Tag: pension buyout

New Illinois Law Authorizes $1 Billion in Pension Obligation Bonds and Extends Buyout Option

Mary Pat Campbell

Link: https://www.ai-cio.com/news/new-illinois-law-authorizes-1-billion-in-pension-obligation-bonds-and-extends-buyout-option/

Excerpt:

Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker signed into law House Bill 4292 last Thursday [May 5]. The bill extends state employees’ ability to exercise pension buyout options to June 2026, as opposed to the previous deadline of 2024. Buyout options allow pension recipients to take a lump sum of money now as opposed to waiting to retirement to receive the pension. The hope is that doing so could decrease the state’s struggling pensions’ unfunded future liabilities.

Illinois’ state budget for fiscal year 2023 also authorized an additional $500 million in payments to the state pension fund and $1 billion in pension obligation bonds. 

…..

Illinois’ pension funds are among the worst funded in the country. As of fiscal year 2021, the state’s pension plans were 46.5% funded, significantly lower than the national average of 72.8%, according to the National Association of State Retirement Administrators.

Author(s): Anna Gordon

Publication Date: 9 May 2022

Publication Site: ai-CIO

AstraZeneca to End Its US Corporate Pension Plan

Mary Pat Campbell

Link:https://www.ai-cio.com/news/astrazeneca-to-end-its-us-corporate-pension-plan/

Excerpt:

AstraZeneca, a British–Swedish biopharmaceutical company responsible for developing one of the world’s most widely distributed COVID-19 vaccines, announced on January 25 that it will be transferring its pension assets to an insurance company.

“This is a common practice, achieved via a process known as ‘plan termination’ and ‘buy-out.’ This action does not impact any participant’s eligibility to receive the benefit earned under the pension plan,” AstraZeneca representatives wrote in a statement explaining the transition.

AstraZeneca’s US pension initially began struggling with its funded status in 2017, and the company made the decision to freeze benefit accruals that year. This move ended up making a significant difference, bringing funded status from 80% in 2017 up to 99.19% by the end of 2018. The plan currently has $1.3 billion in assets under management (AUM) and serves approximately 7,000 employees, according to its Form 5500.

Author(s): Anna Gordon

Publication Date: 7 Feb 2022

Publication Site: ai-CIO

Looks Like Politicians Will Extend Illinois’ Pension Buyout Program

Mary Pat Campbell

Link:https://www.ai-cio.com/news/looks-like-politicians-will-extend-illinois-pension-buyout-program/

Excerpt:

In 2019, the state of Illinois introduced a pension buyout system that allowed pension plan holders to receive a lump sum of cash now as opposed to keeping their money invested in the pension system. The payments are funded by a state bond issue of $1 billion.

Now, however, politicians are concerned the funding for this program will run out of money. Illinois state Representative Bob Morgan introduced a fast-tracked bill that is currently pending in the state House to renew this program for another two years and authorize another $1 billion in funding.

With over $130 billion in unfunded liabilities statewide, the state of Illinois has been actively searching for ways to help alleviate its financial burdens.

Author(s): Anna Gordon

Publication Date: 28 Jan 2022

Publication Site: ai-CIO