Europe

UK - L&G has carried out a partial buyout of the TI pension scheme, to take responsibility for 20% of its overall value.

NORWAY - Property is becoming an increasing focus for pension funds in Norway as they seek to further diversify their portfolios, following a change to regulations earlier in the year.

DENMARK - Public and media pressure is increasingly forcing Danish pension funds to focus on social and ethical concerns in their investments.

UK - The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has been urged to address issues in its conflicts of interest guidance which it has been claimed could push the UK further towards becoming a defined contribution (DC) nation.

UK - A plan by petrochemical company INEOS to close its final salary pension scheme to new members and reduce provision to existing members could threaten fuel supplies to the whole of the UK.

UK - 'Substantial progress' has been made towards calling off a tube strike over pensions which threatens to paralyse London for 48 hours next week.

UK - Years of onerous legislation, tight regulation and financial turmoil have created a hostile environment for companies running defined benefit pension schemes, according to Aon Consulting.

DENMARK - PKA showed strong returns in 2007, despite the ongoing effects of the credit crunch, according to the pension fund's annual report released today.

UK - Paternoster has partnered with Citigroup to take responsibility for the £400m (US$791m) Powell Duffryn (PD) Pension Plan, in the largest buyout deal so far this year.

ITALY - The mechanical industry pension fund Cometa has appointed Allianz Global Investors to run an additional €406m (US$646m) of assets to the existing absolute return mandate managed by one of its affiliates.