United Kingdom

UK - Sydney Packett (Life & Pensions Limited) has appointed Bill Hart as pensions director and Jonathan Booth as an associate director.

UK - Jupiter Asset Management is disclosing its record of engagement with companies in an effort to boost socially responsible investment (SRI).

UK - The Government is to launch yet another review into the state of the UK pensions industry, hot on the heels of the Sandler and Pickering reports.

UK - The Wesleyan Assurance Society has announced a free asset ratio more than 30% higher than any of the top 20 life assurers.

UK/EUROPE - The SVM Highlander Fund closed to new investors as of July 1 with total assets of e445m (£286m).

UK - Employees have more trust in their employer providing them reputable financial products and services than other outside companies, research by Royal & SunAlliance reveals.

UK - Accounting giant Ernst & Young is urging the government to scrap its tax on pension funds' share dividends.

UK - The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has welcomed the Government‘s interim report on accounting standards in light of recent US scandals.

UK - Toyota is cutting contributions to its final salary scheme and asking employees to pay more in a bid to keep it alive.

UK - Pension funds are pledging their support for unions which are prepared to strike safeguard their pension schemes.