United Kingdom

UK - Scottish Life has relaunched its pension transfer campaign with marketing material to help IFAs make the most of opportunities in the market.

UK - Author of the government-commissioned report into occupational pensions, Alan Pickering, renewed his push for employers to take control of pension scheme design.

UK/US - Every financial services firm in the City must have a comprehensive plan to deal with disasters - including terrorist attacks - the FSA says.

UK - Specialist structured and guaranteed investments designer Manor Park has launched three new guaranteed growth funds.

UK - Pickering's proposals will not be enshrined into law for about four years, pension lawyers and consultants believe.

UK - BBC sports presenter Clare Balding is to host the Pension Scheme of the Year Awards - for IPN's sister publication Professional Pensions (PP) - for the second year in a row.

UK - Scottish & Newcastle's £1.5bn final salary pension scheme looks set to close to new members under plans being drawn up by the brewing giant's management.

UK/NETHERLANDS - Ashmore Investment Management has won a £54.8m emerging market bonds mandate from Blue Sky.

SCOTLAND - The £6bn Strathclyde Pension Funds has released details of a global custodian and related services tender, first flagged up on IPN in June.

UK/EUROPE - Mercer Investment Consulting has expanded its UK team with the appointment of Chris Gill as a European principal and senior consultant and Steve Herbert as senior consultant.