United Kingdom

UK - Government moves to stop companies from side-stepping their pensions obligations will raise costs and may scupper mergers and acquisitions, lawyers warn.

UK - Independent financial advisers are being invited to attend a series of seminars on "how to capitalise on A-Day".

UK - The pensions department at Safeway is "struggling to cope" with a four-month backlog of inquiries from members.

UK - Schemes' property investments returned 10.9% during 2003, approximately 50% less than equities, new figures by the Investment Property Database show.

UK - Lawyers have identified two loopholes that could strip the Pensions Protection Fund of millions of pounds per year.

UK - Consultants are considering dropping Deutsche Asset Management from their buy lists after its UK equities chief resigned.

UK - Third-party administrator MNPA has been appointed by the Comet pension scheme.

UK - Stakeholder pensions will be "left in ruins" if the government lifts the cap on charges, new research by the Consumers' Association reveals.

UK - Watering down Britain's FRS17 as the basis for new international standards has been hailed as a "step in the right direction" by consultants.

UK - Marlborough Stirling has launched an equity release outsourcing service which, it claims, will enable life and pension providers to enter the market.