UK - A new private members bill could see £4bn in unclaimed bank and building society accounts relocated to a compensation scheme for the victims of failed occupational pension schemes.

INVESTMENT management firms could be forced to pay schemes hundreds of millions of pounds if the EU advocate general's opinion on value-added tax is upheld.

CORDEA Savills has bought a 179-room student hall development in Loughborough for its Student Hall Fund.

MELLON Group has roundly beaten its new partner the Bank of New York in R&M's latest global custody survey.

AUSTRALIA - AustralianSuper has increased its assets under management by 20% (A$5bn) to A$25bn in the 8 months since its inception.

SOUTH AFRICA - The establishment of a mandatory state pension fund in South Africa is unlikely to translate into new business for asset managers.

Merger of pensions bodies mooted; Minister threatens to clamp down on tax advantages of private equity deals; Institutions face votes pressure

EUROPE - Pension funds have welcomed the European Parliament's approval of the European Commission's shareholder voting rights directive, saying it will create opportunity and encourage more active participation.

UK - A public campaign to try to dissuade pension funds from investing in private equity has left them indifferent.

A MERGER between the Pensions Regulator and the Pension Protection Fund is being looked at as part of an independent review of pension regulation.