chairman of State Street. “With concerns about underfunded pensions and the difficulty of accurately measuring liabilities, this innovative new product provides an enhanced level of transparency and insight into pension risk. We believe this strategic partnership creates a truly unique offering to our clients and provides a competitive advantage to both State Street and PFA.”


State Street is a leading servicer of pension schemes, servicing more than 2,500 schemes worldwide. The company also manages more than $550 billion in defined benefit pension assets*.


Benjamin Reid, chief executive officer of PFA believes the strategic alliance will rapidly accelerate PFA’s expansion and entry into the US market.


“We are delighted to have received this endorsement of PFA and PFaroe,” said Reid. “State Street has a well-deserved reputation for identifying and investing in the right partners to provide clients with access to new and innovative solutions. Their large client base of pension funds worldwide represents an unparalleled opportunity for PFA to expand its offering to new customers.”


“This step is innovative, necessary and welcomed by the industry,” said Joe Moody, SSgA’s global head of Liability Driven Investing. “PFaroe is designed for users with no specialist actuarial expertise and significantly reduces the time it takes to value pension liabilities and assets from months to hours and is designed to help managers of DB risk truly understand both sides of the balance sheet.”


As part of State Street’s investment in PFA, Joseph Antonellis has joined PFA’s board as non-executive chairman. Separately, Amelia Fawcett, a State Street board member since 2006, resigned from the board of PensionsFirst Group in March 2010, effective upon the selection of her replacement. PensionsFirst Group is the majority equity owner of PFA.


Note: *AUM as of December 31, 2009


– Ends –


About PensionsFirst Analytics


London-based PensionsFirst Analytics provides advanced risk management and advisory services to the defined benefit pensions industry. PFA aims to transform the way pension scheme sponsors and trustees measure and manage pension risk.


PFA launched PFaroe® in November 2009 as a Web-based service aimed at delivering fast, accurate and up-to-date scheme information, allowing users to see assets and liabilities on a single platform, analyse cash flows and conduct scenario analysis in realtime.


PensionsFirst Analytics has a highlyexperienced and growing team from the actuarial, capital markets and technology industries. This multi-disciplinary combination brings a new perspective to the problem of measuring and managing defined benefit pension risk. For more information visit PensionsFirst Analytics at www.pensionsfirstanalytics.com.



About State Street

State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT) is one of the world's leading providers of financial services to institutional investors, including investment servicing, investment management, and investment research and trading. With $18.8 trillion in assets under custody and administration and $1.9 trillion in assets under management at December 31, 2009, State Street operates in 25 countries and more than 100 geographic markets worldwide. For more information, visit State Street at www.statestreet.com.



About State Street Global Advisors


State Street Global Advisors, investment management business of State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT), delivers investment strategies and integrated solutions to clients worldwide across every asset class, investment approach and style. With $1.9 trillion in assets under management at December 31, 2009, State Street Global Advisors has investment centers in Boston, Hong Kong, London, Montreal, Paris, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto and Zurich, and offices in 26 cities worldwide. For more information, visit State Street Global Advisors at www.ssga.com.



For additional information, please contact:


For PensionsFirst Analytics:

Frederick Duff Gordon

Moorgate Communications

frederick.dg@moorgategroup.com

+44 (0)20 7377 4996


For State Street:

Stephen Sheppard

Citigate Dewe Rogerson

stephen.sheppard@citigatedr.co.uk

+44 (0)20 7282 1025

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07.04.10

PensionsFirst Analytics continues to expand with three senior IT appointments

PensionsFirst Analytics continues to expand with three senior IT appointments

Ground-breaking pensions analytics company cements IT leadership with three new directorships

PensionsFirst Analytics (PFA) has appointed an IT Director and two Product Development Directors – all of whom are instrumental in developing PFA’s web-based platform PFaroe. Launched in November 2009, PFaroe allows DB pensions trustees and sponsors to manage and measure risk precisely, and means non-technical users can analyse pension assets and liabilities in a timely manner.

Dean Newman is PFA’s new IT Director and is tasked with building an infrastructure fit for a global business. Having previously led infrastructure projects for companies such as Barclays and Alliance Boots, Newman brings a wealth of experience around building scalable and robust technology.

Comments Newman: “I am very excited about joining PensionsFirst, having the opportunity to work in an environment that constantly challenges the norm, pushes the boundaries of technology and has a team of highly talented people working to a common goal."

Nick Francis joins PFA as a Director of Product Development to lead the development of PFaroe, after a period consulting for the company. He joins after successfully running Sentient for 17 years – a well respected IT consultancy that partnered with Microsoft to work with blue-chip clients on enterprise projects. Francis used his experience in massively parallel processing while he worked closely with the Microsoft product team on their Windows Azure cloud computing platform and produced the first commercial application hosted in Azure.

“My motivation was to stay with a fantastic team to continue to develop this ground-breaking project,” says Francis. “This is data-warehousing on a vast scale – multiprocessing major industry names. This really is a cutting-edge platform.”


Finally, Matthew Seymour joins as a Director of Product Development. Formerly the CTO of FundWorks, a global SaaS provider to the asset management industry, Seymour has joined PFA to lead the growth and delivery of PFaroe.

“After seeing the transformative potential of PFaroe,” says Seymour, “I thought the opportunity too good to pass up. PFA has a unique mix of being entrepreneurial, flexible and dynamic enough to cope with change, but sufficiently well-resourced to deliver an uncompromised solution.”

All three will report to Fiona Page, Partner and CTO at PFA.


“These three appointments will help PFA continue towards its goal of transforming defined benefit pensions risk management. We are delighted to have attracted three individuals of such high calibre.”

Contact:
Fred Duff Gordon, Moorgate Communications +44 (0)20 7377 4996

Notes to editors:

About PensionsFirst Analytics

London based PensionsFirst Analytics LLP provides advanced risk management and advisory services to the defined benefit (DB) pensions industry. PFA aims to transform the way pension scheme sponsors and trustees measure and manage their pension risk.

PFA launched PFaroe in November 2009 as a web-based service that delivers fast, accurate and up-to-date scheme information. For the first time it allows users to see assets and liabilities on a single platform, analyse cashflows and conduct scenario analysis in real-time.

PensionsFirst Analytics has a highly-experienced and growing team from the actuarial, capital markets and technology industries. This multi-disciplinary combination brings a new perspective to the problem of measuring and managing DB pension risk.

10.03.10

PensionsFirst Analytics creates sales team with FIVE key appointments

PensionsFirst Analytics creates sales team with FIVE key appointments


Innovative pension risk analytics provider increases sales capabilities in response to market interest in its web-based service – PFaroe.

PensionsFirst Analytics – the company launched in November 2009 and focused on measuring and managing defined benefit (DB) pensions risk – has appointed a Head of Sales, a Vice President for Client Solutions and has made three further sales-oriented appointments.

Kim Lewin has joined the company as Head of Sales and will focus on marketing PensionsFirst Analytics’ managed services to the largest UK pension funds. Lewin joins from SumTotal Software, where he had been Vice President of Sales for the EMEA region since 2007.

This is an exciting challenge given the uniqueness of our web-based managed service – PFaroe – and the overwhelming support from both investors and clients,” says Lewin.

PFaroe is aimed at bringing new levels of precision to the measurement and management of DB pensions risk. A unique DB risk management platform, PFaroe combines liability and asset analytics to provide fast, accurate and up-to-date scheme information for pension fund sponsors, trustees and actuaries.

Lewin will report to Benjamin Reid, CEO of PensionsFirst Analytics.


“We are in the process of an ambitious roll-out for PFaroe to major UK pension funds and are very encouraged by their initial response,” says Reid. “These new appointments will help us present our industry-changing services to potential new customers.”

A further appointment points to PensionsFirst Analytics also deepening the client experience. Matthew Bale joins the firm as Vice President of Client Solutions – an actuarial role helping clients gain a precise understanding of their pension scheme risk profile and potential de-risking strategies. Prior to joining PensionsFirst Analytics, Bale spent three years at Citibank’s Insurance and Pensions Structured Solutions Group focusing on the management of defined benefit pension risk.

There are three further additions to PensionsFirst Analytics’ sales team. Charles Peach joins as a Vice President of Sales. He previously worked for Nomura’s managed products and exotic credit trading business. In addition, Andy Hutt has joined as an Assistant Vice President of Sales. Hutt has over 20 years in the IT sector – his last position being as a sales manager for SumTotal UK. Ian Crompton also joins PensionsFirst Analytics as an Assistant Vice President of Sales. He spent the previous two years in executive sales for ID Support Services.

“The new line-up brings together a rare combination of talent,” says Reid. “The breadth and depth of experience they bring from the technology, pensions and capital markets sectors means the company can offer clients a new and unique approach to defining and managing the complex risks facing their pension schemes.”


– Ends –


For additional information, please contact:


Fred Duff Gordon


Moorgate Communications Ltd.


+44 (0) 20 7377 4996


Notes to editors:


PensionsFirst Analytics (PFA) provides advanced risk management and advisory services to the defined benefit (DB) pensions industry. PFA aims to transform the way pension scheme sponsors and trustees take control of their pension risk.

PFA launched PFaroe® in November 2009, a web-based service that delivers fast, accurate and up-to-date scheme information. For the first time it allows users to see assets and liabilities on one platform, analyse cashflows and conduct scenario analysis in real-time.

PensionsFirst Analytics has a highly-experienced and growing team from the actuarial, capital markets and technology industries. This multi-disciplinary combination brings a new perspective to the problem of measuring and managing DB pension risk.

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03.12.09

PensionsFirst announces appointment of Simon Parr & Rob Stuart

PensionsFirst announces appointment of Simon Parr and Rob Stuart


Two new senior personnel join rapidly expanding group


PensionsFirst Group LLP today announced the appointment of two new key hires as the business continues its ambitious expansion plans. Simon Parr joins as Finance Director and Rob Stuart as General Counsel.

The new appointments follow on from the launch of PFaroe®, the industry changing web-based service for managing DB risk exposure, introduced last month by PensionsFirst Analytics.

Simon was previously Group Financial Controller at IAG-UK, where he managed the central finance function and played a key role in restructuring the UK business. Prior to this, Simon was at Barclays Bank PLC from 1997 until 2007, working in a range of senior finance roles including Head of Finance – Barclays Private Banking Americas; Financial Controller – Barclays Private Bank and Finance Director – General Insurance. Simon played a leading role in the re-launch of Barclay’s general insurance business which became the UK’s fastest growing insurer. Simon’s final role in Barclays gave him responsibility for the Retail Bank’s total insurance profit and loss as Finance Director – Barclays Insurance. Simon started his career at Price Waterhouse, becoming a member of the ICAEW in 1996.

Rob joins PensionsFirst from MKM Longboat, a multi-strategy hedge fund. Prior to this, Rob was General Counsel at Imagine Group, the speciality and structured reinsurance firm, which he joined in 2003. Rob began his legal career in private practice in 1992 at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt, a leading Canadian business law firm, and later practised in Allen & Overy's International Capital Markets department, from 1999 to 2002. He is qualified to practise law in New York, England and Wales, and Ontario (Canada).

Commenting on the two appointments, Timothy Lyons, CEO Pensions First Group LLP, said:

"We welcome Simon and Rob to the fast-growing PensionsFirst team. Their extensive experience within the financial markets will add invaluable strength and depth to our infrastructure at an exciting time in the development of PensionsFirst. PFaroe is already set to bring about a fundamental shift in the pensions landscape in the UK, and we have ambitious plans to bring its ground-breaking qualities to a wider global audience.

"In contrast with much of the financial services industry, we have ambitious expansion plans. We have grown from 22 people in June of this year to over 50 and expect the team to double in size again over the next year with the launch of PFaroe in the US in the first half of 2010. Simon and Rob will play a critical role in managing our company's rapid growth."


– Ends –


For more information please contact:


Timothy Lyons/Benjamin Reid, PensionsFirst + 44 207 632 9114 / 9112


Gay Collins/John Sarsfield, Penrose Financial + 44 207 786 4823 / 4830


Notes to editors:


PensionsFirst


PensionsFirst Group LLP was launched in November 2007 to provide a unique range of services to the Defined Benefit pensions industry. The PensionsFirst business model is focussed on the concept of ‘journey management’ for DB risk, offering its customers analytics to analyse and measure risk, advisory services to support the management of risk and, where appropriate, capital to support the transfer of risk. The Group comprises two distinct entities – PensionsFirst Analytics, offering risk management analysis and advisory services to the DB pensions industry and PensionsFirst Capital , which provides bespoke investment solutions to DB schemes. PensionsFirst has consistently demonstrated thought-leadership in the DB sector and possesses a highly experienced team with a track record of innovative product development, based on an extensive knowledge of capital markets, pensions and the development of advanced risk analytics.

20.11.09

Benjamin Reid to head up PensionsFirst Analytics

Benjamin Reid to head up PensionsFirst Analytics

Benjamin Reid has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of PensionsFirst Analytics, the provider of risk management analytics and advisory services for DB pensions, which this week launched its ground-breaking PFaroe® service.

Benjamin was a founding partner of PensionsFirst which, since its launch in 2007, has grown to employ some 50 people, a figure expected to double in the next year. The group now comprises two distinct entities – PensionsFirst Analytics, offering risk management analysis and advisory services to the DB pensions industry and PensionsFirst Capital, which provides bespoke investment solutions to defined benefit schemes.

Prior to joining PensionsFirst, Benjamin was a Director at Wachovia Securities in New York where he was responsible for the origination of a broad range of asset financings.  Before joining Wachovia, Benjamin was the US Managing Director of Burgundy Global, a managed services company specialising in corporate strategy and delivering IT-based ground transportation solutions.

Benjamin began his career on the investment desk of Quadrant Capital, an asset management business, investing in high-grade fixed income products.  In 1999 he became a Director of Quadrant and led the company's marketing, business development and distribution until Quadrant sold its operating business to the Bank of New York in 2002.

Commenting on Benjamin Reid's appointment, Timothy Lyons, CEO of PensionsFirst Group LLP, said:

"Given his deep understanding of both capital markets and the critical issues facing managers of DB risk today, Benjamin, with his background in managed services is ideally suited to leading PensionsFirst Analytics and delivering a truly differentiated offering to our customers in the UK and the US.

"With the introduction of PFaroe’s powerful analysis of DB risk exposures, we  believe that PensionsFirst Analytics will help to radically change the way trustees and scheme sponsors manage risk and facilitate their use of much more sophisticated risk transfer solutions."

Benjamin Reid, CEO of PensionsFirst Analytics, added:

"PensionsFirst Analytics has been established to offer a level of sophisticated risk analysis and advisory services that has been lacking in the DB industry. One of the reasons DB schemes have become a major management issue for so many corporate sponsors is because they have lacked the appropriate tools and advisory support to measure and manage risk properly. We live in a digital age with increasing focus on standards of corporate governance and out of date paper based reporting of highly volatile financial exposures is no longer adequate.

"PensionsFirst Analytics will change the way DB pension schemes are run because for the first time we will enable managers of DB risk to properly understand their exposures and present them with an objective view of all their options to mitigate the risks.  I am very pleased to be leading this exciting initiative and feel that we have a great deal to contribute to the industry."


– Ends –


For more information please contact:

Benjamin Reid/Timothy Lyons PensionsFirst  + 44 207 632 9112  / 9114
Andy Fleming/John Sarsfield, Penrose Financial  + 44 207 786 4823 / 4830

www.pensionsfirstanalytics.com


Notes to editors:

PensionsFirst

Launched in 2007, PensionsFirst has a highly experienced team with a track record of innovative product development, based on an extensive knowledge of capital markets, asset management and pensions. In the last two years PensionsFirst has consistently demonstrated thought-leadership in the DB sector, through its pioneering of buy-in solutions and its groundbreaking work on the analysis of longevity. Its business model is based on the concept of ‘journey management’ for DB risk, by offering its customers, analytics to measure risk, advisory services to help manage risk and where appropriate, capital to support the transfer of risk.

 


 

15.11.09

PensionsFirst to revolutionise the DB pension industry

PensionsFirst to revolutionise the DB pension industry with actuarial valuations in 24 hours

No more woolly numbers!

In a move set to revolutionise the defined benefit pensions industry, PensionsFirst is launching PFaroe® , a web-based managed service which will bring new levels of precision to the measurement and management of DB risk. In an industry renowned for opaque and woolly reporting, leaving it increasingly out of step with modern standards of corporate governance, PFaroe offers definition and speed of management information unrivalled by any other provider. 

PFaroe provides clarity, timeliness and definition to the valuation and understanding of the complex area of DB risk - something the industry has lacked for far too long. PFaroe® does this by generating actuarial valuations within 24 hours, in a clearly presented format supported by detailed and transparent assumptions.  Cashflows are produced at an individual scheme member level and for each scheme asset, allowing users to conduct multiple, user defined scenario analyses. 

PFaroe® delivers accounting, actuarial and solvency valuations on demand on a 24 hour turnaround, regardless of scheme size.

Despite its sophistication, PFaroe® is designed for users with no actuarial expertise, enabling them to perform instant sensitivity testing on both assets and liabilities by altering assumptions for longevity, interest rates, inflation and investment mix. It also allows users to conduct standard VaR analysis or scenario testing, and refine benefit design. In addition, because it is web-based and available to sponsors, trustees and consultants, PFaroe® provides a powerful tool to facilitate consensus in negotiation between the scheme stakeholders.

The launch of PFaroe® follows a rigorous beta-testing program in conjunction with several leading UK companies, including Aga Rangemaster Group, Alliance Boots, Daily Mail & General Trust and JPMorgan Cazenove.  These schemes account for £8bn of liabilities and 150,000 members. A beta program for selected US customers is scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2010.


Benjamin Reid, Partner and CEO of PensionsFirst Analytics, said:

"Recent volatility in the financial market has dramatically exposed the fact that the DB industry significantly lags behind modern management practices in other sectors of the financial markets. This is because trustees and scheme sponsors have not had access to the appropriate tools to accurately measure and manage their scheme risks and as a result most pension trustees, CFOs and corporate treasurers lack an accurate picture of the risks to which the sponsoring company’s balance sheet - and therefore its shareholders - are exposed. Quite simply, if you can’t measure risk, you can’t manage it.

"Having developed PFaroe initially to manage our own exposure to DB risk, we have decided to make PFaroe® available to all managers of DB risk, because we believe it is vital that standards of risk management in the sector are radically improved. PFaroe will provide DB managers, for the first time, with a clear understanding of their risk exposures and it will completely change the way they manage risk."


Comments from beta customers:

“In a few years time we will ask ourselves how we ever managed without a tool like this.”
CEO, beta customer - April 2009
 

 “For the first time, it allows you to have the risk-conversation.”
Pensions Manager, beta customer - May 2009


 “PFaroe borders on the brilliant.”
Pensions Manager, beta customer - May 2009


“Every time I see PFaroe in operation … I wonder how trustees manage their
 schemes without a tool like this.… every trustee board in the land will want it … and it will completely change the way they run their schemes.”
Trustee, beta customer -  June 2009
    
“The availability of detailed and timely reporting on a scheme’s liabilities … bridges the gap for asset managers considering more sophisticated investment
strategies.”
Investment Committee Member, beta customer - September 2009

– Ends –

For more information please contact:

Timothy Lyons/Benjamin Reid, PensionsFirst  + 44 207 632 9114  / 9112
Andy Fleming/John Sarsfield Penrose Financial  + 44 207 786 4823 / 4830

www.pensionsfirstanalytics.com

 

 


Notes to editors:

PensionsFirst

Launched in 2007, PensionsFirst has a highly experienced team with a track record of innovative product development, based on an extensive knowledge of capital markets, asset management and pensions. In the last two years PensionsFirst has consistently demonstrated thought-leadership in the defined benefit ("DB") pensions sector, through its pioneering of buy-in solutions and its groundbreaking work on the analysis of longevity. Its business model is based on the concept of ‘journey management’ for DB risk, by offering its customers, analytics to measure risk, advisory services to help manage risk and where appropriate, capital to support the transfer of risk.  

23.08.10

Movers & shakers | FTfm

Publication: FTfm
Date: 23rd August 2010

Movers & shakers

PensionsFirst has appointed two vice-presidents in professional services. Johanna Garner joins from Goldman Sachs and Simon Robinson from Towers Watson.

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18.08.10

Pensions Technology Provider of the Year Award & Innovation Award | European Pensions' Winners Brochure

Publication: European Pensions Award Winners Brochure
Date: August 2010
Author: Francesca Fabrizi, Editor European Pensions

PensionsFirst was one of the few companies to go home with multiple trophies at the European Pensions Awards 2010 – the Pensions Technology Provider of the Year award and the European Pensions Innovation award. 

One judge commented that this firm “had a clear and unrivalled recognition of the needs of defined benefit (DB) pension schemes today,” and was excited by the dramatic improvement the PensionsFirst approach could have on the global pensions sphere.

Fracesca Fabrizi, the Editor of European Pensions interviewed Benjamin Reid, PensionsFirst Analytics' CEO and Fiona Page CTO to learn more about the background and aims of the firm. Please click below to download and read the full article.

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18.08.10

People roundup | IPE (Investment & Pensions Europe)

Publication: IPE (Investment & Pensions Europe)
Date: 18th August 2010

PensionsFirst - Johanna Garner and Simon Robinson have joined as vice-president in professional services and vice-president in client relations, respectively. Garner has worked for Goldman Sachs, while Robinson joins from Towers Watson, where he was senior investment consultant.

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01.07.10

IASB changes will aid risk management | FTSE Global Markets

Publication: FTSE Global Markets
Date: July/August issue
Author: Matthew Bale, Vice President of Client Solutions, PensionsFirst

IASB changes will aid risk management

Much has been written about the detrimental effects that proposed changes to IAS 19 (the international accounting standard for employee benefits) will have on the profit and loss accounts of defined benefit (DB) pension scheme sponsors, potentially wiping a reported £8bn of profit off the value of the FTSE 100 alone. Yet few have stopped to consider how the recent proposals from the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), which may ultimately be adopted by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), will remove a significant barrier to companies' effective pension risk management.

[Please click below to download the PDF and read the full article]

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01.07.10

More sophisticated pension risk hedging | Global Investor

Publication: Global Investor
Date: July/August issue
Author: Matthew Bale, Vice President of Client Solutions, PensionsFirst

More sophisticated pension risk hedging

For pension funds to execute more efficient hedging strategies, they need more comprehensive pension cashflow information.

[Please click below to download the PDF and read the full article]

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01.06.10

Breaking Down Barriers: More efficient de-risking of defined benefit pension schemes | TMI (Treasury Management International)

Publication: TMI (Treasury Management International)
Date: June 2010 (Issue 185)
Author: Matthew Bale, Vice President of Client Solutions, PensionsFirst

Breaking Down Barriers: More efficient de-risking of defined benefit pension schemes

Amid the furore surrounding the negative effect that proposed changes to the international accounting standard for employee benefits (IAS 19) may have on companies' profit and loss accounts, it is worth highlighting the positive long-term impact. The changes will remove a key barrier to the efficient de-risking of defined benefit (DB) pension schemes.

[Please click below to download the PDF and read the full article] 

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01.05.10

Companies in the news | Pensions Insight

Publication: Pensions Insight
Date: May 2010

Companies in the news

State Street Corporation has taken a minority stake in PensionsFirst Analytics, in a bid to gain access to PFaroe, a web tool which provides trustees with daily reports of actuarial valuations.

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19.04.10

State Street swoops to strike deal on pension risk tool | Pensions News

Publication: Pensions News
Date: 19th April 2010
Author: David Rowley

State Street swoops to strike deal on pension risk tool
A pensions risk measurement tool that is in contract negotiations with 70 leading employers has entered into an exclusive deal with State Street

PFaroe, which allows finance directors and trustees to view the interaction between liabilities and assets on one system, is being marketed as a basis for making smarter and more timely derisking decisions.

Under the terms of the deal, PensionsFirst Analytics, the creators of PFaroe, can sell the tool to individual employers, but the cannot enter into a deal to offer it to any other fund manager.

State Street hopes PFaroe will give it a competitive edge as a provider of derisking optionsfor pension schemes and endowment plans worldwide.

Joseph Antonellis, vice-chairman of State Street, said "With the difficulty of accurately measuring liabilities, this innovative product provides an enhanced level of transparency and insight into pension risk."

In the UK, PFaroe is currently being sold directly to company treasurers and finance directors, with the pitch that it is the last area of business risk not to have a handy and simple technology measure.

The tool is designed to help both sponsor and trustee to agree asset allocation, buy-outs and hedging policies.

PensionsFirst Analytics says its stream of business will lead to PFaroe being used on pension fund assets worth £30bn by this summer.

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19.04.10

State Street bags derisking tool deal | Pensions Week

Publication: Pensions Week
Date: 19th April 2010
Author: David Rowley

State Street bags derisking tool deal
A pensions risk measurement tool, in contract negotiations with 70 leading employers, has entered into an exclusive deal with State Street

PFaroe, which allows finance directors and trustees to view the interaction between liabilities and assets on one system, is being marketed as a basis for making smarter and more timely derisking decisions.

Under the terms of the deal, PensionsFirst Analytics, the creators of PFaroe, can sell the tool to individual employers, but the cannot enter into a deal to offer it to any other fund manager.

State Street hopes PFaroe will give it a competitive edge as a provider of derisking optionsfor pension schemes and endowment plans worldwide.

Joseph Antonellis, vice-chairman of State Street, said "With the difficulty of accurately measuring liabilities, this innovative product provides an enhanced level of transparency and insight into pension risk."

In the UK, PFaroe is currently being sold directly to company treasurers and finance directors, with the pitch that it is the last area of business risk not to have a handy and simple technology measure.

The tool is designed to help both sponsor and trustee to agree asset allocation, buy-outs and hedging policies.

PensionsFirst Analytics says its stream of business will lead to PFaroe being used on pension fund assets worth £30bn by this summer.

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16.04.10

State Street and PensionsFirst Analytics to offer defined benefit pensions industry solution | GT News

Publication: GT News
Date: 16th April 2010

State Street and PensionsFirst Analytics to offer defined benefit pensions industry solution

State Street Corporation and PensionsFirst Analytics (PFA) has announced a strategic alliance marked by State Street's minority equity investment in PFA.

PFA recently launched PFaroe, a web-based service that it expects to enhance the measurement and management of defined benefit (DB) pension risk. The solution provides an actionable view of plan assets and liabilities on a single platform believed to be unique in the industry. The vendor says that this new capability will enable pension scheme sponsors, trustees and advisors to access detailed cash flow projections and scenario analysis. With this expanded analytics toolset, sponsors, trustees and advisors will be able to make better-informed and more timely investment and de-risking decisions.

As part of State Street's investment in PFA, Joseph Antonellis has joined PFA's board as a non-executive chairman. Separately, Amelia Fawcett, a State Street board member since 2006, resigned from the board of PensionsFirst Group in March 2010, effective upon the selection of her replacement. PensionsFirst Group is the majority equity owner of PFA.

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15.04.10

State Street takes minority stake in PensionsFirst Analytics | Global Pensions

Publication: Global Pensions
Date: 15th April 2010
Author: Raquel Pichardo-Allison

State Street takes minority stake in PensionsFirst Analytics

UK/US - State Street Corp. has taken a minority stake in PensionsFirst Analytics, which offers a web tool that can provide actuarial valuations on a daily basis, and has plans to take the London-based firm global.

State Street now owns less that 50% of the firm, but details of the deal were not released.

State Street was lured by PFaroe, the company's web-based service that allows plan sponsors to evaluate asset and liability scenarios on a single platform, said State Street Global Advisors managing director and head of liability driven investing Joe Moody. PFaroe was launched in November 2009 and can deliver actuarial valuations as often as the trustee requires - daily, monthly, yearly etc - and is said by the companies to be the first of its kind.

In an interview with Global Pensions Moody said "The pieces of information have existed, but they've never really existed in a way that allows (trustees) to really make informed decisions at the right time."

"They're seeing the picture for the first time," Moody added.

PensionsFirst Analytics chief executive Benjamin Reid said it allows trustees to stress test allocation scenarios in different ways and can provide cash flow details down to the individual member level.

Reid said he expects to launch PFaroe in the US in the third quarter of the year, a move that was previously announced at the launch of the platform. But through its partnership with State Street, Reid expects to expand to Canada, Japan and the Netherlands. Combined with the UK and the US, these five countries account for 65% of all pension liabilities worldwide, said Reid.

Reid said the platform is already modelling £13bn (US$20bn) of liabilities in the UK and is in final negotiations with pension plans that will bring the total to £30bn.

Moody said the two firms had been in discussions about the product for a year. "It's just a natural fit. We're a global organisation with global relationships and this is something we can bring to our clients."

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15.04.10

State Street and PensionsFirst alliance to provide pensions risk testing | IPE (Investment & Pensions Europe)

Publication: IPE (Investment & Pensions Europe)
Date: 15th April 2010
Author: Julie Henderson

State Street and PensionsFirst alliance to provide pensions risk testing

GLOBAL – State Street Corporation and PensionsFirst Analytics are teaming up to provide State Street’s clients with access to PFaroe’s online software, to allow trustees and corporates to run real-time diagnostics and testing on defined benefit pension fund risk.

 

PFA’s PFaroe will be promoted to State Street’s pension fund clients as the service helps trustees, sponsors and advisers to understand the fund’s cash flow position and test investment scenarios on a daily basis.

 

One of the key difficulties pension fund executives faced during the recent economic crisis was the ability to get up-to-date valuations on assets and understand how changes might affect assets and liabilities if, for example, bond yields rose by 50 basis points. This is even when clients had access to online services from custody providers, such as State Street, detailing regular changes to valuations and counterparty risk.

 

State Street has itself faced several legal action suits by defined benefit pension funds since the credit crunch surfaced, relating to securities lending and other concerns about the information delivered to clients about their investments.

 

Pfaroe, meanwhile, was launched in the UK last year to bridge a gap in information delivery as it allows pension funds to run virtually any investment or risk scenario which might affect the pension plan, so officials can be better equipped to tackle problems as they arise or tap investment opportunities.

 

Joe Moody, managing director and head of liability-driven investing State Street Global Advisors, said the aim of the strategic alliance is therefore to introduce existing clients to the PFaroe tools and then allow them to be used via a single platform, through State Street’s existing tools.

 

“People realise they are going to have to be more proactive about managing their way out of the problems they are in,” said Moody.

 

“There is a window of 2-3 years where pension fund officials will act. They can see the decisions being taken, the managers appointed, they will be able to appreciate the risks they are running through the economic cycle. It is in the interests of the corporates and trustees to share this common tool.

 

He continued: “It drives efficiency for the customer as it makes more information available. We will introduce existing clients to PensionsFirst Analytics, and if they set up they will receive other benefits and be able to use them together on one service,” he added.

 

Benjamin Reid, partner at PensionsFirst Analytics, said its service will remain totally independent of State Street, but is teaming up with State Street in part because of its focus on global pension fund business.

 

“We see the [defined benefit] issue as being a global issue, concentrated mainly in the US, UK Canada, Japan and the Netherlands. We were clearly looking for a strategic partner to allow us to make the most of the opportunity we have created with PFaroe, and State Street has a global footprint with a strong leaning towards pension funds. It was also the breadth of its products which attracted us,” he continued.

 

Pfaroe is already available to UK pension fund executives but in some cases is already being used on a global scale to assess a company’s global pension fund risk and liabilities.

 

The service is expected to be rolled out to the US market in Q3 2010, closing followed by Canada, said Reid.

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15.04.10

State Street takes minority stake in pension risk analytics firm | Securities Industry News

Publication: Securities Industry News
Date: 15th April 2010
Author: Chris Kentouris

State Street takes minority stake in pension risk analytics firm

State Street Corp., one of the world’s largest custodian banks, on Thursday said it has taken a minority stake in PensionsFirst Analytics, a London-headquartered risk management advisory firm for defined benefit plans.

PensionsFirst’s PFaroe allows plan sponsors and trustees – who don’t have actuarial training – to do the same type of analysis. That means evaluate asset and liability scenarios for the plan on a single platform to project its potential to become underfunded.

Launched in November 2009, the product can deliver actuarial calculations as often as the defined benefit plan requires – monthly, yearly or even daily. It allows trustees to stress test allocation scenarios and can provide cash flow levels down to the individual member level.

PensionsFirst Analytics’ chief executive officer Benjamin Reid, who took on that role with the launch of PFaroe, said that he expects to launch PFaroe in the U.S. in the third quarter of this year. Through its partnership with State Street, Reid also expects to expand into Canada, Japan and the Netherlands. Those countries, along with the U.K. and U.S. account for an estimated 65 percent of all pension liabilities worldwide.

According to PensionsFirst Analytics, PFaroe is already modeling about 13 billion British pound sterling ($20 billion) in the U.K. and is in final discussions with U.K. pension plans to bring that total to 30 billion British pound sterling shortly.

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15.04.10

State Street takes minority stake in PensionsFirst Analytics | Professional Pensions

Publication: Professional Pensions
Date: 15th April 2010
Author: Rachel Pichardo-Allinson

State Street takes minority stake in PensionsFirst Analytics

State Street Corp. has taken a minority stake in PensionsFirst Analytics, which offers a web tool that can provide actuarial valuations on a daily basis, and has plans to take the London-based firm global.

State Street now owns less that 50% of the firm, but details of the deal were not released.

State Street was lured by PFaroe, the company's web-based service that allows plan sponsors to evaluate asset and liability scenarios on a single platform, said State Street Global Advisors managing director and head of liability driven investing Joe Moody. PFaroe was launched in November 2009 and can deliver actuarial valuations as often as the trustee requires - daily, monthly, yearly etc - and is said by the companies to be the first of its kind.

In an interview with Global Pensions Moody said "The pieces of information have existed, but they've never really existed in a way that allows (trustees) to really make informed decisions at the right time."

"They're seeing the picture for the first time," Moody added.

PensionsFirst Analytics chief executive Benjamin Reid said it allows trustees to stress test allocation scenarios in different ways and can provide cash flow details down to the individual member level.

Reid said he expects to launch PFaroe in the US in the third quarter of the year, a move that was previously announced at the launch of the platform. But through its partnership with State Street, Reid expects to expand to Canada, Japan and the Netherlands. Combined with the UK and the US, these five countries account for 65% of all pension liabilities worldwide, said Reid.

Reid said the platform is already modelling £13bn (US$20bn) of liabilities in the UK and is in final negotiations with pension plans that will bring the total to £30bn.

Moody said the two firms had been in discussions about the product for a year. "It's just a natural fit. We're a global organisation with global relationships and this is something we can bring to our clients."

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14.04.10

DB pension risk management needs a revolution | Insurance ERM

Publication: Insurance ERM
Date: 14 April 2010
Author: Darren Best, Director of Client Solutions, PensionsFirst

DB pension risk management needs a revolution
Timeliness of information is a major issue but new technology is now available to address this.

Stricter accounting and funding rules, low interest rates, improving life expectancies and volatile stock markets have now, more than ever, brought DB pension risk management to the forefront of corporate thinking. Yet surprisingly, given the volatility and fast-moving nature of many of these risks, and the economic environment upon which they depend, de-risking strategies continue to be developed and executed on outdated and inaccurate information.

This is especially pertinent given the potential impact risk management can have upon a plan's funded status and consequently the sponsoring company's balance sheet, cash flow, and income statement. Most trustees and sponsors now realize that the unique liability and investment position of pension schemes needs to be evaluated more accurately and much more frequently if they are not to simply destroy the entire financial viability of the sponsoring company.

[Please click below to download and read the full article.]

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09.04.10

PensionsFirst Analytics makes IT appointments | Fin Extra

Publication: Fin Extra
Date: 9th April 2010

PensionsFirst Analytics makes IT appointments

Launched in November 2009, PFaroe allows DB pensions trustees and sponsors to manage and measure risk precisely, and means non-technical users can analyse pension assets and liabilities in a timely manner.

Dean Newman is PFA's new IT Director and is tasked with building an infrastructure fit for a global business. Having previously led infrastructure projects for companies such as Barclays and Alliance Boots, Newman brings a wealth of experience around building scalable and robust technology.

Comments Newman: "I am very excited about joining PensionsFirst, having the opportunity to work in an environment that constantly challenges the norm, pushes the boundaries of technology and has a team of highly talented people working to a common goal".

Nick Francis joins PFA as a Director of Product Development to lead the development of PFaroe, after a period consulting for the company. He joins after successfully running Sentient for 17 years - a well respected IT consultancy that partnered with Microsoft to work with blue-chip clients on enterprise projects. Francis used his experience in massively parallel processing while he worked closely with the Microsoft product team on their Windows Azure cloud computing platform and produced the first commercial application hosted in Azure.

"My motivation was to stay with a fantastic team to further develop this ground-breaking project," says Francis. "This is data-warehousing on a vast scale - multiprocessing major industry names. This really is a cutting-edge platform."

Finally, Matthew Seymour joins as a Director of Product Development. Formerly the CTO of FundWorks, a global SaaS provider to the asset management industry, Seymour has joined PFA to lead the growth and delivery of PFaroe.

"After seeing the transformative potential of PFaroe," says Seymour, "I thought the opportunity too good to pass up. PFA has a unique mix of being entrepreneurial, flexible and dynamic enough to cope with change, but sufficiently well-resourced to deliver an uncompromised solution."

All three will report to Fiona Page, Partner and CTO at PFA.

"These three appointments will help PFA continue towards its goal of transforming defined benefit pensions risk management. We are delighted to have attracted three individuals of such high calibre."

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08.04.10

Appointments: PensionsFirst Analytics names three senior IT staff | Banking Technology

Publication: Banking Technology
Date: 8th April 2010

Appointments: PensionsFirst Analytics names three senior IT staff

PensionsFirst Analytics has appointed an IT director and two product development directors - all of whom have been instrumental in developing PFA's web-based platform PFaroe. Launched in 2009, PFaroe helps defined benefit pension trustees and sponsors to manage and measure risk precisely, and means non-technical users can analyse pension assets and liabilities in a timely manner.

Dean Newman is PFA's new IT Director and is tasked with building an infrastructure fit for a global business. Having previously led infrastructure projects for companies such as Barclays and Alliance Boots, Newman brings a wealth of experience around building scalable and robust technology.

Nick Francis joins PFA as a Director of Product Development to lead the development of PFaroe, after a period consulting for the company. He joins after successfully running Sentient for 17 years - a well respected IT consultancy that partnered with Microsoft to work with blue-chip clients on enterprise projects. Francis used his experience in massively parallel processing while he worked closely with the Microsoft product team on their Windows Azure cloud computing platform and produced the first commercial application hosted in Azure.

"My motivation was to stay with a fantastic team to further develop this ground-breaking project," says Francis. "This is data-warehousing on a vast scale - multiprocessing major industry names. This really is a cutting-edge platform."

Finally, Matthew Seymour joins as a Director of Product Development. Formerly the CTO of FundWorks, a SaaS provider to the asset management industry, Seymour has joined PFA to lead the growth and delivery of PFaroe.

All three will report to Fiona Page, Partner and CTO at PFA.

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07.04.10

People roundup | IPE (Investment & Pensions Europe)

Publication: IPE (Investment & Pensions Europe)
Date: 7th April 2010

People roundup

PensionsFirst Analytics - Nick Francis has joined as a director of product development to lead the development of PFaroe, after spending 17 years running consulting firm Sentient. He will be accompanied by Matthew Seymour, who is also a director of product development, having previously been CTO at FundWorks.

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07.04.10

PensionsFirst Analytics hires senior IT people | Insurance ERM

Publication: Insurance ERM
Date: 7th April 2010

PensionsFirst Analytics hires senior IT people

PensionsFirst Analytics (PFA) has appointed an IT director and two product development directors to work on developing PFA's web-based platform, PFaroe, which allows defined-benefit pensions trustees and sponsors to manage and measure risk more precisely.

Dean Newman is the new IT director. He previously led infrastructure projects for companies such as Barclays and Alliance Boots.

Nick Francis joins PFA as a director of product development to lead the development of PFaroe, after a period consulting for the company and previously running IT consultancy Sentient for 17 years.

Matthew Seymour also joins as a director of product development. He was formerly the chief technology officer (CTO) of FundWorks, a global SaaS (software as a service) provider to the asset management industry.

All three will report to Fiona Page, partner and CTO at PFA.

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01.04.10

Timing is Everything | Pensions Age

Publication: Pensions Age
Date: April 2010
Author: Darren Best, Director of Client Solutions, PensionsFirst

Timing is Everything
Scheme information must be both timely and accurate for defined benefit pension risks to be managed effectively.

The management of defined benefit (DB) pension risk is likely to become the major pension story of the next decade. Left unmanaged, these risks can seriously impact the future profitability or even viability of a company, with significant implications for both shareholders and scheme members.

While many scheme sponsors and trustees recognise the need to improve scheme management, significant barriers exist when attempting to calculate a successful de-risking strategy. Indeed, in the vast majority of cases, de-risking strategies are developed and executed based on outdated and inaccurate information. Yet in today's environment of stricter accounting and funding rules, as well as volatile reported funding levels, it is simply no longer appropriate for schemes to rely on inaccurate risk management techniques and data.

[Please click below to download the PDF and read the full article]

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30.03.10

All in the timing | Pensions Management

Publication: Pensions Management
Date: 30 March 2010
Author: Darren Best, Director of Client Solutions, PensionsFirst

All in the timing
Effective management of defined benefit scheme risk requires both timely and accurate information - which is rarely to the found

[Please click below to download the PDF and read the full article]

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22.03.10

Movers & shakers | FTfm

Publication: FTfm
Date: March 2010 (Issue 394)

Movers & shakers

Matthew Bale has joined PensionsFirst Analytics as vice president of client solutions, having spent the past three years at Citibank's insurance and pension structured solution group.

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01.01.10

Fast Forward

Pensions Insight, 1 January 2010

Fast Forward

PensionsFirst can provide full formal valuations of a company’s pension scheme on a monthly basis, within 24 hours. Many actuarial consultants have expressed criticism of this claim in the belief that this short turnaround time is the result of carrying out “roll-forwards” using potentially outdated assumptions.

However, this is not the case; full and accurate 24-hour valuations are enabled by PFaroe®, PensionsFirst’s proprietary software package, developed and tested in conjunction with a number of beta customers. Geoffrey Staines, pensions director at DMGT Pensions, one of these beta customers, comments "This is in my view industry-changing software…it allows us to optimise the decision-making on transferring the risk away from our balance sheet to the market. It allows us to ask what-if questions and to really integrate some very deep information into the risk strategy – the kind of information we don't usually have on the table to make these decisions."

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10.12.09

People Moves

HFM Week, 10 December 2009

People Moves

Rob Stuart has joined PensionsFirst as general counsel from hedge fund MKM Longboat.

07.12.09

Trading Places

Financial News, 07 December 2009

Trading Places - Asset Management

Simon Parr, formerly group financial controller at IAG-UK, has joined PensionsFirst Group as finance director.  Rob Stuart has left multi-strategy hedge fund provider MKM Longboat to become PensionsFirst’s general counsel.

07.12.09

Movers & Shakers

Financial Times (Fund Management supplement), 07 December 2009

Movers & Shakers

PensionsFirst has recruited Simon Parr from IAG-UK as finance director and Rob Stuart from hedge fund MKM Longboat as general counsel.

01.12.09

PFaroe unravels mystery of valuations

Pensions Management, 01 December 2009

PFaroe unravels mystery of valuations

PensionsFirst has launched PFaroe, an online asset-liability application for defined benefit (DB) schemes which produces full actuarial scheme valuations within 24 hours. It enables schemes to be analysed at the level of individual members and assets, and is the first system to combine analysis of assets and liabilities together.

23.11.09

Trading Places

Financial News, 23 November 2009
Trading Places

PensionsFirst Analytics has appointed Benjamin Reid as its chief executive. Prior to the launch of PensionsFirst in 2007, Benjamin was a director at Wachovia Securities in New York.

19.11.09

PensionsFirst launches web valuation tool for sponsors

Professional Pensions, 19 November 2009
PensionsFirst launches web valuation tool for sponsors

PensionsFirst has launched a web-based service – PFaroe – that aims to deliver accounting, actuarial and solvency valuations on demand within 24 hours, regardless of scheme size. The service is designed for users with no actuarial expertise, and enables them to perform sensitivity testing on assets and liabilities, conduct standard VaR analysis and scenario testing. PensionsFirst believes that the tool will help in negotiations between sponsors and trustees.

19.11.09

PensionsFirst unveils PFaroe

FT Adviser, 19 November 2009
PensionsFirst unveils PFaroe

PensionsFirst has launched PFaroe, web-based service to help manage defined benefit pension risk by analysing and reporting on scheme assets and liabilities on a single risk management platform. It also gives customers the opportunity to receive valuations on funding, accounting or solvency bases within 24 hours.

Click here for the full article>

17.11.09

PensionsFirst launches online risk model system

Pensions News, 17 November 2009
PensionsFirst launches online risk model system

PFaroe, a new web-based service is being offered to schemes, allowing daily asset and liability valuations and reducing reliance on actuaries. It is designed to enable pension scheme managers, trustees and finance directors to make forecasts based on alternative assumptions for inflation, longevity or investment growth. It also has applicability in making pricing decisions for buyouts, buy-ins and longevity swaps, and in costing of one-off enhanced transfer exercises and redundancies.

16.11.09

PensionsFirst adapts to launch 24-hour valuations

IPE.com, 16 November 2009
PensionsFirst adapts to launch 24-hour valuations


PensionsFirst has unveiled the first known technology system to deliver actuarial valuations within 24 hours – regardless of scheme size. Most UK pension funds conduct valuations on a triennial as required, but it has so far been impossible to carry out regular checks on asset holdings and strategies, to determine whether improved strategies are possible. The additional functionality is seen as a major benefit by customers testing the system, because it substantially increases their knowledge of their pension plans.

16.11.09

PensionsFirst shakes up market

The Independent (Main), 16 November 2009
PensionsFirst shakes up market

PensionsFirst unveiled a service which could radically shake-up the pension buyout market by enabling companies to get an immediate valuation of the liabilities of their retirement funds. Recent volatility in investment and bond markets has made it almost impossible for company final salary pension schemes to understand their funding position. PensionsFirst can now change this by providing a monthly valuation.
 

16.11.09

PensionsFirst launches online risk model system

Pensions Week, 16 November 2009
PensionsFirst launches online risk model system

PFaroe, a new web-based service, is being offered to pension schemes, allowing daily asset and liability valuations and reducing reliance on actuaries. It is designed to enable pension scheme managers, trustees and finance directors to make forecasts based on alternative assumptions for inflation, longevity or investment growth. It also has applicability in making pricing decisions for buyouts, buy-ins and longevity swaps, and in costing of one-off enhanced transfer exercises and redundancies.

16.11.09

PensionsFirst launches web valuation tool for sponsors

Professional Pensions (Web), 16 November 2009
PensionsFirst launches web valuation tool for sponsors

PensionsFirst has launched a web-based service – PFaroe – that aims to deliver accounting, actuarial and solvency valuations on demand within 24 hours, regardless of scheme size. The service is designed for users with no actuarial expertise, and enables them to perform sensitivity testing on assets and liabilities, conduct standard VaR analysis and scenario testing. PensionsFirst believes that the tool will help in negotiations between sponsors and trustees.
The service has been tested with a number of companies, with schemes accounting for £8bn of liabilities and 150,000 members.

Click here for the full article>

19.05.10

White Paper - Hedging Inefficiencies - How to Make the Most of your LDI Strategy

White Paper
Pension Hedging Inefficiencies – How to Make the Most of your Liability Driven Investment Strategy

In this White Paper, PensionFirst's Matthew Bale considers a case of a not atypical
pension fund which recently completed a Liability Driven Investment (LDI) strategy review. By taking advantage of the latest technology available in pension risk management, not only did the Fund achieve a more optimal solution, but also saved almost £2m in execution costs.

[Please click below to download the PDF and read the full white paper]

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PensionsFirst Analytics
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T: 020 7632 9100
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E: PFaroe@pensionsfirst.com