Independent Trustee Limited

ITS wins "Independent Trustee of the Year" at the Professional Pensions UK Pensions Awards for the 4th consecutive year. More soon.

Welcome to the website of Independent Trustee Services Ltd

It is time to draw breath, and reflect on what has been a very busy first quarter for ITS.

The reasons for appointing an Independent Trustee are many and varied, and explored in our article "So You Think You Want An Independent Trustee". While appointments are usually driven by specific events, the New Year is always a time when many sponsors and trustee boards take stock of their position, and 2012 has already seen new appointments into double figures for ITS. With the increasingly prominent role that independent trustees now play, coupled with continuing economic uncertainty, we had anticipated this trend with the appointments of client facing Directors Esther White and Martine Trouard-Riolle since last September. Our wide ranging expertise is reflected by these new appointments having a range of drivers including:

• Defined Benefit governance
• Corporate transactions
• Sponsor difficulties
• Defined Contribution governance

In early March, the Uniq Pension Scheme (formerly Unigate) formally withdrew from a PPF assessment period, following the buy in of benefits with Rothesay Life which secured benefits at least equal to PPF compensation. This was a great outcome for members and the PPF alike, and the Pension Regulator's report on the case can be viewed by clicking here.

Of course, most schemes in PPF assessment do end up transferring to the PPF. We underlined our credentials in this field, by completing the transfer of four schemes on one slightly fraught Friday in April. Trust Officer Helen Frisby and her team were last seen heading for a darkened room following this fantastic effort.

Pensions practice and thinking is consistently evolving and it is important to us that we contribute to this process. At a high level, this can happen in our practical work, such as the Uniq case with its groundbreaking "deficit for equity swap". We also respond to industry consultations , with the latest example being DWP's consultation on improving transfers and dealing with small pension pots. Our response was co-ordinated by Director Nita Tinn, and can be found by clicking here.

For an informal discussion on how ITS may be able to help you, please contact us.