Europe

UK - New-style Sandler stakeholder products will not penetrate the target market of lower paid workers unless the government rethinks its 1% cap, warns Tillinghast-Towers Perrin.

UK - Member and employer contribution rates to the Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations final salary scheme are set to increase following its triennial valuation.

UK - Trustees are considering winding up the Anglo United Pension Scheme slashing benefits for up to 2000 members.

UK - Pointon York SIPP Solutions is waiving its establishment fee for financial advisers who transfer SIPPs from other providers.

UK - Scheme managers have accused the Actuarial Profession of "losing its grip on reality" by suggesting that all members receive copies of actuarial reports.

UK - The government has been attacked for failing to tackle the state pension or contracted-out rebates.

UK - Means-testing benefits is failing to help the poorest people, Conservative pension spokesman David Willetts claims.

UK - Pantheon Ventures has closed its fifth US private equity fund, after raising US$313m (£188.8m) from UK, European and North American schemes.

UK - Investec Asset Management has "exceeded" its expectations by winning nearly £1bn in mandates over the past year despite turbulent markets.

UK - Consultants Hymans Robertson is the victim of a massive whispering campaign by UK institutional business heads over its alleged out-of-date manager research and inadequate resources.