Europe

UK - Survivor pensions for unmarried and same sex partners are one step closer to becoming compulsory, following a bill proposed by MP Jane Griffiths.

UK - The Six Continents Pension Plan scheme is poised to cut the number of its fund managers after the scheme almost halved in size.

UK - Thursday morning in the High Court saw Wendy Mayall testify on the events in May 1997 that led to the breakdown of relations between the Unilever Superannuation Fund and Mercury Asset Management (MAM).

UK - The £27bn BT Pension Scheme will invest £15m into a new small company stocks fund to be launched by investment manager Hermes.

UK - Norton Rose has enhanced its pensions team with the appointment of Alison Midgley as a consultant.

UK - The £600m Lloyd's Register of Shipping Superannuation Fund has appointed Norwich Union as its stakeholder provider.

UK - Trustees at the influential £3bn J. Sainsbury pension scheme have authorised a search for alternatives managers, decided on a stakeholder provider and chosen to increase the scheme's allocation to bonds.

SCOTLAND - Custodians The Bank of New York and Phildrew Nominees are also set to come under scrutiny at the Scottish Borders Council Superannuation Fund, as the £180m fund reviews its current manager set-up later this month.

UK - Independent actuarial firm Jagger & Associates has been appointed as investment advisers to the £2.8m Robertet (UK) pension scheme.

UK - Tesco's decision to issue £160m of 3.322% limited price index (LPI) bonds is significant for the pensions industry and a great boost to the cause of LPI bonds, according to Watson Wyatt.