Investment

Some 16 Scottish charities have joined a new pension provider following the closure of their final salary scheme.

US - The California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) is looking to gain exposure to direct infrastructure assets while building strategic relationships with other investors.

The Pensions Regulator should speak out against the "rubbish" 8% minimum auto-enrolment contribution, a consultant says.

UK - The Pensions Regulator should speak out against the "rubbish" 8% minimum auto-enrolment contribution, a consultant says.

Helen Morrissey introduces the April 8 issue of Professional Pensions.

NETHERLANDS - Assets under management at Dutch pension funds increased from €692bn (US$925bn) in 2008 to €743bn in 2009, according to latest statistics from De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB).

CANADA - The Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (OTPP) is facing a C$17.1bn (US$17.04bn) funding shortfall despite outperforming its benchmark and generating a 13% return in 2009.

US Treasury secretary Timothy Geithner has written to four European finance ministers urging them not to discriminate against foreign players in the alternative investment space as they continue negotiations on the Alternative Investment Fund Manager...

EUROPE - Pension funds across Europe are still moving away from equities despite improving market conditions, Mercer research found.

Gartmore Investment Management and Hermes Fund Managers have combined their private equity fund of funds businesses, to form a new company called Hermes GPE.