Northern Gas Networks (NGN) is the gas distributor for the North of England, transporting gas to 2.7 million homes and businesses across the North East, most of Yorkshire and northern Cumbria.
The Scheme is an existing client of Legal & General, with Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) having managed a proportion of the Scheme’s assets since the Scheme was established in 2005. This transaction is the Scheme’s first buy-in policy and covers around two thirds of its members.
By being prepared, and able to move quickly, the Trustee and NGN were able to take advantage of favourable market conditions to establish the buy-in. Legal & General’s price lock, while the legal agreement was progressed, gave the Trustee a high degree of price and execution certainty prior to completion of the transaction.
Aon acted as broker for the transaction.
Rachel Cutts, Origination & Execution Director, Legal & General Retirement Institutional: “We are delighted to have completed this transaction, which provides further financial security to the members of the Northern Gas Networks Pension Scheme. This transaction demonstrates that by having a clear objective and flexible timescales, trustees can move quickly and secure their members’ benefits when favourable pricing is available. It builds on the Legal & General Group’s existing relationship with the Scheme and we look forward to continuing to work with the Scheme in the coming years.”
Catherine Edmondson, Trustee Chair: “I am delighted that we have been able to take this important step to reduce risk in the Scheme and increase member security. Thank you to the Trustee, NGN and our advisers for all of their hard work which allowed us to move quickly when the opportunity arose to secure an attractive transaction.”
David Waite, Finance Director for NGN: “This transaction demonstrates the initiatives and efforts which continue to be undertaken by NGN to manage our commitment to the scheme, balancing the interests of our customers, shareholders and scheme members.”
John Baines, Partner, Aon: “The ability of the Trustee and NGN to work collaboratively and move quickly when a pricing opportunity arose was one of the factors which enabled the successful completion of this transaction. It is particularly pleasing to have been part of a team that worked together to secure a deal which benefited all stakeholders, including scheme members and customers of Northern Gas Networks.”
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