United Kingdom

UK - Britannic Asset Management has launched a long corporate bond fund designed for matching long-term liabilities.

UK - The £450m Flintshire County Council Clwyd Pension Fund is looking to hire a global custodian.

UK - Pension fund finances have crumbled with FRS17 deficits soaring to £150bn as the FTSE100 plunged to almost half its peak level this week.The deficit has increased from £130bn at the end of last year.

UK/US - Prudential's new business sales for group insurance and investment rose by 29%, from around £21.4bn to £27.6bn in 2002.

UK - Entegria, the benefits consulting division of Hogg Robinson, is hosting a joint breakfast seminar in Leeds on February 13.

UK - The move to defined contribution provision could be growing faster than many commentators anticipate, a new survey is likely to show.

UK - A growing deficit in the FSA's £153m final salary scheme could result in pay freezes at the government watchdog.

UK - Pooled balanced fund managers have been selling bonds to bolster equity holdings in their portfolio, according to Russell/Mellon CAPS.

UK - The AEP Energy Services Generation pension fund has awarded a £30m global equity mandate to manager-of-managers SEI.

UK - Four fund managers have teamed up to buy 19 retail parks and development sites from retail giant Kingfisher for £695m.