TRUSTEE SUBCOMMITTEES

TASKS

• Makes recommendations to the Trustee Board on setting objectives and long-term investment strategy.
• Appoints and monitors the investment managers and Plan’s custodian.

Find out more about the Investment Committee

The Investment Committee makes recommendations to the Trustee Board on setting the Plan’s long-term investment strategy. The aim is for the Plan to have a diverse portfolio of investments so that members receive their benefits when they’re due – whatever happens in the financial markets.

The Investment Committee is chaired by Mark Condron.

The committee also benefits from the input of the following non-Trustee Board members: Global Pensions & Benefits Manager – Rogier Bouwman and Finance Director, HEINEKEN UK – Rob Kleinjan.

The Investment Committee delegates the day-to-day management of the investments to a number of external fund managers. The committee meets quarterly to review the managers’ performance. These meetings are attended by the Plan’s specialist investment adviser, Isio.

As the Chair of the Investment Committee, Mark reports to the full Trustee Board at their quarterly meetings.

Every three years, the Trustee reviews the investment strategy and decides how much of the portfolio to invest in different asset classes. This is something that takes place after each actuarial valuation. However, in between valuations, the Investment Committee has some discretion to change the actual allocation of assets in response to changing market conditions.

The committee is also responsible for establishing and monitoring the Plan’s investment policy on Environment, Social and Governance matters, and checking that the investment managers are acting in accordance with the policy.

TASKS

• Reviews cases where discretion is required.
• Approves pension benefits and lump sum payments.

Find out more about the Notable Cases Committee

This committee exercises the Trustee’s discretion in respect of members’ benefits, for example if a member dies and hasn’t named their unmarried partner as a beneficiary, or if the member has young children who are eligible for a pension.

TASKS

• Periodically reviews the Risk Register for the Plan.
• Reviews the audit controls over the reporting and custody of Plan assets.

Find out more about the Risk Committee

This Committee has been set up to ensure the Trustee complies with the Pension Schemes Act 2021 requirements.

TASKS

• Maintains a process for review and monitoring of the Plan auditor.
• Prepares and reviews annual financial statements and accounts.

Find out more about the Audit Committee

The Audit Committee ensures compliance with audit standards and relevant legislation.

TASKS

• Proposes the approach for setting actuarial assumptions at triennial valuations.
• Reviews provisional valuation results.
• Consider options for addressing any deficit disclosed at the valuation (recovery plan), alternative ways of funding the Plan and future funding targets.
• Reviews the suitability of discretionary benefits.

Find out more about the Valuation Committee

Unlike the other subcommittees, the Valuation Committee does not meet regularly on a quarterly basis. Instead it meets as and when required, for example when a valuation is taking place or when there is a special funding project.

A valuation is a very complex task, which can take up to 15 months to complete. The Funding Committee will play a critical role in the process, from proposing the approach for setting the assumptions that will be used by the Plan actuary, to making recommendations to the Trustee Board on finalising the valuation, after taking advice from the Plan actuary.

The Committee also has regard to the fact that the funding policy should achieve a balance between being able to pay the promised benefits in both the short and longer term, and to the Company’s future overall financial well-being.

TASKS

• Propose an approach for assessing the employer covenant.
• Develop an integrated risk management (IRM) approach and liaise with the other subcommitttees to review each element of the IRM framework.
• Consider the impact of corporate transactions/restructures on the Plan.

Find out more about the Funding Committee

The Funding Committee is made up of the Plan’s three Independent Trustee Directors, whose experience of working across many different pension schemes is invaluable.

The Committee is responsible for developing an integrated risk management approach that considers various risks associated with the employer covenant, investment strategy and funding policy. The Committee is also responsible for dealing with any information relating to corporate transactions or restructures.