Unilever pledges to keep final salary pension scheme open.

(From The Independent)

Byline: Katherine Griffiths Banking Correspondent

UNILEVER, the consumer goods company which runs one of the country's largest defined benefit pension schemes, yesterday warned staff their 10-year holiday from pensions contributions would come to an end in January as a result of the impact on the fund of weak equity markets.

But it said that it was "reaffirming its commitment" to keeping its pounds 4.2bn defined benefit scheme open at a time when many companies are closing them in favour of defined contribution contracts.

Unilever said: "In view of the current performance and trend in equity markets, it has been …