Asia

TAIWAN - Aegon has established a joint venture with Taishin Financial Holding to launch its life insurance and pensions products in the Taiwanese market.

SINGAPORE - The FTSE Group, Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) and Singapore Exchange (SGX) are to launch new indices by the end of this year.

SOUTH KOREA - Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse have been reportedly named as the National Pension Scheme's (NPS) partners as it aims to diversify its overseas investment portfolio and boost returns.

INDIA - A total of seven state bodies have made preliminary bids to manage part of India's R17bn (US$400m) government pension fund.

INDIA - The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has sought applications from fund managers for its New Pension System (NPS).

INDIA - Foreign fund managers may be able to get a bite of the massive Indian pensions cherry if new legislation is passed by the government, it has been reported.

SOUTH KOREA - A source close to Morgan Stanley have confirmed to Global Pensions it is in talks to sell its South Korean asset management firm.

SOUTH KOREA - The National Pension Fund may help local companies fight off overseas takeover bids to avoid firms falling into foreign hands, according to a government official.

SOUTH KOREA - Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM) has agreed to acquire 100% of Macquarie-IMM Investment Management (Macquarie-IMM), a Korean asset management firm.

INDIA - The Employee's Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) announced a 7% increase in assets in the nine months to the end of 2006, totalling R967.7bn (US$23.4bn).