United Kingdom
Solar subsidy cuts to hit liability matching strategies
UK - Government plans to cut a subsidy boosting the appeal of solar panel infrastructure investments could scupper scheme plans to use these investments as part of their liability matching strategies, fund managers say.
Aegon moves to halt DB scheme future accrual
UK - Aegon is to close its defined benefit pension scheme to future accrual in March 2013 as part of its restructure and cost saving programme.
PPF reveals £678m surplus
UK - The Pension Protection Fund has published its annual report - revealing a surplus of £678m ($1.1bn) at 31 March.
Diamond: Stable investment banking crucial to maximising scheme returns
UK - Schemes looking to maximise returns in a low interest rate environment must work closely with investment banks to boost member outcomes, Barclays chief executive Bob Diamond says.
DB risk management enters 'the next phase'
UK -More than 40% of firms have closed or are in the process of closing their defined benefit pension schemes, latest research from Aon Hewitt shows.
Treasury makes enhanced offer on public sector pensions reform
UK - The government has offered unions an improved accrual rate of 1/60th and more protection for workers approaching retirement in a concession on public sector pension changes.
NEST rival launches with 0.3% AMC plus £1.50 per month admin fee
UK - NOW: Pensions, the multi-employer scheme set up by Danish pension scheme ATP to rival the National Employment Savings Trust, has unveiled details of its product offering.
NEST commits to socially responsible investment with UN PRI pledge
UK - NEST has signed up to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investing in a bid to boost long term investing and good corporate governance.
Tax body boss forced out by pension fraud investigation
UK - Andrew Meeson, the president of the Association of Tax Technicians, has stepped down from his post after being charged in relation to a £5m ($8m) pension tax fraud.
Legal & General Property restructure team
UK - Pension fund property manager Legal & General Property has restructured its senior management team by appointing a new director to oversee its range of funds.
BAE scheme deficit could spook investors - RBS
UK - British defence firm BAE Systems' pension scheme deficit is creating "negative sentiment" among investors, lowering the target price for stock in the firm, banking analysts say.
ATP returns 4.2% in first three quarters
DENMARK - Danish pension fund ATP returned 4.2%, or DKK15.7bn ($3bn), in the first three quarters of the year, bringing total assets under management to DKK554bn.
NEST to develop internal equity and bond markets
UK - The National Employment Saving Trust is set to develop its own internal market to switch equities and bonds between members' funds, its head of investment policy says.
UK can learn lessons from Norway's painful AE roll-out
UK - UK companies are likely to experience the same "painful" and problematic auto-enrolment implementation as Norway firms due lack of preparation and similar complex legislation, Mercer warns.
T&N secures £1.1bn buy-in after sponsor insolvency
UK - The T&N Retirement Benefit Scheme has agreed a £1.1bn ($1.8bn) buy-in after its funding level was found to exceed the threshold for Pension Protection Fund entry.
'Devastating' indexation switch challenged in court
UK - Two pensioner groups will challenge the government in the High Court today over its decision to switch to the Consumer Prices Index for up-rating public sector pensions.
Asset backed contributions to top £10bn
UK - Asset-backed pension scheme contributions could exceed £10bn ($16bn)in the next five years, latest research finds.
NAPF Conference 2011: TPR issues warning to investors on pre-pack insolvencies
UK - The Pensions Regulator has warned investors it will take action against firms triggering pre-pack insolvencies to offload pension liabilities from businesses, delegates heard.
NAPF Conference 2011: Webb announces crackdown on cash incentive offers
UK - The government is set to take action over companies offering cash incentives to leave defined benefit pension schemes.
NAPF Annual Conference: Europe must recognise difference between schemes and insurers
UK/Europe - The European Commission must make sure it does not "mix apples with oranges" and confuse the insurance industry with pension funds.
NAPF Conference 2011: Hutton admits Labour pension reforms may have 'made matters worse'
UK - Lord Hutton admitted the Labour administration's pension reform package did not go far enough and may have "made matters worse".
PPF overhauls transition manager panel
UK - The Pensions Protection Fund has widened its selection of transition managers by recruiting nine firms to its panel, but missing from the list was incumbent State Street who the PPF said did not re-bid.
Inflation figures narrow to undermine scheme CPI switch
UK - Narrowing Consumer Prices Index and Retail Prices Index inflation will save schemes switching to CPI just 60p (94c) a week for each scheme member, according to figures.
Inflation estimate errors costing DB sponsors £50bn
UK - Overestimated inflation projections could be costing UK defined benefit scheme sponsors over £50bn ($79bn)in unnecessary funding commitments, a corporate adviser warns.
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