United Kingdom

UK - The Ministry of Defence has conducted a rigorous tender process and selected Scottish Widows as provider of its stakeholder pensions and additional voluntary contribution (AVC) scheme for the armed services.

UK - Employer sponsored pension schemes remain the best option for millions of UK workers, according to the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF).

UK - Leading pensions schemes are unlikely to follow the £2.7bn J. Sainsbury Pension Scheme which is publishing short-term performance figures on its new website.

UK - Swiss Life Asset Management has confirmed a series of mandate wins totalling around £15m. The wins are spread across a range of different consultants in its pooled mix managed fund.

UK - The Inland Revenue is to continue its long-running claim on a company director's lump sum pension by appealing a High Court decision.

UK - Standard Life has clinched its biggest ever group additional voluntary contribution win with its appointment as provider to the Consignia scheme.

UK - Delays over scrapping the MFR could be a sign the government sees the trend away from DB schemes as unstoppable, Towers Perrin believes.

UK - Members of defined contribution (DC) plans could face significant shortfalls in their benefits from the impact of falling investment returns, lower annuity rates and increased life expectancy, says consultant William M Mercer.

UK - Jupiter Asset Management has strengthened its' socially responsible investment (SRI) team with the promotion of Charlie Thomas to fund manager on its ecology fund.

UK - Pension funds want the NAPF to adopt a much stronger line on socially responsible investment.