Europe

UK - Trustees of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme are taking legal advice on how to resolve a dispute over a funding surplus.

UK - Hermes is the latest institution to sign up to the Railtrack Shareholders Action Group (RSAG), which is heightening its campaign against the government.

UK - Accountants and auditors KPMG is been investigated by the accountancy regulator over its role as auditor to the failed insurer Independent Insurance.

EUROPE: It is desirable for employers to provide pension services across Europe, but the EU's proposed directive for European Pensions has a long way to go before cross-border activities take shape, according to a new survey of some of the biggest European...

UK - JP Morgan Fleming Asset Management's head of Europe, Middle East and Africa, Hendrik van Riel, has announced his decision to leave and will be departing at the end of November.

ITALY - Fopen, the EUR150m defined contribution scheme for Enel, the Italian electricity utility, has appointed five new investment managers to run mandates.

UK - The National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) yesterday reiterated its call to make pension provision compulsory for both plan members and employers - if the Government is serious about the problems posed by an ageing population.

UK - The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has issued new investment guidelines to improve disclosure by Britain's companies of their approach to corporate social responsibility.

UK - Frank Russell has strengthened its London-based institutional investment services team with the appointment of former Towers Perrin consultants Ian Barnes and Sorca Kelly.

EUROPE - Global Asset Management (GAM), a division of UBS Asset Management (UBSAM), has strengthened its institutional division with the appointment of Joanna Thompson as a director for Europe.