Europe

UK - The Pensions Protection Fund will be doomed from the outset without government backing, PMI delegates were warned.

UK - Financial education must be provided in schools and the workplace if the savings gap is to be closed, Invesco chief David Butcher says.

UK - Schemes must radically overhaul their communication processes if the voluntary approach to pensions is to survive, Hewitt Bacon & Woodrow claims.

UK - A leading scheme manager branded the Pensions Bill "unworkable" at the PMI Spring Conference.

UK - Gareth Isaac and Jamie Grant (pictured) have joined Axa Investment Managers as fund managers. Based in London, both will report to UK head of fixed Income Denis Gould.

UK - SEI Investments has notched up mandate wins worth more than £1bn from 30 pension fund clients in the UK, since its launch three years ago.

UK - Pension funds could suffer if companies use bond issues to plug holes in their final salary scheme, a consultant warns.

UK - The government must end its "micro-management" of the pensions industry if it wants to boost savings levels, simplification report author Alan Pickering told delegates.

UK - Trade union Amicus is pressing employers to open the JIB Pension Scheme to electrical contractors in Scotland - and increase contribution rates.

UK - The Actuarial Profession has promised to "open its doors" to Sir Derek Morris when he begins his review in the wake of the Penrose Report on failings at Equitable Life.