United Kingdom

UK - Henderson and Gartmore have finally reached an agreement which should see full acquisition take place in a £335m ($524m) deal over the next few months, subject to shareholder approval.

UK - The aggregate s179 funding position of the 6,560 schemes in the PPF 7800 index is estimated to have improved to a surplus of £21.7bn ($33.7bn) at the end of December.

UK - Alexander Forbes Consultants & Actuaries has hired Antony Hayes as head of institutional business in a bid to expand its employee benefits consultancy business.

UK - A new online tool allows trustees to assess their current levels of scheme governance against 200 other DB schemes.

UK - Third-sector multi-employer fund The Pensions Trust has changed its investment strategy across all member schemes in a shift away from quoted equities.

UK - The Financial Reporting Council has published a series of recommendations in a bid to improve communications between company boards and shareholders such as pension funds.

UK - Trustees of defined benefit schemes saw an average return of 13% on investments last year due to strong equity performance, according to research.

UK - Trustees of the AT Kearney Pension & Life Assurance Scheme have appointed Gatemore Capital Management to act as its dedicated chief investment officer.

UK - Mn Services has won a £450m ($702m) fiduciary management mandate from the Delphi defined benefit pension schemes in the UK.

UK - Deficits at defined benefit pension schemes fell by up to 51% in 2010, but schemes still have some way to go to reach the funding levels of 2008, figures show.