Europe

UK - Staff at Aon (UK) are to test a new flexible benefits system designed by sister company, Aon Consulting.

ITALY - The demand for independent advice is on the increase amongst Italy's newly established occupational pension funds which offer their members investment choice.

UK - Britannic Retirement Solutions has closed to new annuity business with immediate effect.

UK - Compensating workers who lost pension entitlements when their firms collapsed would be too expensive, pensions minister Malcolm Wicks said.

UK - James Binny has quit his position as currency specialist at Gartmore to take up a new position in the currency brokerage division of ABN Amro, London.

UK - Company solvency fears are putting trustees on a collision course with scheme sponsors, Trustee Risk Management chairman Brian Holden claims.

EUROPE - Pension promises made by the Bosnian Serb Republic are unrealistic leading economic bodies have warned, writes BBC Monitoring International News Reports.

UK - Orbit Benefits has developed an internet package designed to encourage employees to take more interest in their pension plans.

UK - Henderson Private Capital, the private equity arm of Henderson Global Investors, has appointed Guy Pigache as partner in its infrastructure team.

UK - Employee contributions to the Local Government Pension Scheme could soar by 50% under proposals put out to consultation by the government.