Europe

UK - Balanced management could be ripe for a comeback, with a growing interest in value-adding and overlay strategies that can be applied to a balanced approach, according to consultants.

UK - Companies will restructure to beat government moves to make them cover the full buyout costs of winding-up schemes, lawyers warn.

UK - Hewitt Bacon & Woodrow is unveiling a fund delivery service which, it claims, gives schemes a radical alternative to multi-manager options.

ITALY - State Street Corporation has sealed its acquisition of the Italian division of its global securities services business which its purchased from Deutsche Bank in January.

UK - Trustees and union leaders have asked a Labour MP to hold top-level talks with AP Hydraulics over the future of the firm's final salary scheme.

UK - Axa Investment Managers has promoted Joanna Munro to head of UK institutional business development and head of global consultant relations.

UK - State Street has been appointed as global custodian to the £400m London Borough of Greenwich Superannuation Fund.

UK - Barclays Bank is unveiling a hybrid pensions package for the 24,000 members of its defined contribution scheme and all new employees.

UK - Consulting giant Mercer has warned staff that contributions to their final salary will have to rise sharply.

UK - Pensioners in Devon face legal action over refusing to pay increased council tax bills which have risen, in part, to cover a growing pension deficit.