Europe

UK - Mercer Human Resource Consulting has been appointed as administrator to the Lynx Express Pension Plan, ousting rivals Jardine Lloyd Thompson.

UK - Pension funds have welcomed research that shows chief executives are staying in their jobs for longer.

UK - Aon Live Wire has appointed Alex Thurley-Ratcliff as a senior consultant.

EUROPE - Pension reform in Continental Europe is likely to follow the UK's growing preference for defined contribution schemes in the long-term due to the steep rise in the ageing population.

UK - Pension regulators have upheld a KPMG application to extend the time limit for cash equivalent transfers following complaints from scheme members.

BELGIUM - Last year was a record negative year for Belgian pension fund returns, according to the results of a survey from the Belgian Association of Pension Funds (BAPF).

EUROPE - Under the new EU Pensions Directive, companies may have to tell members how much of their ‘promised' benefit they would receive if the scheme is wound up, according to Mercer Human Resource Consulting.

UK - The Financial Services Authority has come under fire from fund managers over its proposed clampdown on soft commissions and bundling.

EUROPE - For the second time this year the minimum interest rate guarantee for the Swiss pension and insurance industry looks set to be cut, this time from 3.25% to 2%.

UK - The financial services authority has admitted to concentrating too much on complaints from within the industry - at the expense of consumers.