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Pension

This page provides information for members of the Arco Group Pension and Life Assurance Scheme.

Dear Members,

This section of our website is intended to provide information for you in relation to the scheme. We will update this page from time to time with new or additional information.

Any queries in relation to the information provided in this section should be directed to the scheme administrators. You will have been provided with contact details from time to time. You may also direct queries via companysecretary@arco.co.uk


Annual Implementation Statement


Statement of Investment

Introduction

  1. This document is the Statement of Investment Principles (the 'SIP') made by the Trustees of the Arco Group Pension and Life Assurance Scheme (the 'Scheme') in accordance with the requirements of Section 35 of the Pensions Act 1995 (as amended by the Pensions Act 2004 and regulations made under it)
  2. The Trustees will review this SIP at least every three years and without delay after any significant change in investment policy. Before finalising this SIP, the Trustees took advice from a suitably qualified firm and consulted Arco Limited (the 'Company'). The ultimate power and responsibility for deciding investment policy, however, lies solely with the Trustees

Investment Objectives

  1. The Trustees have the following investment objectives:
    • The acquisition of suitable assets of appropriate liquidity which will generate income and capital growth to meet, together with new contributions from the Company, the cost of current and future benefits which the Scheme provides, and to ensure the security, quality and profitability of the portfolio as a whole
    • To limit the risk of the assets failing to meet the liabilities, both over the long-term and on a shorter-term basis
    • To minimise the long term costs of the Scheme by maximising the return on the assets whilst having regard to the objective shown under the points above

Investment Strategy

  1. The Trustees have received advice to determine an appropriate investment strategy for the Scheme. The Trustees have a desire to diversify risk exposures and to manage its investments effectively
  2. The investment strategy makes use of two key types of investments:
    • A range of instruments that provide a broad match to changes in liability values
    • A portfolio of secure income assets; and
    • A diversified portfolio of return-seeking assets
  3. The Trustees appointed an investment manager to manage Scheme assets on a discretionary basis and to provide advisory services to the Trustees (the "Fiduciary Manager"). The balance within and between these investments will be determined from time-to-time at the discretion of the Fiduciary Manager, with the objective of maximising the probability of achieving the Scheme's investment objective set by the Trustees. The Fiduciary Manager's discretion is subject to guidelines set by the Trustees within its Fiduciary Management Agreement (the Agreement) with the Trustees dated 27 October 2016. The Fiduciary Manager considers the Agreement, the guidelines and the Trustees policies set out within this statement when carrying out its role and responsibilities, which ensures appropriate incentivisation and alignment of decision-making with the Trustees overall objectives, strategy and policies
  4. The Scheme will hold assets in cash and other money market instruments from time to time as may be deemed appropriate
  5. The Trustees will monitor the liability profile of the Scheme and will regularly review, in conjunction with the Fiduciary Manager and the Scheme actuary, the appropriateness of its investment strategy
  6. The expected return of an investment will be monitored regularly and will be directly related to the Scheme's investment objective
  7. The Trustees' policy is that there will be sufficient investments in liquid or readily realisable assets to meet cash flow requirements in foreseeable circumstances so that the realisation of assets will not disrupt the Scheme's overall investments, where possible

Investment Managers

  1. The Trustees have delegated investment manager selection, de-selection and the ongoing management of relationships with asset managers to the Fiduciary Manager within Investment Guidelines set by the Trustees. The Trustees consider the Fiduciary Manager's performance in carrying out these responsibilities as part of its ongoing oversight of the Fiduciary Manager. The Trustees expect the Fiduciary Manager to ensure that, the portfolio, in aggregate, is consistent with the policies set out in this statement, in particular those required under regulation 2(3)(b) of the Occupational Pension Schemes (Investment) Regulations (2005). Where relevant to the mandate, the Trustees expect the Fiduciary Manager to:
    • Ensure that the investment objectives and guidelines of any pooled vehicle are consistent with the Trustees' policies;
    • Use its discretion, where appropriate, to set explicit guidelines within the Investment Management Agreement for segregated investments to ensure consistency with the Trustees' policies
  2. In accordance with the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, the selection of specific investments will be delegated to investment managers. The investment managers will provide the skill and expertise necessary to manage the investments of the Scheme competently
  3. The Trustees and Fiduciary Manager are not involved in the investment managers day-to-day method of operation and do not directly seek to influence attainment of their performance targets. However, the Fiduciary Manager may provide investment recommendations to the investment managers of certain pooled funds appointed where it considers it appropriate. The Fiduciary Manager will maintain processes to ensure that performance and risk are assessed on a regular basis against measurable objectives for each in consistent with the achievement of the Scheme's long term objectives.
  4. The Trustees expect the Fiduciary Manager to appoint investment managers with an expectation of a long-term partnership, which encourages active ownership of the Scheme's assets. When assessing a manager's performance, the Trustees expect the Fiduciary Manager to focus on longer-term outcomes, commensurate with the Trustees' position as a long term investor. Consistent with this view, the Trustees do not expect that the Fiduciary Manager would terminate a manager's appointment based purely on short term performance but recognises that a manager may be terminated within a short timeframe due to other factors such as a significant change in business structure or the investment team. The Trustees adopt the same long term focus as part of its ongoing oversight of the Fiduciary Manager.
  5. For most of the Scheme's investments, the Trustees expect the Fiduciary Manager to appoint managers with a medium to long time horizon, consistent with the Scheme. In particular areas such as equity and credit, the Trustees expect the Fiduciary Manager to work with managers who will use their engagement activity to drive improved performance over medium to long term periods within the wider context of long-term sustainable investment. The Trustees note that the Fiduciary Manager may invest in certain strategies where such engagement is not deemed appropriate or possible, due to the nature of the strategy and/or the investment time horizon underlying decision making. The Trustees expect that the appropriateness of the Scheme's allocation to such mandates is determined in the context of the Scheme's overall objectives.
  6. The Trustees have delegated responsibility for the selection, retention and realisation of investments to the Fiduciary Manager and in turn the Scheme's investment managers. However, the Trustees and Fiduciary Manager recognise that an investment's long-term financial success is influenced by a range of financially material factors including Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues.
  7. Consequently, the Trustees (through the selection of the Fiduciary Manager and its associated approach to environmental, social and governance issues, as set out below) seek to be an active long-term investor. The Trustees' focus is explicitly on financially material factors. The Trustees' policy at this time is not to take into account non-financial matters.
  8. When considering its policy in relation to stewardship including engagement and voting, the Trustees expect investment managers to address broad ESG considerations but have identified climate and human and labour rights as two of the biggest ESG risks facing the Scheme, and consequently, these are key areas of focus for the Trustees. The Trustees assess that ESG risks, and in particular climate change, pose a financial risk to the Scheme and that focussing on these issues is ultimately consistent with the Trustees' fiduciary duties and the financial security of its members. Whilst the Trustees' policy is to delegate a number of stewardship activities to the Fiduciary Manager and the investment managers, the Trustees recognise that the responsibility for these activities remains with the Trustees. The Trustees incorporate an assessment of how well the Fiduciary Manager and investment managers exercise these responsibilities as part of its overall assessment of their performance.
  9. The Fiduciary Manager has a dedicated Sustainable Investment resource and a network of subject matter experts. The consideration of ESG issues is fully embedded in the investment manager selection and portfolio management process, with oversight undertaken on an ongoing basis. The Trustees expect the Fiduciary Manager to assess the alignment of the Scheme's underlying managers' approach to sustainable investment (including engagement) with its own before making an investment on the Scheme's behalf. The Trustees expect the Fiduciary manager to engage with underlying managers where appropriate regarding their approach to stewardship with respect to relevant matters including capital structure of investee companies, actual and potential conflicts, other stakeholders and ESG impact of underlying holdings. In addition, the Trustees expect the Fiduciary Manager to review the managers' approach to sustainable investment (including engagement) on a regular basis and engage with the manager to encourage further alignment as appropriate. The Fiduciary Manager considers a range of sustainable investment factors, such as, but not limited to, those arising from ESG considerations, including climate change, in the context of a broader risk management framework. The degree to which these factors are relevant to any given strategy is a function of time horizon, investment style, philosophy and particular exposures which the Fiduciary Manager takes into account in the assessment.
  10. The Fiduciary Manager considers a range of sustainable investment factors, such as, but not limited to, those arising from ESG considerations, including climate change, in the context of a broader risk management framework. The degree to which these factors are relevant to any given strategy is a function of time horizon, investment style, philosophy and particular exposures which the Fiduciary Manager takes into account in the assessment.
  11. The Fiduciary Manager encourages and expects the Scheme's investment managers to sign up to local or other applicable Stewardship Codes, in-keeping with good practice, subject to the extent of materiality for certain asset classes. The Fiduciary Manager itself is a signatory to the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) and the UK Stewardship Code and is actively involved in external collaborations and initiatives.
  12. The Trustees' policy is to delegate responsibility for the exercising of rights (including voting rights) attaching to investments to the investment managers. The Fiduciary Manager assesses the voting policies of the investment managers that it appoints on the Trustees' behalf, for consistency with the Trustees' policies and objectives, as appropriate. The Fiduciary Manager has also appointed EOS at Federated Hermes to undertake public policy engagement and company-level engagement on its behalf. EOS at Federated Hermes also assists the Trustee's equity managers with voting recommendations.
  13. The Trustees expect the Fiduciary Manager to consider the fee structures of asset managers and the alignment of interests created by these fee structures as part of its investment decision making process, both at the appointment of an asset manager and on an ongoing basis. Asset managers are generally paid an ad valorem fee, in line with normal market practice, for a given scope of services which includes consideration of long-term factors and engagement. The Trustees expect the Fiduciary Manager to review and report on the costs incurred in managing the Scheme's assets regularly, which includes the costs associated with portfolio turnover. In assessing the appropriateness of the portfolio turnover costs at an individual manager level, the Trustees expect the Fiduciary Manager to have regard to the actual portfolio turnover and how this compares with the expected turnover range for that mandate.

Other Matters

  1. The Scheme is a Registered Pension Scheme for the purposes of the Finance Act 2004
  2. In the past, the Scheme provided a facility for members to pay AVCs to enhance their benefits at retirement and many of the members who previously paid AVCs retain investments in the Scheme in respect of those contributions. The AVC arrangements provide benefits with the value of members' funds being determined by the value of accumulated contributions adjusted for investment returns net of charges. In selecting appropriate investments, the Trustees are aware of the need to provide a range of investment options, which broadly satisfy the risk profiles of all members.
  3. The Trustees recognise a number of risks involved in the investment of the Scheme's assets, and, where applicable, monitors these risks in conjunction with the Fiduciary Manager.
  4. No more than 5% of assets may be held in investments related to the Company

Solvency Risk and Mismatch Risk

  • Are measured through a qualitative and quantitative assessment of the expected development of the funding level.
  • Are managed through the development of a portfolio consistent with delivering the Scheme's investment objective.

Investment Manager Risk

  • Is measured by the expected deviation of the return relative to the benchmark set
  • Is managed by considering when to employ active versus passive management given prospective net of fees returns, consideration of the appropriate amount of the Scheme to allocate to any active portfolios and by monitoring the actual deviation of returns relative to the benchmark and factors supporting the managers' investment process

Liquidity Risk

  • Is measured by the level of cash flow required by the Scheme over a specified period
  • Is managed by the Scheme's administrators assessing the level of cash held in order to limit the impact of the cash flow requirements on the investment policy and through holding assets of appropriate liquidity

Currency Risk

  • Is measured by the level of exposure to non-Sterling denominated assets
  • Is managed by the implementation of a currency hedging programme (carried out within some of the pooled investment vehicles) which reduces the impact of exchange rate movements on the Scheme's asset value

Custodial Risk

  • Is addressed through investment in pooled vehicles, with the investment managers being responsible for selection of suitable custodians. In addition the Scheme's global custodian, is responsible for sweeping un-invested cash balances into pooled cash funds, which will be managed by an investment manager who, in line with other investment managers of pooled vehicles for the Scheme is responsible for selecting the custodian for the cash funds

Interest Rate and Inflation Risk

  • Are measured by comparing the likely movement in the Scheme's liabilities and assets due to movements in inflation and interest rates
  • Are managed by holding a portfolio of matching assets (physical bonds and/or derivatives via pooled funds) that enable the Scheme's assets to broadly match movements in the value of the liabilities due to inflation and interest rates. The construction, ongoing management and consideration of risks (such as derivatives risk) of this portfolio is undertaken by the Fiduciary Manager

Political Risk

  • Is measured by the level of concentration of any one market leading to the risk of an adverse influence on investment values arising from political intervention
  • Is managed by regular reviews of the actual investments relative to policy and through the level of country diversification within the policy

Sponsor Risk

  • Is measured by receiving regular financial updates from the Company and periodic independent covenant assessments
  • Is managed through an agreed contribution and funding schedule

Adopted by the Trustees - September 2023