FUND INVESTMENTS NEWS ARCHIVE 2008
| DECEMBER |
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 The Madoff AffairStatement from the Fund
Merseyside Pension Fund is reassuring its members that their pensions are safe following the arrest of Bernard Madoff in the United States.
Although one of the Fund’s asset management companies, Bramdean, had invested in Madoff’s scheme, Merseyside Pension Fund has no direct investments and the impact appears to be minimal.
A spokesperson explained:
'The Fund has stringent risk controls in place which ensure that its investments are diverse with limited exposure to any one asset class, market, sector or stock. Changes to the stock market mean that the overall value of Merseyside Pension Fund fluctuates regularly and although our share holding with Bramdean has reduced following recent news, we are hopeful that it will recover.
The total value of the Merseyside Pension Fund is £3.7 billion. Figures from the end of October 2008 indicated that the net asset value of the Fund’s investments through Bramdean was £21 million, of which the Madoff element forms only 9.5%. Events are still unfolding but the impact on Merseyside Pension Fund’s assets appears to be minimal, relating to a very small percentage of overall investments. We can reassure scheme members that their pensions are safe and their statutory entitlements will not be affected.
We are very concerned at the apparent failure of the regulatory and securities market regime in the US. The Fund makes every effort to manage market and investment risk but relies on its investment managers to ensure that appropriate due diligence is undertaken and on regulators to maintain the integrity of markets. Madoff is only one of several elements that the Fund has invested in through Bramdean.'
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NOVEMBER
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The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has published draft proposals for further amendments to the LGPS Regulations to introduce a cost sharing mechanism for the LGPS in England and Wales, by 31 March 2009.
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| OCTOBER |
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Merseyside Pension Fund has published its Report & Accounts for the Year 2007/08. The report highlights the important issues 'affecting the Fund' in the year ending 31 March 2008, 'as well as providing more general information regarding the pension scheme'.
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 Your Pension and the Banking CrisisThe current worldwide financial situation and its media coverage has, understandably, given some cause for concern to a number of Scheme members over the security of their pensions held within the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
Merseyside Pension Fund would like to assure its members that the Fund is invested across a wide range of assets such as equities, bonds and property and is constantly monitored and adjusted to minimise risk.
LGPS members can further be assured that their pension entitlements are established under law and are not dependant on the value of the pension fund, but determined based on membership and pay.
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| JULY |
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 Industrial Action on 16-17 July 2008Due to industrial action taken by members of trade unions, UNISON and UNITE, there may be some disruption to our service on Wednesday 16 July and Thursday 17 July 2008. The Fund apologises for any inconvenience caused.
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| JUNE |
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 Sustaining the Local Government Pension SchemeOn 19 February 2008, the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) issued a consultation paper setting out principles and propositions for future cost sharing in the LGPS. The Fund has submitted its response.
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| MAY |
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 Fund Office Closed - May 26-27 2008Please note that Merseyside Pension Fund will be closed on both Monday 26 May 2008 and Tuesday 27 May 2007. The Fund will re-open with normal hours of business on Wednesday 28 May 2008.
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| APRIL |
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An actuarial valuation of Merseyside Pension Fund has been carried out as at 31 March 2007. The primary aims of the valuation are to review the financial position of the Fund and to determine appropriate employer contributions to the Fund for the future.
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