Pension liabilities have been cited as one of the main barriers to pursuing a merger, and it is understandable given the complexities of the legislation, HR issues and potential threat of triggering a significant financial burden. It is no wonder then that the last two years has seen few mergers completed and a significant number being abandoned before conclusion. Mergers are inevitable in the current market environment as a way of improving competitiveness, scale and efficiencies, but to navigate the pension minefield professional advice sought at an early stage of the negotiations is vital. This advice would allow a full investigation of the implications of any change to ensure short term objectives are not being met at the expense of the long term security of the organisation. Read the full article by David Davison at Civil Society.
