INSTITUTIONAL funds under management at F&C Asset Management fell by almost £2bn during the fourth quarter of 2006, latest company figures reveal.

US - Putnam Investments is to be acquired from Marsh & McLennan Companies by Great-West Lifeco, a subsidiary of Power Financial Corporation, for US$3.9bn.

AUSTRALIA - State Street Corporation said it had expanded its investor services team in response to growing demand for a broad range of custody and asset administration services by large investors across the Asia Pacific region.

THE PENSION Protection Fund could go bust within two years if the High Court decides it must provide full compensation for scheme members, consultants claim.

One of the UK's largest independent healthcare intermediaries has introduced a healthcare cash plan for its 180 employees.

Employees who work flexibly have greater job satisfaction and likely to speak positively about their firm and less likely to quit, new research shows.

AGE discrimination legislation will have a widespread but manageable effect on pension schemes, consultants believe.

Institutional inflows into investment funds set a new record last year, figures from the Investment Management Association reveal.

MORGAN Stanley Investment Management has launched a new alternatives fund following a £60m mandate from the Superannuation Arrangements of the University of London.

ARLINGTON Securities has launched a fund of UK property funds to give schemes geographic and sector diversity with a single investment.