Europe

UK - Scottish Pensions Trustees (SPT) - the Scottish arm of Capital Cranfield Trustees - has appointed Roger MacNicol as an additional client director.

UK - The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has published a statement regarding its regulation of mortality assumptions for defined benefit (DB) schemes.

EUROPE - As pension funds move to better funding positions and look to hedge against duration, experts have seen an increase in demand and ensuing shortage of inflation linked bonds.

UK - The Haringey and Waltham Forest pension funds have joined the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF).

UK - A dispute between unions and employers over pension shortfalls has lead to more strike action on the Midland mainline to London on the 28 and 29 February.

UK - Somerset County Council pension fund has placed a £200m (US$392.6m) active fixed interest mandate out to re-tender.

UK - Just under half of UK companies would consider terminating their pensions plan if proposals from the Accounting Standards Board (ASB) are adopted, according to professional services firm Towers Perrin.

UK - The Pension Protection Fund (PPF) is considering changing valuation assumptions for pension schemes, to bring them in line with pricing in the buyout market.

UK - The announcement the Pensions Regulator (TPR) could use mortality assumptions made in pension scheme evaluations as 'triggers' has been met with a cautious welcome.

GERMANY/UK - Law firm Wragge & Co has been appointed by two Celesio sponsored company pension funds to advise trustees.