UK - Clwyd Pension Fund has appointed commodities and portable alpha managers following its pension fund restructure.

US - The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) has taken on the pension plan of bankrupt auto-part manufacturer Collins & Aikman Corp.

UK - Documents released by the UK Treasury late last week show Gordon Brown had received prior warning from Treasury advisers of the devastating effect his 1997 removal of the tax credits for corporate pension funds would have.

AUSTRALIA - An ageing population remains "the biggest economic challenge for Australia over the medium and long term", affirmed treasurer Peter Costello.

EPIC Investment Advisers (EIA) has entered into exclusive merger negotiations with fund management performance appraisal firm, Allenbridge Group.

THE DEBT Management Office's decision to cut its long-dated and index-linked gilt issuance will have only a marginal impact on pension schemes, consultants say.

THE PENSIONS Ombudsman has questioned assumptions of the effectiveness of trustee based pension models.

AUSTRAILIA - Superannuation assets have reached the A$1.0trn mark, according to figures released by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA).

CANADA - The C$143.5bn Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec has upped its stake in school bus company Student Transportation of America (STA).

HEYWOOD is set to provide administration software to the Scottish NHS and teachers' pension schemes following a £7.5m deal with the Scottish Public Pensions Agency.