BT Group PLC BT ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF PENSION FUNDING VALUATION (5548D)

TIDMBT.A

RNS Number : 5548D

BT Group PLC

30 January 2015

30 January 2015

BT GROUP PLC

BT ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF PENSION FUNDING VALUATION

BT and the Trustee of the BT Pension Scheme (BTPS, or the 'Scheme') have reached agreement on the 2014 triennial funding valuation (the '2014 valuation') and recovery plan. The funding deficit at 30 June 2014 is GBP7.0bn with the increase from the 2011 valuation reflecting the low interest rate environment at the valuation date.

A 16 year recovery plan has been agreed reflecting BT's long-term and sustainable cash flow generation. Over the next three years payments will total GBP2.0bn. BT will pay GBP1.5bn by the end of April 2015 out of existing cash and current investment balances which totalled GBP2.8bn at 31 December 2014. This will be followed by GBP250m in each of the years to March 2016 and March 2017.

For the seven years from 2018 to 2024 BT will make payments in line with the 2011 agreement. These will be followed by five annual payments of GBP495m through to 2029 and a final payment of GBP289m in 2030.

BT and the Trustee will review the funding of the Scheme in the normal way at the 2017 valuation. If the deficit is lower than the remaining recovery plan, that reduction will be reflected in the new recovery plan.

BT has agreed to continue to provide the Trustee with certain protections as detailed in the notes below. BT has also discussed details of the potential acquisition of EE with the Trustee.

Tony Chanmugam, BT Group Finance Director, said: "I am pleased that we have agreed the 2014 triennial funding valuation and recovery plan with the Trustee. This agreement is a good outcome for the Scheme's 300,000 members and BT. The increase in the deficit from the 2011 valuation reflects the low interest rate environment. We have agreed a 16 year recovery plan reflecting the strength and sustainability of our future cash flow generation.

We remain focused on our prudent financial policy of investing in our business, reducing net debt, supporting the pension fund and paying progressive dividends."

Paul Spencer CBE, Chairman of the BTPS Trustee, said: "The Trustee is pleased to have reached agreement with BT on the valuation of the Scheme as at 30 June 2014. The valuation reflects the economic and market conditions at the valuation date and the improved financial position of BT. The agreement with BT secures an updated funding plan for the Scheme supported by a range of enhanced protections."

Enquiries

Press office:

Dan Thomas Tel: [phone]

Investor relations:

Damien Maltarp Tel: [phone]

About BT

BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications services and solutions, serving customers in more than 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to its customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband, TV and internet products and services; and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of five lines of business: BT Global Services, BT Business, BT Consumer, BT Wholesale and Openreach.

For the year ended 31 March 2014, BT Group's reported revenue was GBP18,287m with reported profit before taxation of GBP2,312m.

British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.

For more information, visit www.btplc.com.

Detailed information

1. Funding valuation

1.1. BT and the Trustee of the BTPS have reached agreement on the approach to the 2014 valuation.

1.2. The funding deficit at 30 June 2014 is GBP7.0bn (GBP5.6bn after tax relief).

1.3. A summary of the funding position and principal assumptions is shown in the table below:

 
                               June    June 2014   Comment 
                               2011 
---------------------------  -------  ----------  ------------------------------------- 
                                                   Scheme generated investment 
                                                    returns of 5.8% pa over the 
 Assets (GBPbn)                36.9      40.2       period 
---------------------------  -------  ----------  ------------------------------------- 
                                                   Increase in 2014 liabilities 
                                                    mainly due to significant falls 
 Liabilities (GBPbn)          (40.8)    (47.2)      in real interest rates 
---------------------------  -------  ----------  ------------------------------------- 
 Deficit (GBPbn)              (3.9)      (7.0) 
---------------------------  -------  ----------  ------------------------------------- 
 Funding level                90.4%      85.2% 
---------------------------  -------  ----------  ------------------------------------- 
 
                                                   Contribution rate to meet the 
 Contribution rate                                  benefits of current employed 
  for future benefits                               members to be increased to 16% 
  (as % of pensionable                              from 1 April 2015 through to 
  salaries)                   13.5%      16.0%      the next valuation date 
---------------------------  -------  ----------  ------------------------------------- 
                                                   Prudent view of future returns 
                                                    on the expected asset portfolio, 
 Equivalent real                                    reduction primarily reflects 
  discount rate                2.0%      1.0%       falls in real interest rates 
---------------------------  -------  ----------  ------------------------------------- 
                                                   Long-term expectations reflecting 
 Average RPI inflation         3.2%      3.5%       market data 
---------------------------  -------  ----------  ------------------------------------- 
                                                   1.0% margin below RPI compares 
                                                    to Office for Budget Responsibility 
                                                    projection of 1.3% to 1.5%. 
                                                    The Bank of England's long-term 
 CPI inflation (long-term)     2.2%      2.5%       CPI inflation target is 2.0% 
---------------------------  -------  ----------  ------------------------------------- 
 Life expectancy               2014 valuation makes allowance for additional 
                                improvements in future life expectancy compared 
                                with 2011 valuation 
---------------------------  ---------------------------------------------------------- 
 

1.4. Average life expectancies at the 2014 valuation date, for members 60 years of age, are as follows:

 
                                      June 2011      June 2014 
                                      assumptions    assumptions 
----------------------------------  -------------  ------------- 
 Male in lower pay bracket               26.3           26.1 
----------------------------------  -------------  ------------- 
 Male in medium pay bracket             28.1            27.5 
----------------------------------  -------------  ------------- 
 Male in high pay bracket                               29.0 
----------------------------------  -------------  ------------- 
 Female in lower pay bracket             28.7           28.9 
----------------------------------  -------------  ------------- 
 Female in high pay bracket                             29.2 
----------------------------------  -------------  ------------- 
 Average improvement for a member 
  retiring at age 60 in 10 years' 
  time                                   1.2            1.3 
----------------------------------  -------------  ------------- 
 

1.5. Deficit payments of GBP2.65bn have been made since the 2011 valuation and the Scheme's assets have grown by more than assumed under the 2011 funding assumptions. The low interest rate environment at the valuation date has resulted in a higher value being placed on the Scheme's liabilities which has more than offset the improvements in the Scheme's assets.

1.6. In line with developing market practice and reflecting a more sophisticated methodology, the discount rate at 30 June 2014 has been derived from prudent return expectations above a yield curve based on gilt and swap rates. The discount rate reflects views of future returns at the valuation date. This gives a prudent discount rate of 2.1% pa above the yield curve initially, trending down to 0.6% pa above the curve in the long-term.

1.7. The existence of the Crown Guarantee has not been taken in to account in reaching this agreement.

1.8. The next funding valuation will have an effective date no later than 30 June 2017.

2. Funding

2.1. BT will make a lump sum payment of GBP1.5bn by the end of April 2015, followed by payments of GBP250m pa in each of the years to March 2016 and 2017. The recovery plan is shown in the table below.

 
  Year to     2011 agreement   2014 agreement 
  31 March        GBPm *            GBPm 
-----------  ---------------  --------------- 
    2015           655            1,500 ** 
-----------  ---------------  --------------- 
    2016           666              250 
-----------  ---------------  --------------- 
    2017           676              250 
-----------  ---------------  --------------- 
    2018           688              688 
-----------  ---------------  --------------- 
    2019           699              699 
-----------  ---------------  --------------- 
    2020           711              711 
-----------  ---------------  --------------- 
    2021           724              724 
-----------  ---------------  --------------- 
    2022           670              670 
-----------  ---------------  --------------- 
    2023           670              670 
-----------  ---------------  --------------- 
    2024           670              670 
-----------  ---------------  --------------- 
    2025                            495 
-----------  ---------------  --------------- 
    2026                            495 
-----------  ---------------  --------------- 
    2027                            495 
-----------  ---------------  --------------- 
    2028                            495 
-----------  ---------------  --------------- 
    2029                            495 
-----------  ---------------  --------------- 
    2030                            289 
-----------  ---------------  --------------- 
 

* including contingent contributions

** payable by 30 April 2015

2.2. The GBP1.5bn lump sum payment will be split over March and April 2015. We expect GBP800m to GBP900m to be paid in March 2015, receiving tax relief at 21%, with the balance payable in April receiving tax relief at 20%. There will be no impact on the group's tax charge in the income statement. There will be a benefit from lower cash tax payments up until the second quarter of 2016/17.

2.3. BT and the Trustee will review the funding of the Scheme in the normal way at the next valuation. If the deficit is lower than the remaining recovery plan, that reduction will be reflected in the new recovery plan.

2.4. The valuation documentation will be submitted to the Pensions Regulator within ten working days of its completion as required by legislation.

3. Other protections

Other features of the agreement with the Trustee which provide support to the Scheme are:

3.1. Shareholder distributions

3.1.1. Continuation to the protection agreed at prior valuations with terms amended to provide matching payments to the Scheme in the event that shareholder distributions exceed a threshold. The threshold allows for 15% pa dividend per share growth plus GBP300m pa of share buybacks on a cumulative basis.

3.1.2. BT has agreed to consult with the Trustee if it considers share buybacks in excess of GBP300m pa or making a special dividend.

3.1.3. These provisions apply from 29 January 2015 until the finalisation of the next valuation, or 31 March 2019 if earlier.

3.2. Material corporate events

3.2.1. Continuation of the protections agreed under the 2011 valuation, such that in the event that BT generates net cash proceeds greater than GBP1bn from disposals (net of acquisitions) in any 12 month period, BT will make additional contributions to the Scheme equal to one third of those net cash proceeds.

3.2.2. BT has agreed to consult with the Trustee if: it considers making acquisitions with a total cost of more than GBP1bn in any 12 month period; it considers making disposals of more than GBP1bn; or it considers making a Class 1 transaction (acquisition or disposal); or it is subject to a takeover offer.

3.2.3. BT has also agreed to advise the Trustee should there be other material corporate events which may impact BT's covenant to the Scheme.

3.2.4. These provisions apply from 29 January 2015 until the finalisation of the next valuation, or 31 March 2019 if earlier.

3.3. Negative pledge

3.3.1. Continuation of the protection agreed under the 2008 valuation, that future creditors will not be granted superior security to the Scheme in excess of a GBP1.5bn threshold, to cover both BT plc and BT Group plc. This provision applies until the deficit reduces to below GBP2.0bn at any subsequent funding valuation.

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END

MSCUKVKRVAAAUAR