Europe

BELGIUM/GERMANY - Fortis Investments, the asset management arm of Fortis, has acquired the Japanese Equity capability of the German-owned asset manager, WestAM for an undisclosed amount.

UK - Angry rank-and-file trade unionists have challenged a pay-off and pension top-up for a senior official whose post is being abolished.

UK - Most companies are making "genuine efforts" to raise labour standards in their supply chain, research by the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum reveals.

UK - Asset allocation will become increasingly complex next year with "no clear trends" emerging from the major asset classes, Credit Suisse Asset Management predicts.

UK - British Airways and Hays have moved into the FTSE100 as part of the latest review of the index, replacing Provident Financial and Mitchells & Butlers which will now feature in the FTSE250 Index.

UK - DS Smith Group Pensions Scheme has appointed State Street Corporation to a E800m global custodian mandate.

UK - Real Estate Associates Ltd has appointed Pointon York SIPP Solutions as its self-invested personal pension provider.

UK- Hewitt Bacon & Woodrow has appointed Mike Hammer (pictured) and Steve Humphrys to join its London pensions team.

UK - Investment bank ABN-Amro has signed up to the "unbundled" research and broking system developed by Gartmore Investment Management.

UK - Public disclosure of voting will become the "gold standard" for fund managers in the new year, corporate governance experts claim.