NETHERLANDS - Stichting Bedrijfstakpensioenfonds voor de Groothandel in Levensmiddelen (Bpf GIL) has hired J.P. Morgan Worldwide Securities Services as global custodian for its €500m ($700.6m) scheme.

Neuberger Berman, SL Investment Management, Standard Life, GESB, Acadian, Pioneer, Russell Investments, Northern Trust

NEW ZEALAND - The government's 2011/2012 proposed budget will halve matching tax credits for members' voluntary contributions to KiwiSaver while increasing employer and employee contributions to the scheme.

AUSTRALIA - the AU$32bn (US$34.2bn) AustralianSuper fund has inked deals with six advisory firms to provide members with limited financial advisory services, a first-ever partnership for industry superannuation funds.

GLOBAL - Have you missed the biggest stories in pensions this week? Find out below, as we list the top 10 most popular stories on www.globalpensions.com over the past seven days.

UK/ CANADA - Last week's passage of the Ontario budget gave approval for the Nortel pension plan to put through what could be North America's first pension buyout. Ronald Olsen, vice president at Sibson Consulting, who assisted the plan with its proposal,...

UK/IRELAND - Stricter regulations around pension funds will spur the development of the buyout market in Ireland, an LCP official said.

NETHERLANDS - Dutch pension fund manager PGGM has formed a joint venture with infrastructure public private partnership investor BAM PPP in what the two say is the first deal of its kind in Europe.

AUSTRALIA - Michele Dolin will step down as CEO of GESB, the AU$12bn (US$12.7bn) superannuation and retirement services entity owned by the state of Western Australia.

AUSTRALIA - The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) have released a report concluding raising the mandatory contribution rate to 12% from 9% would result in stronger retirement adequacy than would proposals to reform the country's...