The Prudential is heading back to the pensions buy out environment with a deal worth around GBP350 million to pick up some of the Rank pension scheme.
The deal is expected to be confirmed next week when the interim results of the Prudential will be announced. Under the terms of the agreement the Prudential will take on the duty of paying the pensions of existing recipients of pensions through Rank.
There are around 10,000 people currently on the books,all of whom will in future receive their pension payments from the Prudential. This is a market that they used to be strong in but moved away from a couple of years ago to focus on their core business.
A recent survey has shown that those aged 50 and over, the typical Saga Insurance customers, are concerned about how the credit crunch will affect their pensions and investments.
According to the survey, carried out by Millennium, over 75 percent of these Saga Insurance aged respondents believe the credit crunch will negatively impact on their investments, whilst almost 60 percent are expecting their pension provisions to be affected. However it is not all doom and gloom, since over three quarters of the over 50s are also saying they will not give up holidays and eating out.
People aged 50 and over tend to have a good view of the economy, having experienced its ups and downs over their lives. This is why the opinions of the Saga Insurance customers are valuable and worth bearing in mind no matter what age you may be.
Starting from Monday 11 August the Prudential is going to decide annuity rates based on where people live, using their postcode as a guide.
A persons postcode can suggest expected life expectancy and typical health backgrounds of people, leading to the Prudential being able to offer rates that will better match the risk with the amount offered. Those in areas of lower life expectancy and poorer health will be likely to receive bigger pension payments from their annuity since they will be expected not to live as long as someone in a better area.
A Prudential spokesman said that the postcode is an excellent way of determining risk and pension payment since everyone has one. He went on to say that the postcode would make a difference of only 5 percent when comparing highest pension payments to lowest, with other factors also being taken into account to determine the most suitable amount.
