NETHERLANDS - Blue Sky Group, which manages KLM's pension funds, revealed plans to change investment strategy, award new mandates and expand its client portfolio.

UK - Stamp duty costs pension funds £574m each year, according to a new report by study group Oxera, commissioned by the London Stock Exchange and other major players.

SCHEME members who want to transfer their pension overseas are being unfairly taxed for exceeding the annual saving cap, actuaries claim.

UK - Allenbridge group has purchased a 51% equity stake in EPIC Investment Advisors from Syndicate Asset Management in order to expand its appeal to pension trustees.

CANADA - Hundreds of unionised Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE) employees marched to the company's Montreal offices yesterday demonstrating over recently announced ‘unfair' pensions cuts.

ROLLS-ROYCE is set to pump £360m into its UK pension funds if trustees agree to implement a less risky investment strategy.

UK- Trustees in the Alliance Boots pension scheme have reportedly demanded approximately £1bn from its potential private equity owners to cover a shortfall.

THOMAS Eggar director Vernon Holgate has left the law firm after five years to join independent pension trustee Capital Cranfield.

Consultants are urging ministers to be "bold on pension deregulation", which could play a significant part in preserving some final salary provision.

THE PENSIONS Management Institute launched its online TV channel with an in-depth interview with pensions reform minister James Purnell.