United Kingdom

UK - Britain's over-stretched bulk annuity market could have a new entrant within the next six months.

UK - Standard Life has said that it plans to axe 1,000 jobs by the end of 2004.

UK - Flexible benefit costs can be cut and efficiency improved if firms make greater use of the internet, conference delegates were told on Tuesday.

UK - The £400m London Borough of Hillingdon Superannuation Fund has appointed Adam Street Partners and LGT Capital Partners to run private equity mandates worth approximately 5% of its assets.

UK - Schemes face higher costs because the ombudsman is shunning the pensions advisory service OPAS.

UK - Scheme members at a Kent building society face losing their pensions over company plans to sell its branches.

UK - Pension schemes are being urged to use their annual pension contribution allowances before the end of the tax year.

UK - JPMorgan is in exclusive negotiations to acquire Cape Town-based third party administrator TASC Administration from Sanlam.

UK - RMB International has named Tom Joy (pictured) as chief investment officer.

UK - Schemes and fund managers are linking up in a bid to end the "striking mismatch" to their investment approach.