Pension Fund

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Merchant Navy Officers Pension Fund

The Merchant Navy Officers Pension Fund was founded in 1938 to deliver retirement benefits to merchant navy officers and annuities to dependents.

Merchant Navy Officers Pension Fund logo

Merchant Navy Officers Pension Fund

The Merchant Navy Officers Pension Fund was founded in 1938 to deliver retirement benefits to merchant navy officers and annuities to dependents. It consists of an old section and a new section created in 1978. Mike Jess became chair of the trustee board in October 2024. The fund invests in private equity, infrastructure and real estate. Confirmed positions include commitments to Advent International, Energy Capital Partners and Oaktree Capital Management. It also holds real estate exposure through First Property Asset Management in the UK and Europe and Resolution Capital globally. Willis Towers Watson serves as delegated chief investment officer. The fund reports no public professional count. It maintains one wholly owned subsidiary, Ensign Pensions Limited. In October 2024 Mike Jess succeeded Rory Murphy as chair. The fund signed the Mansion House Accord in July 2023. Governance ties half the trustee board seats to Nautilus International nominations, creating a direct union link absent in most pension schemes. This structure shapes mandate oversight and succession.

General information

Firm type

Pension Fund

Year founded

1938

Location

Region

Europe

Country

United Kingdom

City

Manchester

Corporate office

Post Handling Centre U, St James' Tower, 7 Charlotte Street, Manchester, M1 4DZ, United Kingdom

Principals

Mike Jess

Chair of the Trustee Board

Sector focus

Private EquityInfrastructureReal Estate

Frequently asked questions

Who runs investment decisions at Merchant Navy Officers Pension Fund?

Willis Towers Watson acts as delegated chief investment officer. Rock Pensions provides independent investment oversight.

Does Merchant Navy Officers Pension Fund participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?

The fund commits to external managers in private equity and infrastructure. It does not execute direct deals.

How is Merchant Navy Officers Pension Fund related to Nautilus International?

Nautilus International nominates half the trustee board directors and maintains a close institutional relationship.

What investment stages does Merchant Navy Officers Pension Fund typically target?

The fund targets buyout, growth and venture strategies through its external managers.

Where does the underlying membership base come from?

The fund serves officers of the UK merchant navy and their dependents through defined benefit sections.

Profile maintained by using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.

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