Europe

UK - Final salary pension schemes could cripple thousands of companies unless they act to stem their liabilities, PIFC Consulting warns.

UK - Nearly a third of housing associations plan to review their final salary schemes in the next year, a survey by HACAS Chapman Hendy shows.

EUROPE - Pharmaceuticals and chemicals giant Akzo Nobel has denied allegations by a Dutch shareholder activist group that it masked a e1.1bn pension fund deficit in its 2002 financial accounts.

UK - Pensions lawyers are being inundated with calls from firms and trustees in the wake of government moves to increase security for final salary scheme members.

UK - Prudential is launching an aggressive bulk annuity campaign with a range of "capital efficient" products to clinch the lion's share of future business.

UK - Proxy voting agency Manifest is set to enter into direct competition with Pensions Investment Research Consultants by targeting local authority schemes for new business.

UK - Hedge fund manager Alexandra Investment Management has selected software provider Sophis to provide portfolio and risk management systems.

UK - British Land's decision to split the roles of chief executive and chairman has been welcomed by the Pensions Investment Research Consultants.

UK - Over half a million UK citizens living overseas have lost the right to inflation-linked pensions following a ruling by the Court of Appeal.

UK - Scottish Equitable has developed a suite of websites aimed at boosting the take-up of its group personal pension schemes.