United Kingdom

UK - The SIPP market is hamstrung by an unfair regulatory playing field, Pointon York SIPP Solutions claims.

UK - The Local Authority Pension Fund Forum has reappointed Pensions Investment Research Consultants as its research and engagement partner for a further two years.

UK - Financial giant Barclays claims to have raised best practice standards after securing pension benefits for contract cleaners.

UK - Corporate self-invested pension plans will provide employers with a "completely hassle-free" alternative to defined benefit schemes, delegates at a recent conference heard.

UK - Open Annuities is to modify its product design to comply with the underlying principles of pensions simplification.

UK - Jupiter Asset Management plans to publish its voting record by the end of the year as demand grows for greater corporate transparency.

UK - Pension schemes have welcomed wide-ranging changes in shareholder voting processes recommended in the latest report by former Gartmore chief Paul Myners.

UK - The number of SIPPs is increasing at a rate of nearly 40% per year - and this will accelerate, a leading consultant predicts.

UK - UK life companies face a e15bn (£10.2bn) capital shortfall, according to estimates from financial services consultancy Mercer Oliver Wyman.

UK - The Myners report says that custodian and investments managers should have an electronic voting capability.