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Global investors collaborate on innovative climate change asset allocation study
9 March 2010Mercer, together with 14 institutional asset owners and investors from around the world, the Carbon Trust and IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, recently launched a climate change strategic asset allocation study (the “study”) exploring the...
International Accounting Standards proposals could change attitudes to pension plan investments
8 March 2010Proposed changes to international accounting standards (IAS 19), due for consultation shortly, could encourage lower risk investment strategies, according to Mercer.
Poor investment returns and lack of member understanding are biggest challenges for DC schemes
8 March 2010Poor investment returns and lack of member understanding are the two most important challenges facing defined contribution pension (DC) schemes, according to research by Mercer.
Mercer wins two top awards at annual Global Pensions Awards
5 March 2010Mercer has secured two prestigious global awards as Best Actuary of the Year and International Benefits Consultant of the Year.
Peter Baynham – new M&A Head for UK and Ireland
5 March 2010Peter Baynham has been appointed as Mercer’s Head of M&A Consulting for the UK and Ireland.
Government should allow PPF to end and reduce compensation payments
3 March 2010Mercer believes that the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) should consult on the circumstances in which it could end its practice of automatically increasing compensation payments. The consultancy also believes that the PPF should also consider when it...
Higher rate tax relief restrictions ‘a smash and grab’, says Mercer
3 March 2010Mercer believes that the proposals to restrict higher rate tax relief are ‘a smash and grab’ raid on pension schemes, paying scant regard to the interests of ordinary scheme members or trustees’ responsibilities to ensure the security of those...
Pay and benefit trends survey – Northern Ireland
2 March 2010A survey of Northern Irish companies has shown that a quarter of participants (27%) are planning reductions in their employee numbers in 2010, although the situation has improved since 2008/9 when staff cuts were made by as many as two-thirds (65%)...
Great opportunities for hedge fund investment continue in 2010
22 February 2010The current market conditions continue to provide attractive opportunities for investment in hedge funds but following good practice when selecting managers remains crucial, according to Mercer.
Mercer Pension Buyout Index launched to assist companies and trustees in pension scheme de-risking
22 February 2010A company with a mature pension plan with accounting liabilities and assets of £100 million could secure a bulk annuity deal with an insurer with additional costs of around £44 million, according to data analysed in Mercer’s new Pension Buyout...
Mercer adds eight senior consultants to the alternatives boutique
11 February 2010Eight senior consultants have joined Mercer’s alternatives boutique as part of a major expansion, it was announced today by David Kaposi, the global leader of Mercer’s alternatives boutique within investment consulting.
Mercer’s forthcoming Pensions Knowledge courses
11 February 2010Trustees of pension funds face ever-increasing challenges in carrying out their role effectively.
Mercer boosts implemented investment solutions team with two new appointments
10 February 2010Mercer has appointed two new investment specialists to join the implemented solutions team in its Investment Management business.
Liberty International insures pension scheme benefits for its members
4 February 2010The Trustees of the Liberty International Group Retirement Benefit Scheme and Liberty International PLC, the FTSE100 property company, have today announced that Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC) – an FSA authorised and regulated life insurer –...
Coats plc appoints Mercer
3 February 2010Mercer has been appointed to provide Coats plc with ePRISM PRO®, an online hosted compensation management tool, and will also supply annual market data to support the ongoing process and analysis work.
The Finance Act – Interim measures for companies to consider
3 February 2010Mercer is advising companies to consider several risk management measures in advance of the implementation of the Finance Act in April 2010 to reduce the impact that the changes will have on senior employees, staff motivation and company...
Life & Longevity Markets Association a welcome development, says Mercer
2 February 2010Mercer has welcomed the formation of the Life & Longevity Markets Association (LLMA) – the new cross-industry initiative between eight insurers and investment banks.
Companies risk being caught out by rising PPF levy costs
1 February 2010Volatility in measures of corporate insolvency risk and uncertainty around the future formula for the computation of levies mean that many pension schemes, and their sponsors, could face increases in their Pension Protection Fund ("PPF") levy bills,...
DC pensions fare well in market surge but timing of retirement is crucial
21 January 2010Surging equity prices mean that many employees may be able to work fewer years than recently feared in order to retire on a reasonable income, according to calculations from Mercer.
An end to default retirement - the impact of longer working lives
19 January 2010In light of the Government’s announcement that it is likely to remove the default retirement age, Mercer has highlighted the HR, pensions and benefits implications for employers.
Rensburg Sheppards Plc has appointed Mercer
15 January 2010Rensburg Sheppards Plc, the wealth management company, has appointed Mercer
Mercer sees major expansion in its implemented consulting business
11 January 2010Mercer has been appointed by two further clients to provide implemented consulting services – Apache and FirstGroup – bringing the total number of its implemented consulting clients to 46 in the UK and 89 in Europe.
Aero Engines Controls appoints Mercer
7 January 2010Mercer has been appointed by Aero Engines Controls.
Changes in long-term inflation expectations push FTSE 350 pension deficits to £170 billion
7 January 2010Despite positive asset returns over 2009, the FTSE 350 pension deficit stood at £170 billion at the end of 2009 compared to £60 billion at the end of 2008, according to data from Mercer.
"10 for 2010" New Year resolutions for DC plan sponsors, trustees and governance committees
6 January 2010Mercer has compiled a “10 for 2010” checklist of New Year resolutions that plan sponsors and governors of defined contribution (DC) plans should make to address plan design and investment concerns and help members meet their retirement objectives.
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