UK - Defined benefit pensions continue to be a serious concern and ongoing challenge for private equity firms acquiring, managing or disposing of companies, Punter Southall says.

US - Philadelphia, Phoenix and Atlanta are leading a municipal effort to secure a piece of the US$700bn bail-out fund to address to shortfalls in public pension funds and other services such as infrastructure.

US - A call for government relief for corporate pensions has been addressed with legislation allowing multi-employer pension plans to freeze their current funding status to avoid being classified as 'endangered' or 'critical'.

Firms struggle with £17bn pension deficit; Pension liabilities are large hurdle; Legal & General backs Barclays' Middle East deal under protest; Citigroup weighs options as shares in banking giant plunge

THE Pension Protection Fund has confirmed that it has set a pension protection levy estimate of £700m for 2009/10.

MERCER has appointed Marc Littlewood as a senior consultant within its investment consulting business.

TRUSTEES must remain vigilant in the current economic turmoil but it is essential their thinking remains long-term, delegates heard.

UK - The Pension Protection Fund has confirmed that it has set a pension protection levy estimate of £700m for 2009/10.

NETHERLANDS - The net worth of Dutch investment funds has dropped 8% in Q3 2008, pension fund regulator De Nederlandsche Bank reports (DNB).

GERMANY - Germany's state pension system is set to post a €16bn (US$20bn) surplus at the end of this year, according to a government report.