Europe

EUROPE - PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has warned that the business competitiveness of the European Union is under threat due to obstacles such as cross border pensions and employment regulations that prevent workforce mobility.

UK - Minister for Pensions Ian McCartney has appointed Brian Davis as independent reviewer for the quinquennial review of the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority (Opra).

UK - The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association has appointed Gissings to provide pensions advisory services to its final salary scheme.

UK - Pension fund trustees should give explicit reasons for precluding the use of absolute return funds such as futures, Deutsche Asset Management claims.

UK - L&P Systems has won three new clients for its pensions administration system Pension Master.

UK - Aberdeen Asset Management is disputing the performance figures published by Russell/Mellon CAPS.

UK - The multi-billion pound Consignia and ICI pension schemes are taking unprecedented steps to insist they are not in crisis despite funding shortfalls.

UK - High street electrical rental company Box Clever Technology has closed its defined benefit option available to its former Granada employees.

UK - The £11bn Lattice Group Pension Scheme is to carry out a strategic asset allocation review after a valuation revealed a substantial falls in asset values.

UK - Gissings has been appointed by Burall to provide full pensions services.