France

FRANCE - SG Asset Management is in the process of transferring its Paris-based institutional European equity business and some of its global equity accounts from Tokyo to London.

FRANCE - Watson Wyatt has appointed Simon Desrochers as head of its benefits consulting team in France.

FRANCE - Société Générale (SocGen) saw its net income fall 20% to EUR2.15bn in 2001, despite strong growth from its asset management division.

FRANCE - ABF Capital Management has launched a new environmental fund.

FRANCE - The concept of equity-based pension plans may finally be taking hold in France following an increased preference by employees for stock market-based corporate savings schemes.

FRANCE - The French employers federation, Mouvement des Entreprises de France (Medef), has put pension reform firmly on the agenda of this year's French electoral campaign.

FRANCE - CDC IXIS Asset Management has promoted its strategy chief Roland Calvo to the post of chief investment officer as part of a management reshuffle at the French firm.

FRANCE - BBSP, the French market forecasting company, has appointed Frederi Maurice as its new sales director.

FRANCE - CDC IXIS Asset Management has targeted Italy with the launch of CDC IXIS Asset Management Italia SGR (Societa di Gestione del Risparmlo).

FRANCE - Financial services groups Caisse des Depots et Consignations and Caisse Nationale des Caisses d'Epargne et de Prevoyance have teamed up to create EULIA, a joint venture specialising in asset management, insurance and retail banking.