United Kingdom

UK - Retail giant Boots has inched one step closer in its plans to move part of its £2.5bn scheme back to equities, following the departure of group treasurer Michael Burning.

UK - Pension administration company Profund Systems has hired Adrian Howells as alliances manager.

UK - Schemes have attacked consultants for charging "outrageously expensive" fees for work that could be done in-house.

UK - Invesco is "bucking the trend" by bringing all of its administration and client-servicing activities in-house.

UK - Construction firms are injecting more than £100m into pensions as part of a drive to attract more young, skilled workers.

UK - The £16bn Royal Mail Pension Plan has put £20m into Schroder Property Managers' Hercules property unit trust.

UK - Engineering firm Invensys is selling the non-production parts of its business to reduce debt and plug a deficit in its pension scheme.

EUROPE/UK - Private equity allocations among UK and European investors are still too low, according to research from Standard Life Investments.

UK/GERMANY - An MP has attacked German airline Lufthansa for failing to protect the interests of longstanding British workers who face massive cuts in their pension entitlements.

UK - State Street Global Advisors is among 120 companies that have been presented with the Queen's Award for Enterprise.