Mercer

Mercer is to launch a master trust through its workplace savings platform, offering access to Aegon, Friends Life and Zurich schemes.

The UK pension system's score in the annual Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index has improved but dropped two places in ranking to ninth as other countries overtook it.

A drop in the FTSE over August has wiped out summer deficit reduction as levels return to those seen in May, research from Mercer shows.

Charlotte Moore looks at how multi-asset managers are dealing with falls in bonds and equities

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has agreed a £440m all-risk buyout for its UK pension plan with Rothesay Life, securing improved benefits for members owing to suitable market conditions.

Automotive retailer Lookers has merged the outsourced services it buys in for its defined benefit (DB) schemes, appointing Aon Hewitt in place of four other firms.

A rise in equities failed to halt increasing deficits at the UK's biggest companies as corporate bond yields took a negative turn, research from Mercer shows.

Gilt yields buck the trend of previous months and fall during July increasing UK corporate deficits by £50bn, research from Xafinity finds.

Mercer has added Aegon to the preferred supplier panel of its workplace savings platform, alongside Friends Life and Zurich.

Recent regulatory changes may undermine the concept of pay for performance in banks and insurers and increase risk within businesses, Mercer warns.