Regions

THE NETHERLANDS - Philips' decision to hive off its e13.5bn pensions asset management business to Merrill Lynch Investment Managers (MLIM) is sending ripples of discontent across the pension fund, with at least seven people resigning and several more...

ASIA-PACIFIC - Pensions markets in the Asia-Pacific region are set too grow by from e1.1trn to e2.9trn by 2015, according to new research from Allianz Global Investors.

GLOBAL - Merrill Lynch Investment Managers (MLIM) has appointed Paul Freeman to the newly created role of head of product for the Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA) and Asia Pacific region.

EUROPE/US - BNP Paribas Asset Management is to acquire Boston-based wealth manager, FundQuest in a bid to increase its footprint in the global funds market.

GLOBAL - Citigroup has signed a deal with Legg Mason to swap its asset management business for the Baltimore based firm's broker-dealer unit, marking the end of an era for Citigroup's financial supermarket model.

GLOBAL - Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM) is one the verge of unveiling its first actively managed commodity fund for global clients.

EUROPE - Mercer has submitted its response to new regulations to comply with the EU Directive on the investment aspects of occupational pensions.

EUROPE - Increased focus on higher returns could lead to more M&A activity among asset managers as they seek to re-evaluate their strategies through disposal of non-core activities or shore up core activities through acquisitions, a new report by PricewaterhouseCoopers...

GLOBAL - Barclays Global Investors (BGI) has appointed Rohit Bhagat as global chief operating officer (COO).

SOUTH AFRICA - Proposals from South Africa's president Mbeki (pictured) that the billions of dollars lying in pension funds should be used in developing the country's infrastructure, have been met with caution by one of the country's leading consultants....