UK pension funds are the most exposed in Europe to risky shadow banking activities, a new report warns.
Fund managers who underwrite British retirement schemes have twice as much money tied up in the sector than their European counterparts, according to S&P Global.
Legal & General (L&G), Standard Life and Just Group, for example, have more than 10pc of their funds invested in illiquid private credit versus 5pc for funds in Europe, the report said.
UK pension insurers have 8.8pc allocated to private credit, with European insurers allocating 4pc and European re-insurers just 1pc.
The high levels of exposure will raise fears about risks lurking in the UK pension system.
Shadow banking has faced mounting scrutiny after investors suffered significant losses following the collapses of US firms Tricolor and First Brands, which had both taken on large private credit loans.
The collapse of Market Financial Solutions in February similarly sent shock waves through the City, as banks, including Barclays and HSBC, recorded hundreds of millions of private credit losses from the property firm’s sudden failure.
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