Data & Research January 7, 2014

Corporate Pensions Improve in December

The funded status of U.S. corporate pension plans reached 95.2% in December 2013.
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This improvement of 1.3 percentage points is the highest level since September 2008, as rising equity markets drove assets higher and rising interest rates lowered pension liabilities, according to the BNY Mellon Investment Strategy & Solutions Group (ISSG).

Research from ISSG shows that public defined benefit plans, endowments and foundations also benefited in December from the equity rally, as well as their holdings in private equity.

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For U.S. corporate plans, ISSG research indicates that assets increased 0.8% and that liabilities fell 0.6%. The decline in liabilities was due to an eight-basis-point increase in the Aa corporate discount rate to 4.93%. Plan liabilities are calculated using the yields of long-term investment grade bonds. Higher yields on these bonds result in lower liabilities for corporations. 

“December capped off a strong year as the funded status of the typical U.S. corporate plan increased more than 18 percentage points in 2013,” says Jeffrey B. Saef, managing director of BNY Mellon and head of ISSG, based in New York. “It was the best of all worlds as rising equities benefited the asset side, while the rising discount rate resulted in lower liabilities. These trends have encouraged a growing number of plan sponsors to reduce their exposure to market volatility.”

The BNY Mellon Investment Strategy and Solutions Group is a division of The Bank of New York Mellon (BNY Mellon). BNY Mellon provides financial services for institutions, corporations or individual investors, as well as investment management and investment services.

Deals & People January 7, 2014

Kim Becomes New York Life Vice Chairman

New York Life announced that John Y. Kim has been elected as a vice chairman of the company.
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Kim, who will now oversee the company’s technology function in addition to his current responsibilities, will also continue as president of New York Life’s Investments Group, which includes the investment management, annuities and retirement plan recordkeeping businesses, as well as chief investment officer of New York Life Insurance Company.

“In recognition of this newly expanded role and the leadership, drive and commitment to our mission John has demonstrated since joining the company in 2008, he has been named vice chairman of the company,” says Ted Mathas, chairman and CEO of the New York-based New York Life. “With John’s broad and deep experience and judgment we know he will continue making important contributions in the position of vice chairman.” Kim will continue to report Mathas.

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Kim became chairman of New York Life Investments in January 2011 (see “KimNamed as Chairman of NY Life Investments”). He joined New York Life in 2008, after 25 years as a successful business executive with deep knowledge of investment management and strong operational skills running numerous businesses.

Prior to joining New York Life, Kim served as president of Prudential Retirement, where he led its defined benefit, defined contribution and guaranteed products businesses. Before that, he was president of CIGNA Retirement and Investment Services. Kim also spent 17 years with Aetna Life & Casualty, where he rose to the position of president and CEO of Aeltus Investment Management, as well as CIO of Aetna Life Insurance and Annuity Company. Kim is a graduate of the University of Michigan and holds an M.B.A. from the University of Connecticut.

New York Life Insurance Company is a mutual life insurance company in the United States. Its companies offer life insurance, retirement income, investments and long-term care insurance services.

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