Europe

UK - Multi-manager Investment Solutions' assets under management have topped £230m after winning mandates from three closed defined benefit schemes.

UK - Legal and General's group life and pensions business has grown this year despite "sluggish" markets.

UK - Threadneedle Asset Management Limited and MM Asset Management are joining forces to launch a defined contribution pension product.

ITALY/UK - ABN AMRO Mellon has landed a e1bn mandate to custody the non-domestic assets for Banco Desio Investment Management subsidiaries and affiliates.

UK - Firms can slash employee benefit costs by using new software which enables staff to take over a large part of the administration, AMS Services claims.

UK - Insurance giant Norwich Union has blamed employer concerns over regulatory uncertainty for a drop in its corporate pensions business.

UK - Man Investments has launched a capital guaranteed fund which, it claims, will return at least 100% of investors' money, as well as any investment gains.

EUROPE- The Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland could provide a unique investment opportunity following their entry into the European Union, Aberdeen Asset Management believes.

UK - Private equity firm Hellman & Friedman is backing a man-agreement buyout of London-based fund manager Delaware International Advisers Ltd from the US Lincoln National Corporation.

UK - Brambles Industries has merged its four medical plans for UK-based employees into a single scheme.