United Kingdom

UK - Aon Live Wire has appointed Alex Thurley-Ratcliff as a senior consultant.

UK - Pension regulators have upheld a KPMG application to extend the time limit for cash equivalent transfers following complaints from scheme members.

UK - The Financial Services Authority has come under fire from fund managers over its proposed clampdown on soft commissions and bundling.

UK - The financial services authority has admitted to concentrating too much on complaints from within the industry - at the expense of consumers.

UK - Final salary pension schemes could cripple thousands of companies unless they act to stem their liabilities, PIFC Consulting warns.

UK - Nearly a third of housing associations plan to review their final salary schemes in the next year, a survey by HACAS Chapman Hendy shows.

UK - Pensions lawyers are being inundated with calls from firms and trustees in the wake of government moves to increase security for final salary scheme members.

UK - Prudential is launching an aggressive bulk annuity campaign with a range of "capital efficient" products to clinch the lion's share of future business.

UK - Proxy voting agency Manifest is set to enter into direct competition with Pensions Investment Research Consultants by targeting local authority schemes for new business.

UK - Hedge fund manager Alexandra Investment Management has selected software provider Sophis to provide portfolio and risk management systems.