United Kingdom

EUROPE/UK - European private equity has failed to maintain the momentum gained in the second half of last year amid economic and political woes.

UK - HSBC Asset Management's three cash funds have been awarded triple-A ratings from global ratings agency, Moody's Investors Service.

UK - Jane Fryer has joined Apen Trustees as a director. Fryer began her career as a solicitor before moving to Abbey National where she became trust secretary to its occupational pension scheme.

UK - Pension funds have welcomed a decision by music giant EMI to change its executive contracts to curb payoffs in the event of a takeover.

UK - Software firm Euraplan is offering its investment monitoring software on the open market.

UK - The NAPF is preparing to launch a spate of attacks on companies which have two-year rolling contracts for directors.

UK - Active managers will find themselves out of pocket as moves towards liability-matched mandates force their fees down, Hewitt Bacon & Woodrow claims.

UK - The Financial Services Authority has fined Lincoln Assurance £485,000 for mis-selling savings plans by its appointed representative, City Financial Partners.

UK - The Co-operative Insurance Society's £1.8bn final salary plan is considering its first investment in hedge funds.

UK - Central Financial Planning has launched a new service to give DC pension scheme members access to commercial property investment as part of their fund.