Europe

ITALY - Italian pension fund service provider PensPlan Centrum posted a 13% profit for 2009 on the back of equity gains.

UK - Schemes are facing serious risks in the aftermath of the Greek economic crisis, Redington said.

UK/CANADA - The Alberta Investment Management Corp. (Aimco), which manages C$70bn (US$70bn) in assets for Alberta pensions and other institutions, is in negotiations to take over UK-based buy out firm Candover.

UK - The number of schemes closed to existing members will double over the next year, Hewitt Associates warned.

UK - The Universities Superannuation Scheme has invested US$135m in the Neuberger Berman Secondary Opportunities Fund II.

ITALY - A reform of the Italian pension system including auto-enrolment into a mandatory defined contribution fund should be considered in the near future to push Italians to save more for retirement, industry figures said.

UK - More than half of pension scheme trustees in the UK think they should be paid for their role.

UK - PricewaterhouseCoopers has become the latest firm to raise fears over proposed pension accounting changes.

UK - Companies entering a longevity swap could get a "nasty surprise" if they do not consider the effect on their accounting position, Hewitt Associates warned.

ITALY - Italian schemes are increasingly reviewing their asset allocation and looking to offer lifestyling arrangements to their members in the wake of the losses incurred during the crisis, Towers Watson managing consultant for Italy Fabio Carniol said....