Europe

UK - Karen Head is joining Kristina Lushey as an equal partner at Key Selection.

UK - Mercer Human Resource Consulting has appointed VIictor Fetter as head of information technology.

UK - Northern Venture Managers - part of Edinburgh Fund Managers since June 2000 - has provided £800,000 development finance to Leeds-based software company, Liquidlogic.

UK - Homes builder Persimmon is merging its defined benefit schemes in a bid to maintain paying employees' final salary benefits.

UK - Scottish Life Administration Services has appointed Colin Hamilton client operations manager for its third party administration business in Edinburgh.

UK - Pension funds could see their UK equity portfolios rise by up to 15% by the end of the year, leading analysts predict.

UK - State Street Global Advisors has appointed Anthony Kemple as an investment manager in its currency management team.

UK - Pension rights for thousands of workers will be scupperedif the government upholds Pickering's proposals on instant vesting, leading lawyers warn.

UK - Schroder Investment Management has made a further addition to their research team with the appointment of Stephen Rees.

EUROPE - European-based alternative asset management firm Unigestion has expanded its private equity team with the appointment of senior investment professionals in both its London and Geneva offices.