News

SOUTH AFRICA - Watson Wyatt has completed its acquisition of a 20% stake in consulting firm Fifth Quadrant, as revealed exclusively by Global Pensions in December ( www.globalpensions.com , 3 December 2007).

Personal accounts a ‘scandal in the making'; Workers fear personal accounts will cost too much; Technology aid for safer pensions landing; Fiduciary management to be introduced in UK

CENTRAL & EASTERN EUROPE - Employee benefits across Central and Eastern European countries are not homogenous, according to new reports published by Watson Wyatt.

UK - The selection of currency managers based on past performance has led to a clash of opinions between a leading consultancy and fund management firm.

With defined benefit on its way out, Andrew Sheen looks at what the future holds for the remaining DB schemes

US - The difficulties faced by the US' Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) have been highlighted as it was revealed some former workers of Republic Technologies International risked cuts of up to 75% of their pension entitlements.

NEW ZEALAND - The differences between the retirement systems of New Zealand and the UK are so vast that KiwiSaver should not be held up as a shining beacon for the introduction of Personal Accounts in 2012, leading pensions figures have warned.

INCLUDING: GLOBAL - Hedge fund code fails to gather support; US - Retirees 'afraid' to spend retirement investments; UK - Airport chaos threatened

US - Tobacco investing has been thrown back into the spotlight, following reports that the California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS) is considering putting money back into the industry.

WRAGGE & CO has appointed Paul Carberry as a director in its pensions practice.