United Kingdom

UK - Rules simplifying the wind up of occupational schemes will come into force from April 1.

UK - The £1.2bn pension fund for East Riding of Yorkshire Council, one of the country's largest, has pelted Schroders from a £266m overseas equities mandate, only weeks after the beleaguered fund manager was dumped from a similar UK portfolio.

UK - Radical moves to make pension schemes a legally binding part of an employee's pay package have been put forward by a major trade union.

UK - The £2.3bn Boots Company Pension Scheme's move from equities to bonds has enabled its parent to embark on a massive share buyback programme.

UK - Former Gartmore chief Paul Myners has secured his fourth non-executive position with his appointment to the board of retail giant Marks & Spencer.

UK - Britannic Asset Management is changing the benchmark of its fixed interest pension fund to better reflect the increasing emphasis being placed on the role of fixed income and the management of investment risk.

UK - The Company Law Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) has published a statement on the implications of the transitional disclosures of FRS17 on the profits available for distribution by companies.

UK - The £22bn British Coal Pension Schemes are to look at whether or not they will retain Goldman Sachs Asset Management services in the third quarter, according to David Morgan, chief executive of CMT Pension Trustee Services.

UK - Invesco has added its contribution to the fixed income debate, forecasting a 50% rise in bond exposure over the next five years, with a particular pull from corporate offerings.

UK - The £2.7bn pension fund for struggling telecoms company Marconi has set a date for its actuarial study during the next quarter, with an outcome expected in September.