RAILPEN Investments has extended the corporate governance overlay mandate it has with Governance for Owners to include Japan.

UK - The introduction of personal accounts to parliament this week, as part of the new Pensions Bill, has been welcomed by industry with a warning that there are still challenges to be overcome.

THE £3BN AstraZeneca pension fund has appointed Cardano to provide it with investment advice.

CANADA/NEW ZEALAND - The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) plans to make another partial takeover offer to all shareholders of Auckland International Airport Limited (AIAL).

Path cleared for personal accounts; Inflow of funds bolsters Hargreaves; Citigroup creates sub-prime salvage team; Auction of student loans to raise £6bn

NEPTUNE Investment Management has doubled its assets under management to just under £2bn over the past year.

NETHERLANDS - The ABP pension fund, with €208bn (US$305bn) of assets under management, has announced the appointment of Paul Frentrop as head of corporate governance.

Employers will be required to contribute to a pension scheme on behalf of their workers, as part of legislation introduced to parliament in today's Queen's speech.

ABN Amro Asset Management has converted 11 of its fixed income funds to UCITS III "sophisticated" status.

Moves by Royal Mail to clear its £5bn pension deficit within 17 years will still leave a hole of almost £2.9bn, according to analysis by independent pension consultant John Ralfe.