Europe

UK - Merrill Lynch Investment Managers (MLIM) has taken a blow from the £750m Alliance & Leicester Pension Scheme after losing a £150m UK and global equities mandate on performance grounds.

UK - London-based property consultant Drivers Jonas (DJ) has appointed Nick Shepherd to take over as managing partner

UK - The Leek United Building Society Pension and Assurance Scheme has hired Jardine Lloyd Thompson (JLT) to provide actuarial, consulting and administration services.

UK - The UK's £2.1bn Philips Pension Fund has reinstated Aon Consulting to administer its scheme, including both the final salary and money purchase elements.

UK - Total trading in Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) for September reached a high of £657m - the highest value for the vehicle ever recorded in one month since the £488m mark in June, according to the London Stock Exchange.

UK - The £2.8bn Merseyside Pension Fund is set to tender a passive portfolio worth around £840m following a best value review.

UK - The £850m West Sussex County Council Superannuation Fund has appointed Pantheon Investments to manage its private equity portfolio.

UK - French banking group Société Générale (SocGen) has dumped incumbent actuaries William M Mercer, in favour of Watson Wyatt as consultant to its UK pension schemes.

UK - William M. Mercer has joined forces with Attica Asset Management to introduce Mercer 360, a new investment solutions package designed for smaller defined benefit pension funds with around £50m in assets.

UK - Two leading pension providers have refused to participate in the Financial Services Authority's (FSA) latest comparative table for personal pensions and stakeholder providers.