Capgemini Uk (2004) Pension Plan
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Implementation Statement CAPGEMINI UK (2004) PENSION PLAN Table of Contents 1. Introduction 3 2. Governance 4 3. Engagement 8 4. Voting Behaviour 13 2 JULY 2020 1. Introduction This statement provides information on how, and the extent to which, the Trustees of the Capgemini UK (2004) Pension Plan have followed the policies in the Plan’s Statement of Investment Principles (“SIP”) during the financial year to 31 March 2020. In addition, the statement provides a summary of the voting behaviour and most significant votes cast during the reporting year. The Trustees recognise their responsibilities as owners of capital, and believe that good stewardship practices, including monitoring and engaging with investee companies, and exercising voting rights attaching to investments, protect and enhance the long-term value of investments. The Trustees have delegated to their fiduciary manager and investment managers the exercise of rights attaching to investments, including voting rights, and engagement with issuers of debt and equity and other relevant persons about relevant matters such as performance, strategy, capital structure, management of actual or potential conflicts of interest, risks and Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) considerations. The Trustees do not monitor or engage directly with issuers or other holders of debt or equity. For the defined benefit (“DB”) Sections, the Trustees expect the fiduciary manager, Kempen Capital Management (Kempen) to exercise ownership rights and undertake monitoring and engagement in line with its’ own corporate governance policies, and taking account of current best practice including the UK Corporate Governance Code 2018 and the UK Stewardship Code 2020. The fiduciary manager expects the underlying investment managers it selects, who are regulated in the UK, to comply with the UK Stewardship Code 2020, including public disclosure of compliance via an external website. For an investment manager to be appointed my Kempen, on behalf of the Trustees, they must also take into consideration Kempen’s’ Responsible Investment and Exclusions policy which can be found here - https://www.kempen.com/nl/asset-management/responsible-investment Similarly, for the defined contribution (“DC”) sections, the Trustees have delegated responsibility for the exercise of rights (including voting rights) attached to the Plan’s investments to the Investment Managers. The Trustees encourage them to engage with investee companies and vote whenever it is practical to do so on financially material matters such as strategy, capital structure, conflicts of interest policies, risks, social and environmental impact and corporate governance as part of their decision-making processes. This Implementation Statement documents how the stewardship policy has been followed by the investment managers during the period, and describes their and the fiduciary manager’s engagement and in particular their voting behaviour during the year. The Trustees are conscious that some investment managers may not be able to provide voting records for all investment held within certain pooled structures. 3 JULY 2020 2. Governance Generally, the Trustees meet three times a year, including one meeting focussed on investment issues, and consider the economic outlook and whether any changes should be made to the Plan’s investment strategy. The Trustees also receive reports from the Investment Advisor and fiduciary manager on the progression of the funding position and investment performance. 2.1 Review of SIP During the year to 31 March 2020, the Trustees received training on ESG issues from their Investment Adviser, XPS Investment (“XPS”) and discussed their beliefs around those issues. This enabled the Trustees to consider how to update their policy in relation to ESG and voting issues. The Trustees’ new policy was documented in the updated Statements of Investment Principles dated September 2019. The Trustees also considered their general investment beliefs and incorporated those into the updated SIPs. For the DB Sections, the SIP was further updated in February 2020 to reflect an increase in the target level of liability hedging. 2.2 Asset Allocation In understanding that asset allocation plays an important role in achieving investment objectives and good member outcomes, the Trustees regularly monitor the asset allocation of DB and DC sections of the Plan to ensure that these are in line with the current investment objectives. The Trustees are required to review the strategy of the default investment arrangements offered by the DC Section of the Plan at least every three years or immediately following any significant change in investment policy or in the DC Section’s member profile. During the reporting year, no changes were made to the default arrangements. Towards the end of the financial year, the Property Fund in the DC Section was gated by the investment manager, although only one deferred member was invested in this fund. Apart from the increase in the target level of liability hedging referred to above, no other changes were made to the investment strategy for the DB Section during the year. The strategy will be considered further in the 2020/21 Plan year. 4 JULY 2020 2.3 The Trustees’ investment policies The Trustees had various investment policies for the Plan on the topics listed in the table below; the table also provides commentary on how and the extent to which the various policies were followed during the reporting year. Policy How the policy was The extent to which the followed policy was followed Kinds of investments to be held DB Section: the Trustees The Trustees are satisfied that DB Section: The Trustees’ invest in a range of different they followed this policy in full policy is to acquire assets asset classes for during the year. of appropriate liquidity diversification purposes and which will generate set the overall strategy income and capital based on professional growth to help meet the advice. benefits payable. DC Section: The Trustees' DC Section: The Trustees long-term objectives are provide members with to provide members with investment vehicles investment options that encompassing both real and will enable them to monetary assets. optimise the real return on investments. Balance between different investments DB Section: The types of The Trustees are satisfied that DB Section: The Trustees’ asset classes held include they followed this policy in full policy is to invest in a both return seeking assets during the year. diversified portfolio of (e.g. equities, multi asset return seeking assets funds, hedge funds, bonds and liability matching funds) and liability matching assets. assets. DC Section: The amounts DC Section: The options allocated to any available to members individual asset class will include equities (UK and be influenced by the overseas), bonds, property, choices made by the cash and multi asset funds. members. Choosing investments During the year, following The Trustees are satisfied that The Trustees’ policy is to advice from XPS, there was they followed this policy in full regularly review the an increase in liability during the year. investments over which hedging for the DB Section. they retain control and No changes were made for to obtain written advice the DC Section. about them when necessary. For the DB Section, the Trustees have delegated the selection, monitoring and 5 replacement of some investment managers to the fiduciary manager. Risks (measurement and management) The Trustees receive The Trustees are satisfied that The Trustees have a quarterly reporting from appropriate reporting is in number of policies in their fiduciary manager and place. respect of risk investment advisor to management and provide the information measurement. required to monitor the investment strategy and performance. In addition, for the DB Section, a monthly dashboard is produced highlighting the funding level progression and a measure of risk. Expected return DB Section: The Trustees DB Section: Based on The Trustees are satisfied that expect that future advice, the Trustees believe they followed this policy in full investment returns will that the current strategy during the year. at least meet the rate of will achieve the objectives return underlying the over the long term, but are Recovery Plan. also conscious of the associated risks. DC Section: The Trustees DC Section: The Trustees anticipate that the have made available a range investment options and of investment funds with the associated future different risk-reward absolute investment characteristics. returns will allow members to maintain the real value of their fund whilst at the same time providing them with the opportunity to invest in assets which are closely aligned to the way in which they expect to convert their fund at retirement. Realisation of investments DB Section: The The Trustees are satisfied that The Trustees’ policy is to administrators monitor the they followed the policy to a hold most of the Plan’s projected cashflow position reasonable extent over the assets in readily on a monthly basis and reporting period but realisable assets. request disinvestments acknowledge they have little from the fiduciary manager control over the events if required to pay benefits leading to the Property Fund and other outflows. closure. 6 DC Section: The temporary closure of the Property Fund as a result of Covid-19 led to some assets held by members temporarily not being readily realisable. The Fund has reopened since the end of the