Europe

UK - The Actuarial Profession has published on its website an advance draft of both the regulations and the technical memorandum on Statutory Illustrations of Money Purchase Benefits (SIMP).

UK - Two shareholder meetings are of significance in the week beginning March 18, according to corporate governance specialists Institutional Shareholder Services.

UK - Delegates at the Pensions Management Institute's (PMI's) spring conference yesterday were the first to hear about the Retirement Provision Certificate (RPC) - the PMI's new foundation level qualification.

UK - Watson Wyatt has further strengthened its UK-based international group with the arrival of Sharon Bronzwaer, based in London. Bronzwaer has over 25 years of benefits consulting experience, all with Watson Wyatt. During that time, she has consulted...

PORTUGAL - Portugal' s pensions reserve fund may have to abandon its tender plans following the election of a new government.

EUROPE - Goldman Sachs Asset Management has appointed Wassum Investment Consulting's Mats Langensjö as executive director, with responsibility for developing its Scandinavian business.

UK/EUROPE - The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has come out in favour of EU plans for an integrated financial services market, saying that the UK insurance industry is better placed than its European counterparts to benefit from the move.

UK - UNISON, UK's largest union, told IPN that it would not rule out a future meeting with the government over a potential pensions crisis facing many women.

EUROPE - The European Council has called for the retirement age to be increased within all European Union (EU) nations by five years at its latest meeting in Barcelona.

UK - Two large UK companies have reported big losses in their pension schemes under new FRS17 accounting rules.