Regions

GLOBAL - European banks and financial institutions are leading the way on corporate governance and climate change, according to a study by the Ceres investor and environment coalition.

GLOBAL - Mercer has added six people to its global responsible investment (RI) team.

GLOBAL - Public pension funds have benefited hugely from private equity investments, according to research body Preqin.

GLOBAL - Switzerland-based alternative asset manager, Partners Group, is expected to open offices in Beijing, Sydney and Luxembourg over the first half of 2008.

NETHERLANDS/GERMANY - Michel Alofs has quit as head of the Netherlands and European business development for Aberdeen Asset Managers.

GLOBAL - There will be no Global Pensions newswire between 24 December 2007 and 1 January 2008. The Global Pensions team will resume normal service on 2 January 2008.

US - The US$174bn California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) has announced it is actively seeking to appoint an independent fiduciary advisor for its $14.7bn Private Equity Proactive Portfolio.

EUROPE - European companies with offshore pension funds could be breaking the law, according to Deloitte Belgium.

GLOBAL - Confidence in investments took a battering this month as institutional investors preferred to hold rather than sell investments, reflecting a pessimistic outlook on the health of the global economy and market fundamentals.

INCLUDING: US - Principal acquires Retirement Consulting Actuaries; AUSTRALIA - Future Fund appoints investment director; UK - AXA appoints head of fixed income; AUSTRALIA - Credit Suisse trust closes