PwC Advises Stagecoach Group Pension Scheme Trustee on Groundbreaking change in sponsor to Aberdeen Group plc

PwC has acted as lead adviser to the Stagecoach Group Pension Scheme (SGPS) trustee on a landmark transaction that sees Aberdeen Group plc become the scheme’s sponsoring employer. This trustee-led innovative deal is set to deliver significant benefits to SGPS’s 22,000 members, including an immediate uplift and improved inflationary protection over time. 

The transaction reflects the trustee’s commitment to securing the best possible outcomes for members. By exploring the full range of options, the parties have delivered a solution that provides immediate enhancements and positions the scheme for further improvements in the future. 

In an era of increasing innovation within the pensions industry, this project highlights the value of carefully considering the full spectrum of options available to well-funded schemes. While the transaction is groundbreaking, it has been delivered using established mechanisms applied in new ways, fully aligned with industry best practice and The Pensions Regulator’s guidance. 

 Iain Pearce, PwC lead transaction advisor said; 

  "This transaction is a great outcome for members, who are expected to receive material improvements over time, within a very low risk framework. We're delighted to have led the advice, setting out the full range of options, agree a preferred outcome and then executing this innovative transaction. It has been a pleasure to work with the various stakeholders and other advisors involved at pace to deliver this trustee-led innovative transaction to support positive member outcomes."

ENDS