Europe

UK - Merrill Lynch Investment Managers (MLIM) has boosted its research team.

UK - Strategic Asset Management Solutions (SAMS) has appointed Justin Begley as marketing manager.

UK - Canadian telecoms giant Nortel is set to conduct a review of its £1.3bn in the UK once it has completed its scheme valuation.

UK - A quarter of shareholders have voted against a Selfridges executive share option scheme after a Local Authority Pension Fund Forum campaign.

UK - City law firm Taylor Joynson Garrett has promoted Neil Smith to partner in its pensions group.

UK - Burges Salmon has appointed Colette Bewley as a partner.

UK - A long-term shake-up of the Local Government Pension Scheme is being considered after a "stocktake" review showed its benefits were becoming "increasingly inflexible".

UK - Hymans Robertson has expanded its team with the appointment of five partners.

ITALY - Prudential investment unit M&G International has unveiled plans to extend its reach into Italy later this year.

UK - The pension fund deficit for UK retail giant Marks & Spencer (M&S) has jumped by nearly 300% based on new accounting standard FRS17.