Europe

UK - Schroders has completed the first closing of its private equity fund of funds at £172m, a sum it believes puts it on course to raise £300m by the second quarter.

NORDIC - Norway's largest financial, group Den Norske Bank (DnB), is to acquire the global asset management operations of Swedish firm Skandia in a move that will significantly bolster its assets under management and strengthen its presence in the Nordic...

UK - Brown Brothers Harriman (BBH), the oldest privately owned US bank and fund manager, has appointed David Bilbe as its new managing director of investor services in London.

UK - Consultants William M Mercer has been appointed to administer services to British Vita's two principal group pension schemes.

UK - Rob Hain is to replace Hugh Ward as chief executive officer of fund manager Invesco UK.

UK - The £1.7bn Hampshire County Council Pension Fund has appointed SG Asset Management to a £400m global active balanced brief, replacing Morley Fund Management.

UK - A new report insists that the UK commercial property market is in the midst of a resurgence despite conflicting research which shows that investment could be heading for a downturn.

UK - Cambridge Associates has been appointed by Nottinghamshire County Council to allocate £14m to two private equity fund of funds, yet to be decided.

UK - Financial services firms have seen business volumes plunge at their fastest rate for nine years and more job cuts could be in the offing, according to a new study.

UK - Morley Fund Management has joined a host of other commentators predicting strong growth for the UK market this year despite a US downturn.