Government Shareholding in NATS to be Disposed of

[PeltonLevel]

I wouldn't worry too much about a prospective purchaser planning a raid on the pension fund! The latest valuation gives:

• The value of the assets is £2,804.9M
• The technical provisions (the assets needed to meet member benefits if the scheme continues as a going concern) are £3156.0M (funding ratio 89%)
• The value of the solvency liabilities (the assets needed to buy insurance policies to provide member benefits earned to date) is £4,433.6M (statutory estimate of solvency 63%)

Any new owner will have to match the new employer contribution rates (36.7%), rather than being able to draw on any surplus. I don't think that Schedule 22 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 offers any quick wins for any new owner here!