John Lewis Partnership plc – Annual report – 28 January 2017
Industry: retail
2.3 Exceptional items (extract)
(a) On 20 January 2017, the Partnership announced that the annual discretionary increase for pension in retirement built up before 6 April 1997 will be expected to increase in line with CPI inflation (up to a maximum of 2.5%), instead of RPI inflation (up to a maximum of 5%). As a result, an exceptional past service credit has been recorded in operating income in the year to 28 January 2017 of ￡270.0m. This reflects a reduction in the pension obligation as a result of a change in the constructive obligation in relation to discretionary pension increases built up before 6 April 1997.
6 Pensions (extract)
Retirement benefits
The pension scheme operated by the Partnership is the John Lewis Partnership Trust for Pensions. The scheme includes a funded final salary defined benefit section, providing pensions and death benefits to members, and is open to new members. All contributions to the defined benefit section of the pension scheme are funded by the Partnership. The scheme also includes a defined contribution section. Contributions to the defined contribution section of the scheme are made by both Partners and the Partnership.
The scheme is governed by a corporate Trustee which is independent of the Partnership. The Trustee is responsible for the operation and governance of the scheme, including making decisions regarding the scheme’s investment strategy.
During 2014/15, the Chairman, Partnership Board and Partnership Council of John Lewis Partnership plc approved changes to the level and form of future provision of pension benefits to Partners. This was the output of the Pension Benefit Review which commenced in 2013. The changes took place in two stages. From 1 April 2015 the waiting period to join the defined benefit section of the scheme was increased from three to five years. Then from 1 April 2016, the principal changes were to reduce the defined benefit accrual rate from 1/60th to 1/120th of final salary, and to provide an enhanced level of defined contribution pension for those Partners who have completed the waiting period. Other changes, applying only to any pension built up after 1 April 2016, included linking the Partnership normal retirement age to the State Pension Age, and a change in the rate of pension increases in payment.
On 20 January 2017, the Partnership announced changes in the way that the annual discretionary increase for pension in retirement built up before 6 April 1997 would be applied. Prior to January 2017, increases in pension in retirement for pensionable service built up before 6 April 1997 had been granted in line with RPI inflation (up to a maximum of 5%). From January 2017, this increase is expected to be granted in line with CPI inflation (up to a maximum of 2.5%).
Accounts examples 