NETHERLANDS - An allocation to timber by Dutch pension fund ABP is "imminent", a spokesperson for the fund has confirmed to Global Pensions.

Tax rules put firms off paying into pensions, Treasury told; Government failed in duty to protect Equitable Life policyholders; Standard Life maintains sales after surge; Pensions alert over private equity

EUROPE - Up to 70% of payouts from US securities class actions remain unclaimed by UK and European institutional investors.

The role of the pension fund custodian has changed significantly over the years, as they have continu...

THE PENSIONS Trust has re-elected John Alleston as the chairman of the board and Clive Unitt as the deputy chairman.

NETHERLANDS - Construction firm Ballast Nedam has awarded a €190m pension mandate to ING Investment Management.

GLOBAL- Institutional asset managers have backed actively managed funds after a report claimed investors would benefit more from investing in index-tracking funds.

FRANCE - Antoine de Salins, executive director of the French Reserve Fund (Fonds de Reserve pour les Retraites, or FRR), has revealed the fund intends to launch a tender for a commodity index provider.

US - The California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS) has appointed specialist Pension Consulting Alliance to advise on the shake up of its allocation to alternative investments.

THE INVESTMENT Management Association and the Securities and Investment Institute have teamed up to offer an improved entry-level investment management qualification.