NETHERLANDS - Despite generating an annual return of 5.4% less than in 2005, the Dutch fund PGGM has been pronounced ‘out of recovery' by the Dutch Central Bank (DNB).

Shareholders in the fresh crop of bulk annuity buyout firms are poised to stump up more capital to meet a surge in demand, the new insurers say.

AUSTRALIA - Australian opposition Labor Party frontbenchers have defended last month's proposal to use money from the Future Fund to finance an $A4.7bn broadband network scheme.

Angry investors ready to halt Lord Browne's £72m leaving package; Sainsbury's bid face tough going despite £3bn investment offer; Scottish Widows man dies at 50

State Street is to provide buyout specialists Paternoster with collateral management services.

BlackRock is exploring the potential of defined contribution schemes with built-in self-investment options, PP can reveal.

CANADA - The C$99bn (US$85bn) Ontario Teachers Pension Plan (OTPP) has entered preliminary talks about forming a consortium for a $45bn takeover bid of Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE).

US - US state pension funds have rejected government proposals to prohibit investment in companies such as BNP Paribas which do business in Iran.

SWITZERLAND - The assets under management (AuM) of the Sustainable Asset Management Group (SAM) increased by more than 60% in 2006 to more than CHF4bn.

Philip Sellers has left his role of Advisor at Nomura Asset Management UK after five years with the Japan-based company.