January
2004
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Friends
Provident record year
Life insurer Friends Provident saw a record increase in
its new business sales over 2003 with new group pensions sales
one of the major highlights, according to results released today
|
30/01/04 |
New
pensions administration system launched
Pensions software company, Claybrook, has unveiled its new
pensions administration system, Compendia |
30/01/04 |
Bond
duration anomaly could lead to scheme deficit
New research from AXA Investment Managers, focusing on strategies
designed to match pension scheme's liabilities, has revealed
an anomaly which could lead to scheme deficit |
29/01/04 |
DB
schemes threaten company projections
Eighteen per cent of finance directors (FDs) are concerned
about the negative impact defined benefit (DB) schemes are having
on the financial strength of their companies, according to a
survey by Prudential |
28/01/04 |
Clerical
returns to group pension market
Clerical Medical quietly re-entered the commission based
group pension market at the beginning of January, formally announcing
their re-entry today |
28/01/04 |
Acquisition
alters annuity broking landscape
The Bureaux Limited (which incorporates The Annuity Bureau,
The Drawdown Bureau, The Care Funding Bureau and The Investors
Bureau) has been acquired by corporate pension IFA Alexander
Forbes Financial Services (AFFS) in a move which, argues AFFS,
puts it in a leading position in the annuity broking market
|
27/01/04 |
Insurers
abandon trustee liability market
The number of insurers underwriting Pension Trustees' Liability
(PTL) has halved because it is regarded as such a “hazardous”
area, according to a report by independent insurance broker,
Heath Lambert Group |
26/01/04 |
Socially
responsible investment practices on the rise
The number of pension funds building social and environmental
issues into their investment practices has been increasing,
with the trend set to continue strongly in the next few years,
according to new research from Ashridge and Just Pensions
|
26/01/04 |
More
trustee guidance from Opra
The Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority (Opra) has
published new guidance for trustees on reporting late payments
of pension contributions |
26/01/04 |
Pooled
pensions claw back losses
Pooled
pension funds saw a median return of more than 18% last year
which represents the first positive year performance since
the late 90's, according to the Russell/Mellon CAPS Pooled
Pension Fund Update 2003 |
23/01/04 |
Pain
and gain to A-Day and beyond
Although recognising that the run up to A-Day will be hectic
and complex, a majority of pension professionals are in favour
of the Revenue's proposed tax simplification, according to research
by Hewitt Bacon & Woodrow |
22/01/04 |
Falling
bonds yields take toll on deficits
Last year's rise in equities may not necessarily spell good
news for FRS17 pension shortfalls because of a fall in corporate
bond yields over the same period, consultants Lane Clark &
Peacock LLP (LCP) has warned |
21/01/04 |
Skandia
targets Section 32 buyouts
An new Section 32 Buyout product is being launched later
this year by financial services group, Skandia, as an extension
to its existing single price pension range |
20/01/04 |
Aon
to take on Kellogg's admin
Aon Consulting has been appointed to replace Watson Wyatt
as administrator of the Kellogg's (Great Britain) pension scheme
|
20/01/04 |
Annuity
rates show decline slowdown in 2003
Annuity rates, which have been in a general downward spiral
for the last 10 years, have shown a significant slow down in
decline during 2003, according to Investment, Life & Pensions
Moneyfacts' (ILPM) annual annuity review |
20/01/04 |
Asset
boost doesn't alter deficit
Although growth of total institutional pension fund assets
of the 11 major global markets has been in excess of 12%, the
overall FRS17 deficit for UK pension funds is little changed
from a year ago, according to Watson Wyatt |
20/01/04 |
MLIM
calls for increased allocation to property
Following its analysis of the risk, return and diversification
characteristics of property, Merrill Lynch Investment Managers'
(MLIM) Strategic Advice Service has concluded that the asset
class is being under-represented in UK pension fund investment
strategies |
19/01/04 |
European
private equity suffers 2003 nosedive
Fundraising in European private equity fell steeply in 2003,
demonstrating the toughest market since the 2000 peak, according
to provisional figures from private equity placement and research
company Almeida Capital |
16/01/04 |
Fund
returns accelerate in 2003
UK pension funds saw returns of 16.8% over the course of
2003, according to a recent survey from the WM Company, which
represents the first positive performance since 1999 |
08/01/04 |
MP
calls for annuity reform
Annuities were under the spotlight again today as Conservative
MP, Adrian Flook, launched his Private Members Bill –
The Retirement Income Reform Bill, which aims to amend
the law relating to the purchase of annuities in respect of
private and personal pensions |
07/01/04 |
The
Exchange and Synaptic form alliance
IFA service provider, the Exchange, has joined forces with
Synaptic Systems in an alliance that aims to bring business
benefits to intermediary customers of both companies |
07/01/04 |
New
research highlights pension fund fears
Although the financial climate is arguably improving, one
in five of the UK's largest companies are concerned about the
ability of their Defined Benefit (DB) pension schemes to meet
future payments to retired staff, according to new research
from Prudential UK |
06/01/04 |
CSAM
launches new property fund
Credit Suisse Asset Management (CSAM) has introduced a new
unit property trust open to pension funds, life companies, charities
and high net worth individuals |
06/01/04 |
Managing
benefits online
A new online employee benefits platform has been launched
by Scottish Life designed to help SMEs improve the administration
and communication of the benefits they offer |
05/01/04 |
NAPF
launches corporate governance guide
The National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) has published
a new guide on corporate governance to clarify the rights and
responsibilities of shareholders and company directors |
05/01/04 |
Pickering
and Higgs reap rewards
Alan Pickering, partner at Watson Wyatt, has received a
CBE in the New Year's Honours list for services to occupational
pension schemes |
03/01/04 |
