United Kingdom

UK - Creating a legislative "fortress" around those in pension schemes will condemn millions to live without a decent retirement income, Simplification Review chief Alan Pickering warns.

UK/IRELAND - Hewitt Associates and Bacon & Woodrow have formally integrated their businesses in the UK and Ireland following the finalisation of their merger.

UK - Aon Consulting has hired David White and Peter Hill-King to join its investment manager research team.

UK - KLegal has appointed Duncan Buchanan as a London-based partner for pensions and benefits.

UK - Merrill Lynch Investment Managers (MLIM) has appointed Steven Blackie as a relationship manager for UK pension funds.

UK - Amicus, the UK's largest private sector union, said it will back members who chose to strike in order to save their pensions.

UK/EUROPE - Private contractors who withheld pensions benefits from ex-NHS (National Health Service) staff will be forced to pay back millions following a landmark ruling in the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

UK - New legislation which will give fixed-term workers the same pension rights as full-time employees is now set for October 1.

UK - Investec Asset Management is urging investors to take a more selective approach to stocks over the coming months.

UK - Electrical parts supplier Electrocomponents is considering closing its £170m DB scheme even though it has a healthy FRS17 surplus.