Tata Steel today said that its UK arm has concluded the actuarial valuation of British Steel Pension Scheme (BSPS) and the deficit in the scheme stands at about £90 million (around $138 million) as of March 2014.
The residual deficit of Tata Steel UK Ltd (TSUK), an indirect subsidiary of Tata Steel, stood at around £550 million (over $842 million) for the period ended March 31, 2011.
Trustee of BSPS and TSUK have concluded the triennial actuarial valuation of the scheme as of March 31, 2014, it said in a regulatory filing.
“As a result of measures agreed between the Trustee and TSUK and benefit changes implemented following consultation between TSUK, its employees and their representatives, the on-going residual deficit has been reduced from around £550 million as on March 31, 2011, to £90 million as on March 31, 2014,” it added.
Accounting impacts arising from the changes to the pension plan will be recorded in the company’s accounts in due course, the filing said.
BSPS is the largest defined benefit scheme within Tata Steel Europe’s portfolio. On account of low interest rates in the UK, the valuation placed on the scheme’s liabilities increased significantly since the last actuarial valuation in 2011 leading to a greatly increased funding deficit.
Tata Steel negotiated with the employees and unions on making certain changes to the pension scheme, which the firm claimed will make it affordable and sustainable and at the same time will provide competitive benefits to the workers.