FCA’s proposals a threat to infrastructure spend

The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) has today (Wednesday) responded to the FCA’s consultation, , rejecting the classification of local authority pension funds as retail investors.

The proposed reclassification threatens the ability of funds within the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) to invest in infrastructure as the majority of infrastructure investment firms are structured to explicitly exclude retail investors.

LGPS respondents to the PLSA’s most recent annual survey reported that 1.1% of their assets are invested in infrastructure. Across the whole LGPS this would equate to around £2.7bn of infrastructure investment at risk.

As a retail investor, there is no guarantee that asset managers would be willing to do business with LGPS funds, or would not impose significant cost for doing so.   

Graham Vidler, Director of External Affairs, Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association, said:

“The PLSA is a strong advocate of investment governance and we understand the need to ensure those making investment decisions have appropriate knowledge and understanding. However, the FCA needs to consider that local government pension funds have significant levels of investment expertise, a robust track record of effective risk management in investments, and considerable experience across a wide range of asset classes, including infrastructure.

“Reclassifying local authority pension funds as retail investors will prevent them from investing in certain asset classes such as infrastructure. With LGPS funds investing billions in infrastructure right now, and at a time when the Government is calling for greater infrastructure investment by pension funds, these proposals are counterintuitive.

“We urge the FCA to distinguish between the investment activity of local authorities and local authority pension funds, so the latter may retain its professional client status to continue its effective investment strategies.”

Currently, investments by local authorities for pension funds are already subject to high standards under the Management and Investment of Funds Regulations 2016. The regulation includes the requirement for pension funds to take ‘proper advice’ when appointing investment managers.

The FCA has proposed an opt-up provision for local authority pension funds to elected professional status. However this process is time consuming and provides no guarantees that future investment strategies will be effectively executed with existing managers or on existing terms.

-ENDS-

 

NOTES TO EDITORS:

We’re the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association; the national association with a ninety year history of helping pension professionals run better pension schemes. Our members include over 1,300 pension schemes with 20 million members and £1 trillion in assets, and over 400 businesses. They make us the voice for pensions and lifetime savings in Westminster, Whitehall and Brussels.

Our purpose is simple: to help everyone to achieve a better income in retirement. We work to get more money into retirement savings, to get more value out of those savings and to build the confidence and understanding of savers.

CONTACTS:

Lucy Grubb, Head of Media and PR, Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association
T: 020 7601 1726, M: 07713 073 023, E: [email protected]

Babak Mayamey, Press Officer, Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association
T: 020 7601 1718, M: 07825 171 446, E: [email protected]

Kathryn Mortimer, Press Officer, Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association
T: 020 7601 1748, M: 07901 007 713, E: [email protected]