About us

Learn who we are, what we do, who we partner with and why we’re proud to be the UK’s leading pension superfund.

  • Transactions
  • News

April 21, 2026

Trustees of the Videndum DB Pension Scheme reach agreement to transfer members and assets to Clara

  • 500 members of the Videndum DB Pension Scheme will join the Clara Pension Trust, beginning their journey to an insured buyout
  • Members will be supported by the injection of additional ringfenced capital from Clara to enhance member security
  • Clara’s pipeline of schemes looking to transfer grows to over 30 schemes, as Trustees and Sponsors of a wide range of schemes recognise the benefits to members of Clara’s bridge to buyout model

Clara-Pensions (“Clara”), the member-first consolidator for defined benefit pension schemes, has reached agreement with the trustees of the Videndum DB Pension Scheme, marking the latest superfund transaction to take place in the UK market. 

Under the agreement, the 500 members of the Videndum DB scheme and £43m of assets will transfer to the Clara Pension Trust. As with all previous transactions, Clara will also inject additional ringfenced capital into the scheme, immediately enhancing the security of benefits for members as they begin their journey to an insured buyout. Members will transfer to Clara shortly, where they will continue to receive their full pension entitlements. 

The transfer of the Videndum members demonstrates Clara’s continued flexibility and suitability for a wide range of schemes and situations. Clara’s previous transactions include sponsor-led and trustee-led processes, a PPF+ case, and Clara’s connected covenant structure which allowed the scheme to maintain the link to its sponsor. 

“I want to give a warm welcome to the members of the Videndum DB scheme, and to say thank you to everyone involved for their hard work in improving the security of the members benefits. Superfunds continue to demonstrably increase member security and provide a more certain journey to an insured future. Clara continues to innovate, and we are working closely with a wide range of schemes to deliver an improved outcome for their members. We have a strong pipeline and anticipate announcing further transactions soon.”

Matt Wilmington
Chief Transactions Officer at Clara Pensions

“The Company has been working over a long period of time to secure Videndum Pension Scheme members benefits. With the Scheme now in a strong financial position, we have taken the decision to transfer the Scheme to Clara which will further strengthen and secure members’ benefits for the long term.”

Jon Bolton
Group Company Secretary at Videndum plc

“Having carefully assessed all options, we are really pleased to have guided the Scheme through this process. As trustees, our overriding priority throughout has been the long-term security of members’ benefits. This transaction means that our members’ pensions are secured into the future.”

Tom Stockley
Aretas Trustees

“Clara’s bridge-to-buyout model, alongside its clear member-first ethos, gave us confidence that members’ interests would remain protected over the long term. This outcome was delivered through a constructive and straightforward transaction process, and huge thanks goes to the advisory teams, Videndum and Clara for working so diligently to provide our members with this solution”

Cath Williams
Aretas Trustees

“Leading this transaction on behalf of the Trustee of the Videndum Scheme we have been able to find the right solution for its members and the trustees. This agreement shows how superfunds like Clara can make pensions safer for members, trustees and employers now and in the future. From our work on other superfund deals, we know a practical, cooperative approach helps make these transactions successful.  We congratulate the Trustee, Videndum and the scheme members on a great outcome and look forward to helping with similar transactions in the months ahead.”

Jonathan Repp
Director, Mercer

Notes to Editors

Clara received legal advice from Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP (“CMS”) and the Clara Trustee received advice from Eversheds Sutherland. Hymans Robertson provided Scheme Actuarial services to Clara.

Aretas Trustees, the corporate trustee of the Videndum DB Pension Scheme, was advised by Mercer as risk transfer consultant, supported by Pinsent Masons, Trafalgar House Pensions Administration and Lane Clark & Peacock. Videndum plc received legal advice from Sacker & Partners.

About Clara-Pensions

Clara Pensions (Clara) is the UK’s first and only operational defined benefit superfund, offering a secure, member-first solution for schemes on their journey to insured buyout.

Clara enables pension schemes to move to a stronger financial footing by combining its own capital with that of sponsors, robust governance and the benefits of scale, with the aim of delivering full benefits to members with greater certainty.

Since completing The Pensions Regulator’s assessment process in 2021, Clara has completed five superfund transactions covering more than 22,500 members and over £1.4bn in assets under management.

With a growing pipeline of schemes and increasing interest from both trustees and sponsors, Clara continues to demonstrate the role consolidation can play in improving member outcomes and supporting the long-term sustainability of defined benefit pensions.

Clara is backed by global investment firm Sixth Street and supported by a range of leading partners across legal, actuarial and fiduciary disciplines.