NEW real estate investment trusts will deprive schemes of some of the benefits of traditional property investments, a fund manager says.

Lay trustees are operating in a negative environment be-cause their ability was constantly being questioned, delegates heard.

TRUSTEES must look at cutting benefits rather than investing in alternative assets if they are to overcome rising longevity, delegates heard.

Regular re-enrolment options should allay fears high numbers of workers will miss out under the government's proposed pension shake-up, experts claim.

BENELUX - BlackRock Merrill Lynch Investment Managers (BlackRock MLIM) has appointed Mark Schipper as marketing manager for the Benelux region.

GOLDMAN Sachs has bought a substantial stake in consultant Barrie & Hibbert for an undisclosed sum.

NOMINATIONS for the second Local Government Association and Local Government Channel "council employee of the year" are under way.

UK - ABN AMRO Mellon Global Securities Services B.V. has replaced State Street as custodian to the £1.2bn Cambridgeshire County Council Pension Fund.

The Government must find a solution for scheme wind-up victims in a bid to save the reputation of the industry, Profes-sional Pensions Show panellists urged.

BUYERS of UK companies should be aware that FRS17 does not reflect the true economic cost of any pension liabilities they might be taking on, delegates heard.