US - Towers Perrin and Watson Wyatt have completed their US$4bn merger, creating their new firm Towers Watson.

Consulting giants Towers, Perrin, Forster & Crosby and Watson Wyatt Worldwide came one step closer to completing their merger when shareholders approved the deal at a meeting on Friday, the firms said yesterday.

As the year comes to a close, GP is taking a look back at the 10 most read features of 2009.

AUSTRALIA - The median Australian balanced super fund returned over 10% in the 12 months ending November, with results for the end of 2009 expected to be the strongest in the decade, data by SuperRatings showed.

Dear reader, Global Pensions' daily news alert will not be publishing from December 23 until after the New Year.

As the year winds to a close, Global Pensions takes a look back at the top 10 most read news stories of the year.

US/NETHERLANDS - Dutch pension fund Stichting Pensioenfonds British American Tobacco (Pension Fund BAT) is suing State Street Bank & Trust for losses in a long/short fund run by State Street Global Advisors.

US/UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) said it plans to fully "pursue its legal rights" as it looks to pull out of its 2007 investment in Citigroup or receive US$4bn in compensation.

NETHERLANDS - Dutch charity Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds has hired SEI as fiduciary manager, the firm announced today.

Congratulations to all those providers nominated by their clients for the Global Pensions Awards 2010!