SWITZERLAND - Sustainable Asset Management (SAM) Group has more than doubled its assets under management (AUM), achieving an annual growth rate of 125% in 2007.

SCOTTISH WIDOWS has added a drawdown feature to its self-invested personal pension alternative retirement account.

UK - The London Boroughs of Hounslow and Barnet have issued contract notices for third party administration services and independent pension fund advisers respectively.

AN independent evaluation of the government sponsored Pension Education Fund is due to be published this spring.

UK - The combined Alliance & Leicester Pension Schemes has launched a manager review of Capital International because of underperformance, according to MandateWire.

NORWAY - The Norwegian Ministry of Finance has defended its "negative" screening techniques for its ethical considerations, claiming the Government Pension Fund - Global is too big to screen "positively".

NEW ZEALAND - Falling stocks have caused Auckland Airport's directors to make a U-turn, recommending that shareholders sell into the takeover offer from the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB).

AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND - Russell Investment Group has merged its institutional and retail businesses, as investors increasingly demand services that cross the retail/institutional divide.

SWEDEN - Poor annual returns and a falling stock market do not seem to have stopped Sweden's institutional investors from maintaining a home bias in their equity portfolios.

THE Association of British Insurers and National Association of Pension Funds have updates their joint statement on executive contracts.