United Kingdom

UK - The Ecclesiastical Insurance group has teamed up with Norwich Union to provide stakeholder pensions.

UK - Multi-manager Friends Ivory & Sime (FIS) has made two new senior hires.

UK - The £1.3bn Magnox Electric pension fund is seeking an additional provider of financial, pension planning and consultancy services.

UK - Man Investment Products - a unit of financial services firm Man Group - is to launch its fourth hedge product in the Man-IP 220 Plus Series targeting institutional investors.

UK - Pension schemes are facing an increasing skill shortage for top level positions.

UK - Scottish Equitable has been appointed to the £191.2m Alcatel Pension Scheme as an additional voluntary contribution (AVC) provider.

UK - William M. Mercer has appointed Paul Sanchez as head of its UK communication consulting practice, and a European partner.

UK - Royal London Asset Management (RLAM) is set to offer a new defined contribution (DC) pensions product.

UK - Consultants PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has issued a scathing attack on the recent investor "binge" on hedge funds, stating that the only way pension fund trustees can benefit from them is as "spectators".

UK - Pension funds should have a greater global outlook if they are to make the most of future returns, says new research by Dresdner RCM Global Investors.