Pensions
Introduction
The pensions environment is complex with constantly changing legislation and regulations. There is about ZAR2 trillion invested in South African pension funds. Investment products and investment strategies are influenced by circumstances specific to South Africa, but due regard must be taken of the international environment and its best practice. This makes the process of investing pension assets and the administration of pension funds complex.
To this end pension funds, trustees of pension funds, principal officers, administrators of pension funds, investment managers and employers alike need sound advice on investments, tax, fund governance and other issues from a law firm that understands the complexities and challenges faced by the pensions industry, both locally and internationally.
How we can help you
The professionals in our pensions department have excellent relationships with industry bodies and regulatory authorities, and are keeping abreast of regulatory changes that enable them to offer you appropriate and timeous assistance. For example, we can advise you on how the anticipated Regulation 28 changes will impact on the provision of information to the regulator and other associated issues. Furthermore, our pensions department can advise on new generation investment products.
Our team provides advice on all areas of pension law, employee benefits, the relevant taxation issues and professional indemnity insurance. We prosecute and defend complaints brought before the Pension Fund Adjudicator and, where necessary, interact with the Financial Services Board, the South African Reserve Bank and the South African Revenue Services. Our litigation team has prosecuted and defended many cases dealing with pension funds.
Through Eversheds’ worldwide offices we have access to international best practice. Our team of international pensions experts is able to advise on all pension aspects of international corporate transactions, the practical and regulatory issues associated with operating pension arrangements in different jurisdictions, international secondments and establishing cross-border schemes. Furthermore, due to the sharing of information our South African team has access to other pension fund teams who may be able to bring an international perspective to assist local clients. Our London pensions team won the European Pensions Law Firm of the Year Award in 2009.
The pensions team also works closely with our employment law team, and has represented a broad range of clients, including listed and unlisted companies, local government institutions, tertiary education institutions, bargaining councils, employers’ organisation, trade unions and international companies with business interests in South Africa.
Our pensions team focuses on the delivery of solutions to all pension fund related problems. With the wealth of experience available within the firm we can assist you in any legal issue you may face, be it commercial, regulatory or legislation driven, in South Africa and internationally.
In addition, we have the ability to do in-house training for you, which we will tailor-make to suit your organisation’s requirements.
