United Kingdom

UK - The £150m Provident Financial Staff Pension Scheme (Provident) is in the midst of a strategic investment review that could result in a decrease in its equity exposure and possible first foray into alternative investments.

UK - Chief secretary to the Treasury Andrew Smith is to succeed Alistair Darling as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

SCOTLAND - Britannic Asset Management (BAM) is searching for a head of UK equities.

UK - Law firm Hammond Suddards Edge is to conduct trustee training programmes throughout the year.

UK - The £931m Superannuation Arrangements of the University of London (SAUL) is looking to pump assets into a new property portfolio, according to a source close to events.

UK - Barclays Global Investors has now closed its UK Equity Market Neutral funds to new investors having raised £326m.

UK/EUROPE - JP Morgan Investor Services EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) has appointed Mariagrazia Polo as sales executive for Italy.

UK - Philip Manduca has joined London-based Morley Fund Management as head of its new alternative investments division.

UK - The £1.1bn East Sussex County Council Pension Fund has become the latest regional scheme to issue a tender for a new private equity brief as one of several changes.

UK - The £914m pension fund West Sussex County Council is mandating a £400m balanced brief held by Deutsche Asset Management.