Europe

EUROPE - Gilles Glicenstein, head of BNP Paribas Asset Management, has highlighted the growing trend of clients becoming competitors in the pension and savings industry.

EUROPE - Greater government intervention has been advocated as one way to help unravel the European pensions riddle.

UK - Asset management firm CQS has announced the appointment of Chris Cooke to its seven-person marketing and investor relations team.

UK & NETHERLANDS - The asset management divisions of ABN AMRO and Barclays will not be merged, said a spokesman after the terms of the merger of the British and Dutch banking giants were announced.

EUROPE - First State Investments has announced the launch of the First State European Diversified Infrastructure Fund.

GLOBAL - Watson Wyatt's global practice director, Roger Urwin, has stressed the value played by governance in effective pension management.

UK - FSA approval and a US$500m mandate have been awarded to SilverStreet Capital, the fund of hedge fund management group founded by two former ABN AMRO alternatives managers.

UK - SEI has announced the launch of the SEI DC Master Trust, a new trust-based defined contribution (DC) provision for employers and members, via a partnership with Capita Hartshead.

UK - The recentlly formed Pensions Insurance Corporation (PIC) has appointed JPMorgan Worldwide Securities Services to provide custody, fund accounting and associated services.

EUROPE - The dream of cross border pension provision will become a reality, according to Philip Neyt, chairman of the Belgian Pensions Institutions Association.