United Kingdom

UK - Employers' contributions to self-administered pension schemes in 2004 were nearly five times as much as employee contributions, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics.

UK - Concerns over pension liabilities are causing some UK companies to pull out of merger deals, says PricewaterhouseCoopers.

UK - New safeguards for members of occupational pension schemes come into force today.

UK - New debt regulations for occupational pension schemes lack clarity and contain unnecessary requirements for trustees, according to Lane Clark and Peacock (LCP).

UK - Companies are being forced to stand behind their pension promises like never before, says Watson Wyatt.

UK - Stephan Breban (pictured), formerly an investment consultant with Watson Wyatt, has launched City Capital Partners, a specialist private equity consultancy.

UK - Absolute security in any pension system is unaffordable and undeliverable, Watson Wyatt partner Alan Pickering has warned.

UK - HSBC Actuaries and Consultants Limited (HACL) has been chosen by Wrekin to provide actuarial, consultancy and administration services for its defined benefit pension scheme.

UK - Barclays Global Investors (BGI) has unveiled a suite of twenty pooled liability driven investment (LDI) funds, with over £1bn assets.

UK - A growing number of asset managers are appearing on pension funds' long lists as a result of direct approaches to funds and in many cases without endorsement from consultants.