Europe

UK - Aon has bagged an administration mandate from the newly created Box Clever pension scheme following a formal tendering process.

EUROPE - A gradual 100% shift to a funded European pension system is essential, according to economists in the Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs (ECFIN) of the European Commission.

UK - New accounting standard FRS17 could prove the final straw for some final salary schemes - threatening the pensions of thousands of UK workers, according to the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF).

UK - The decision to postpone provisions for new member-nominated trustee arrangements and end employer opt-outs was welcomed by consultants William M Mercer yesterday.

UK - The £680m BPB pension scheme has axed one of its investment managers and has already lined up a replacement.

UK- Aegon Asset Management has hired Stephen Jones as a fixed income portfolio manager, luring him from rival Britannic Asset Management.

UK - Standard & Poor's, the financial information and ratings provider is sponsoring an evening discussion on ‘Unilever vs Merrill Lynch: Implications for the Fund Management Industry.'

UK - The Northern Trust multi-manager business in the UK has announced the appointment of John Greene as international research analyst.

UK - The £278m London Borough of Hounslow Pension Fund is awaiting the results of an actuarial valuation, the results of which are expected in Q2, with changes to investment arrangements possible.

UK - Europe's eighth largest bank by assets, Dutch firm ABN Amro, has been hired as guarantor for a new offering from alternative fund manager Man Investment Products.