Europe

UK - According to documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act in the UK, pension funds and industry bodies urged the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) not to implement proposals to redistribute the levy so pension schemes posing the greatest catastrophic...

UK - The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) Group Pension Fund has received 76 applications for just four member nominated trustee (MNTs) positions.

UK - Smaller pension schemes have better access to liability driven investment (LDI) vehicles in an increasingly competitive market, according to new research from KPMG.

UK - Pioneer Investments has appointed Roger Price-Haworth to the newly created role of head of institutional & wholesale business UK.

UK - Lachlan French has been appointed managing director and head of transitions management for Europe and Asia (ex-Japan) by Barclays Global Investors (BGI).

UK - The manufacturers' association, EEF, has urged the government provide powers to the Pensions Regulator to ensure potential employees are not discriminated against, following the introduction of the Pensions Bill 2007.

UK - Better funded defined benefit (DB) pension schemes have reduced their allocations to equities during 2007, with a strong trend towards fixed income and alternatives, according to figures published today by the National Association of Pension Funds...

UK - Lower gilt yields were to blame for the surge in pension fund deficits during December 2007, which raised liabilities and took 117 schemes back into the red, according to the Pension Protection Fund (PPF).

ITALY - Consultants have slammed "watered down" pension reforms approved as part of the 2008 Budget, claiming they will do little to resolve the huge financial burden and inequities of the system.

UK - RAILPEN and the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) have united to examine how businesses have adapted to existing climate change and the resulting implications to investors.