Aviva is the latest insurer considering a trustee-type governance committee for its group personal pension to drive up standards and make its operations more cohesive.

Norfolk Pension Fund has rejected Local Government Pension Scheme merger proposals, saying it could harm fund services and trustee stewardship – but the London Pensions Fund Authority and unions have backed the move.

Data analysis: European schemes' interest in alternative assets has ceased its upward climb, with no improvement in uptake on last year, according to survey data. 

The European Commission has stepped back from its summer deadline for publishing a new Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provision, as more national pension fund associations voice scepticism over its timeframe.

Associated British Foods has seen a less than 3 per cent opt-out rate and significant engagement from 1,500 employees auto-enrolled in February, after an extensive awareness campaign and popular default investment strategy.

News analysis: Legal experts are split on whether changes to the takeover code coming into effect today have any impact on the power of pension schemes whose sponsors are the target of a merger or acquisition.

The government has said a “black and white” debate about differences in governance standards at contract and trust-based schemes is an unwelcome distraction from ensuring high standards across all arrangements.  

Liquidity requirements for defined contribution schemes are hampering their investment returns and ability to compete with defined benefit plans on the replacement income provided in retirement, an institutional investor group has warned.

Employees too young to be auto-enrolled have been a notable group opting in to workplace saving, the NAPF has reported, calling it one of the most interesting aspects of auto-enrolment so far.

News analysis: The government’s decision to ban consultancy charges in all auto-enrolment schemes has been broadly welcomed, but the change is predicted to have a big impact on smaller employers.

The Principles for Responsible Investment has fleshed out the details of the mandatory elements of its revised reporting framework, as it attempts to “demystify” the process ahead of its rollout later this year.