Pension risk transfer volumes expected to reach up to £40bn in 2026 (PensionsAge)
Standard Life projects U.K. pension risk transfer volumes of £35 billion to £40 billion in 2026, signaling a still-elevated de-risking pipeline despite some schemes pausing to reassess endgame options after recent legislative changes. Activity to date has been driven by smaller and mid-sized bulk purchase annuity transactions, but a pivot toward multi‑billion‑pound cases in the second half could materially alter annual volumes and pricing, given insurer capacity constraints. The article frames a window where favorable pricing and strong insurer appetite coexist with uncertainty over run‑on, insurance, and surplus‑use rules, leaving trustees split between moving now via buy‑in or buyout versus waiting for clearer regulation and more detailed guidance on non‑price dimensions such as member communications and transition processes. [PensionsAge]