Europe

UK - Risk transfer deals are expected to be well in excess of £1bn ($1.6bn)in the fourth quarter on the back of improved market conditions and indexation changes, industry experts say.

Plans by the European Union to introduce Solvency II rules to the pensions industry run the risk of undermining pension provision rather than strengthening it, industry bodies have warned.

EUROPE - Plans by the European Union to introduce Solvency II rules to the pensions industry run the risk of undermining pension provision rather than strengthening it, industry bodies have warned.

UK - The £1.4bn ($2.3bn) Superannuation Arrangements of the University of London pension fund is looking at changing its benefits structure.

EUROPE - Cross-border passporting of schemes should be allowed between EU countries with similar social and labour law and pension systems, the Society of Pension Consultants says.

NORWAY - Norway's Finance Ministry issued a new formal mandate for the management of the Government Pension Fund Global, the world's second-largest sovereign wealth fund.

EUROPE - The long-anticipated Alternative Investment Fund Managers (AIFM) Directive has been passed into law following a plenary vote of the European Parliament.

EUROPE - The global real estate crisis has created investment opportunities for pension funds and other institutional investors, Mercer believes.

UK - The total deficit of FTSE100 pension schemes decreased to £66bn ($105bn)in the third quarter, Pensions Capital Strategies analysis shows.

EUROPE - The European Federation of Retirement Provision (EFRP) has appointed Patrick Burke as its new chairman.