NETHERLANDS - Blue Sky Group has been selected as asset manager for Stichting Bedrijfstakpensioenfonds voor de Schoen-, Leder-, en Lederwarenindustrie, an industry pension fund for the shoe and leather industry.

US - A proposed bill preventing Californian pension funds from investing in private equity firms partly owned by governments with poor human rights records has been withdrawn, following opposition from state governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

CANADA - The long running bid by the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan (OTPP) to acquire Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE) has met with final regulatory approval.

US - The Municipal Employees' Retirement System of Michigan (MERS) has appointed State Street Corporation as custodian for its $6bn in assets.

Bank of England faces tough decision on interest rates; IMF forecast of slowing growth damps mood

US - The Change to Win (CtW) coalition has failed in its bid to block the reappointment of Morgan Stanley directors at the company's AGM.

Plans to merge the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries are being challenged by a group of Scottish-qualified actuaries.

UK - The National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) has appointed members to its benefits and investment councils.

THE National Association of Pension Funds has announced the results of elections to its benefits and investment councils.

DENMARK - Industriens Pension produced a 0.6% return over 2007, but lowered its member costs by 10%.