Regions

EUROPE - The Committee of European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Supervisors (CEIOPS) has approved its draft answers to the European Commission (EC) on the third wave of "calls for advice" in the formulation of a framework for the Solvency II project....

GLOBAL - Mercer Human Resource Consulting has appointed Phil de Cristo (pictured) to the newly created role of president of its US$8.5bn multimanager business, Mercer Global Investments (MGI).

MALI - The African country of Mali will increase its social security budget by 2% in line with a higher number of pensioners receiving benefits.

NORDICS - Northern Trust Global Advisors is to provide manager research, selection and monitoring expertise to Nordea's new manager of managers funds.

EUROPE - Complaints have been lodged with the European Commission against 18 EU member states by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the European Federation for Retirement Provision over unfair taxation of pension funds.

EUROPE - Russell Investment Group has launched a global real estate securities fund for European pension funds ahead of the much anticipated introduction of REITs.

GLOBAL - Thomas Loeb, co-founder of Mellon Capital Management, is to step down from his position as CEO in 2006, Global Pensions can exclusively reveal.

GLOBAL - Australian boutique fund manager Perennial Investment Partners is targeting UK and European pension funds as it looks to expand the global reach of its Asia ex-Japan and Japanese equity products.

SOUTH AFRICA - The Special Pension Amendment Bill, designed in part to extend certain benefits to pensioners, spouses and children, has been approved by the National Assembly.

GLOBAL - US$29bn Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) has combined operations with real estate services and investment company Spaulding & Slye.