EUROPE - Defined contribution (DC) pension scheme providers said the key concerns for plan providers were effective communication with members (59%) and ensure understanding (57%), according to a survey by Mercer.

UK - Pension Corporation has agreed to relinquish any position on the telent trustee board and influence on fund investment in a deal with the Pensions Regulator (TPR).

US - Four New York City pension funds have committed to investing an unprecedented $150m in Northern Ireland via the Emerald Infrastructure Development Fund.

NETHERLANDS - The €215bn (US$339.5bn) ABP fund has acquired classical music publishing and rights group Boosey & Hawkes for £126m (US$248.6m).

Brown Advisory has launched a US equity smaller companies fund targeted at UK pension schemes.

DENMARK - The €51bn (US$) ATP fund has announced a radical investment strategy which it says would allow scheme members to benefit from higher guaranteed pensions without increased risk.

AUSTRALIA - Three timber industry superannuation funds are to merge bringing total assets to AUS$1.5bn (US$1.3bn).

Moves to protect pensions after buy-outs; Pension Corp deal tackles Telent concerns; Pension Corp deal tackles Telent concerns

PENSION Corporation has signed an agreement with the Pensions Regulator to allay its concerns over the governance of the Telent Pension Scheme.

UK - Hedge funds will have to comply with best practice standards to win institutional mandates over the next three years, according to a KMPG survey of the country's largest pension funds.