UK - Alexander Forbes Trustee Services has launched a service which would free insolvency practitioners (IPs) from the liability of being a trustee of an insolvent company's defined contribution (DC) pension scheme.

SOME workers have been warned they may have a gap in their pension provision after outsourced education services at a London borough reverted to the council.

EUROPE - Credit quality continued to decline in Q2 as 41 debt issuers were downgraded, according to Moody's Investor Services.

SWEDEN - The SEK1.3bn (US$216m) Landstinget Västmanland pension fund is in the process of divesting from hedge funds currently worth around 3% of total assets, according to MandateWire.

CANADA/NZ - Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) and its New Zealand subsidiary, NZ Airport NC (NZANC), are disputing a claim by Auckland Airport for expenses incurred in responding to the pension fund's failed partial takeover bid.

MERCER has hired Daniel Blass as head of client services in its investment management business.

AUSTRALASIA - Australia and New Zealand have proposed practical options for improving the portability of private retirement savings between the two countries.

EMPLOYERS could face a surge of retrospective age discrimination claims relating to occupational pension schemes after two European court rulings, a law firm warns.

US/CANADA - The Ontario Teachers Pension Plan (OTPP) has filed a lawsuit against American International Group (AIG) claiming it made false statements over the financial security of its credit default swaps (CDS).

US - Legislation in the US prohibiting the use of 401(k) plans to prevent retirement saving 'leakage' has gained industry support.