Latest news & announcements

The Avon Pension Fund Annual Report for 2020/21 now available

Front cover of the 2020/21 Avon Pension Fund annual report

The latest annual report for 2020/21 is now available.

The report includes the accounts for the year, changes to the LGPS together with details of membership and changes to basic scheme details that have either taken place during the year or are proposed for the future. In addition, the report includes the Actuarial Statement applicable for the year and a report on Investments and Investment performance for the year.

Avon Pension Fund publishes its annual Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) Report

Picture of some buildings on a green background.

Following a consultation, in 2017 the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) issued initial recommendations for reporting to help stakeholders in financial markets understand their climate risks and opportunities. This covers the areas of Governance, Strategy, Risk and Metrics & Targets and Avon Pension Fund has now adopted this guidance and set out its own disclosures in this report.

Although not yet compulsory for Local Government pension funds, the Fund is a strong supporter of these disclosures. This critical framework not only helps us to deliver on our own climate change objectives but is also a way of signalling to investee companies, managers, partners and pension fund members how important climate risk transparency is if the Fund is to achieve real world emission reductions.

We've launched a digital magazine - ESG

ESG Zine Issue One Front Cover

We’re pleased to launch the very first issue of our new digital ‘zine’, ESG – a publication that will keep you updated on our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) activity within the Avon Pension Fund. This issue focuses on the climate emergency, and our strategy and activity in helping to tackle it. We also detail information on COP26 and what it means to us as a pension fund.

Avon Pension Fund Climate Emergency animation

 

In the lead up to COP26, Avon Pension Fund have put together this short animation outlining the Fund’s approach to investment in respect of the climate emergency. It highlights the work we are doing to become a carbon neutral pension fund by 2050 or earlier.

We look forward to sharing more progress with you in the near, medium, and long-term future of this ambitious goal.

Avon Pension Fund sets ambitious climate change targets and takes steps to mitigate the financial risk of climate change in review of equity portfolio

An image of a solar farm in California that Avon Pension Fund has invested in.

Avon Pension Fund is pleased to announce it is transitioning its entire legacy low carbon equity strategy (~£780m) into the recently launched Paris Aligned Benchmark (PAB) developed by FTSE Russell and Brunel Pension Partnership.  

Notice of delay to audited pension fund accounts

Under section 10 of the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015, the Council is required to publish its annual Statement of Accounts by 31 July each year.  The Accounts and Audit (Amendment) Regulations 2021 extended this date to 30 September for financial years beginning 2020 and 2021. 

If the audit has not concluded by publication date, the Council is required to publish the reasons for this under Section 10.2a of the Regulations.

Due to resourcing difficulties on the part of the external auditors, Grant Thornton, the audit of the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 has not concluded in time to meet the 30 September publication date.

The draft Statement of Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 is available below:

PDF iconAvon Pension Fund - Draft Statement of Accounts 2020-21

Avon Pension Fund signs new charter to target diversity problem in asset management

At Avon Pension Fund, diversity is an integral part of our Responsible Investment strategy and as such a key priority. To help address the issue and build an investment industry that embodies a more balanced representation of diverse societies, we have recently signed-up to the Asset Owner Diversity Charter.

Your Annual Pension Benefit Statement 2021 is on its way

If you are paying into the local government pension scheme (LGPS) you will receive an Annual Pension Benefit Statement from the Avon Pension Fund by the end of August.

It shows the pension you have built up to 31 March 2021 as well as a future projection of your benefits if you remain paying into the scheme to your Normal Pension Age (NPA). This is the age you would retire and take your benefits without any reduction to your pension.

The statements will be posted out to you by the end of August.

Pages

Subscribe to Avon Pension Fund - Latest news & announcements