Investment

The merger between Aon Consulting and Hewitt Associates marks yet another step in industry consolidation.

Scheme allocations to alternative assets have increased almost three-fold over the past 10 years, Towers Watson research reveals.

BRAZIL - Brazilian state pension funds Funcef, Petrus and Previ will have a stake in the Belo Monte hydropower dam that will be built in the Amazon, an official with the state-run electricity company said.

GLOBAL - Pension funds and other institutional investors could plough more than $200bn into worldwide property markets over the next five years, Invesco Real Estate has predicted.

The decision to index occupation pension increases to the CPI measure of inflation will cut the benefits of millions of workers, industry figures warn.

The announcement the government is set to index private sector pension increases to CPI rather than RPI will raise significant issues for schemes.

US - States may face increased retirement- fund deficits and pressure to stop skipping pension contributions under proposals being reviewed by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board.

The government has confirmed plans to link private sector pension increases to CPI rather than RPI.

Xafinity has bought PricewaterhouseCoopers' scheme actuary, pensions administration and investment consulting business for an undisclosed sum.

UK - Xafinity has bought PricewaterhouseCoopers' scheme actuary, pensions administration and investment consulting business for an undisclosed sum.