Europe

UK - The Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) has committed $600m to private equity investments in North America through Constitution Capital Partners (CPP) and taken a 10% stake in the firm.

UK - FTSE has launched an Environmental Opportunities All-Share Index, designed to benchmark companies with a 'significant' involvement in the environmental technology and exposure to environmental opportunities.

UK - The £1bn (US$1.95bn) Somerset County Council pension fund has announced a £30m tender for a private equity fund of funds manager.

UK - Most staff gravely underestimate how much their pensions cost employers, according to a survey from Aon Consulting.

UK - The House of Lords has been urged by industry organisations to amend the Pensions Bill to avoid additional costs to employers and harming existing employer provision.

TURKEY - ING has agreed to pay €110m for Oyak Emeklilik, Turkey's only voluntary pension fund for private pension fund management.

UK - Employers will have an increasing role in the financial education of their workers, with more than three-quarters (73%) wanting to offer help to their staff, according to Watson Wyatt.

EUROPE - UK and Irish pension fund associations have spoken out about comments made in support of Solvency II being applied to the industry last week.

NORDICS - The asset management industry has to face up to back and middle office challenges brought by the rise in the volume and complexity of transactions, according to new research by BNY Mellon Asset Servicing.

UK - The £1.96bn (US$3.83bn) Cadbury Pension Fund has diversified further into alternatives, awarding Blackstone and K2 Asset Management hedge fund mandates totalling 7.5% of current assets, according to MandateWire.