Just Group completes £75m pension buy-in with Church of Scotland

Just Group has completed a £75m buy-in with the Church of Scotland Pension Trustees, covering two schemes and three sections.

This deal secures the benefits of around 1,500 pensioner and dependant members and 850 deferred members. 

The transaction involved a £40m buy-in for the Church of Scotland Pension Scheme for Staff – Social Care Council Section, £25m for the Central Services Committee Section, and £10m for the Ministries Development Staff.

LCP served as the lead transaction advisers, using their streamlined buy-in service.

Legal support for Just came from their in-house team, while the trustees received guidance from Gowling WLG and Burness Paul LLP.

Geraint Jones, business development manager at Just Group, said: “This was an interesting multi scheme transaction for which we put together a competitive offering that included a bespoke price lock.

“The Scheme also prioritised long-term member experience and we are pleased to be trusted to look after the Schemes’ members for many years to come.

“This transaction shows that the insurance de-risking market continues to be dynamic and effective, supporting schemes of all sizes and with any type of complexity.”

Nikki Ayriss, partner at LCP, said: “It was a pleasure to work with the Trustees on this process, from the initial preparation through to an ultimate transaction with Just.

“LCP’s streamlined service, and our carefully considered strategy for approaching insurers meant that even for these three small sections it is possible to get an attractive outcome for the Pension Trustees, the Church and the members.” 

Ray Martin, chair of the trustee sub group, said: “This was an important step for the Trustees in reducing the risk of the Schemes to the Church, now that the benefits of all members are fully secured with a strongly capitalised UK insurer.

“Collaborative work between the Trustees, the Church, LCP and other advisers in an efficient process made this transaction possible.”