LCP advises on £4.3 billion Rolls-Royce buyout transition which completed in less than 12 months

Pension Insurance Corporation plc (PIC), a specialist insurer of defined benefit pension schemes, has completed the buyout of all 36,000 members of the Rolls-Royce UK Pension Fund ('the Fund'), less than 12 months after signing a £4.3 billion full buy-in with the Trustee.

LCP advised the Trustee on all aspects of the buy-in and subsequent buy-out.  

In order to achieve continuity of service, including the Trustee’s digitally focussed approach, PIC has appointed Brightwell as its administration partner. Brightwell has set up a new, dedicated office in Derby and the existing Rolls-Royce administration team, who were already based in Derby, have transferred to Brightwell to ensure that expertise is retained.

David Fink, LCP Partner, commented: “Achieving the transition to buy-out so quickly was only made possible through the thorough planning completed ahead of the buy-in and huge team effort since then. The innovative structuring in relation to data cleansing, residual risks cover and the transfer of the team and systems to Brightwell were key drivers in the success of this phase of the project. It has been a pleasure to support the Trustee and the in-house team to achieve this landmark.”

Liz Airey, Chair of Trustees, Rolls-Royce UK Pension Fund, said: “This has been an exceptionally smooth transition process, a remarkable achievement given the size of the scheme and the complexity of moving the administration at the same time. I want to thank the whole team at PIC and Brightwell for their focus on the needs of the members. I have no doubt that we made the right choice and that the members will be exceptionally well looked after as PIC policyholders.”

Pete Rennalls, Head of New Business Delivery at PIC, said: “It’s been a pleasure to work with Liz and her team during the transition process. Our strong working relationship allowed us to complete the process within just nine months. This transition is a great example of what can be achieved with good preparation, expert partners, close working relationships, a supportive sponsor, and an unwavering focus on members’ needs.”

Andy Rose, Head of Pension Services at PIC, said: “This achievement represents an important milestone in our long-term commitment and focus on delivering the highest levels of customer care for our policyholders. I’d like to express my thanks to Liz and the whole team at Rolls-Royce and Brightwell for their incredible support and collaboration over the past nine months. Reaching this milestone together is something we feel very proud of. Looking ahead we are excited to work with our new partner Brightwell to provide a high-quality, outcome focussed customer experience – making sure our policyholders continue to receive the support and care they deserve for the long term.”

James Pearson, Head of Member Services Operations at Brightwell, said: “This has been a major collaborative effort. By retaining the existing Rolls-Royce administration team and combining that experience with our technology platform, we can continue to deliver a reliable and high‑quality service to policyholders on behalf of PIC.”

The newly opened Derby office, was officially opened by Baggy Shanker, Labour and Co-operative MP for Derby South. A former Rolls-Royce employee and long-standing supporter of investment in the region, Mr Shanker met with PIC senior management and the Brightwell team during the visit and took part in the commemorative ribbon ceremony.

Baggy Shanker, MP for Derby South, said: “Rolls-Royce has both a proud history and bright future in Derby.

“I was pleased to visit Brightwell’s new Derby office, meet the team based here, and welcome skilled work being retained locally.”