Europe

UK - The NAPF have come out in support of the government's white paper, however it noted provision should be made for those without a decent occupational pension scheme.

UK - Pensions regulator chairman David Norgrove has ruled out providing guidance on the issue of mortality assumptions.

THE NETHERLANDS - Aegon has reached an agreement to acquire OPTAS N V, the Rotterdam-based life insurer for €1.3bn.

UK - British consultants should move towards better models of performance measurement, according to panel of speakers at the National Association of Pensions Funds annual conference in Edinburgh today.

US - GM motors is to move 20% of its pension fund assets from stocks to bonds in an effort to protect a US$17.1bn surplus.

Denmark - PensionDanmark achieved a 7% investment return, equivalent to DKK3.6bn (€480m) for 2006, as the firm just beat its strategic benchmark.

ITALY - Romano Prodi's coalition government is to meet union leaders and Confindustira, the employers' association, to discuss the January pension reforms on March 22.

UK - HSBC Investments has appointed Kathleen Currie as institutional MD, one year after she joined the company as head of LDI.

UK - The independent regulator, Financial Reporting Council (FRC), has appointed seven new members to its review panel - including three partners from KPMG.

UK - Henderson's Arno Kitts and Linklaters' Ruth Goldman have been elected chairs of the investment and benefits councils respectively at the National Association of Pensions Funds (NAPF).