Regions

EUROPE - The European Fund and Asset Management Association has laid out its blue print for pan-European pension accounts for the occupational market under the EU directive.

EUROPE - Credit Agricole has bought a 65% stake in Italy's Nextra Investment Management, the fund management arm of Banca Intesa, making it Europe's fourth largest asset management firm.

EUROPE - Four out of five asset managers predict a rise in demand for property investments on the back of the introduction of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) in a number of countries worldwide.

EUROPE - European pension funds are increasingly bypassing consultants and approaching multimanagers directly for specialist mandates.

GLOBAL - Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) has bought the corporate governance unit of Belgium-based Deminor International, a European minority shareholder advocacy firm, creating a new platform for the firm's European operations.

EUROPE - Russell Investment Group is to launch four new UCITS III funds, numbering an active currency management fund, a global real estate securities fund, a Eurozone aggressive equity fund and a US aggressive equity fund.

INDIA - The systematic reform of India's pension system represents the "most ambitious" effort in the South Asian region to date, according to the World Bank.

NORDIC - Northern Trust has appointed Allan Nedergaard (pictured) of Danske Bank to head up Nordic business development for its institutional custody and asset servicing business.

NORDIC - Northern Trust has appointed Allan Nedergaard of Danske Bank to head up Nordic business development for its institutional custody and asset servicing business.

EUROPE - Fortis Investments has received approval from the Luxembourg CSSF authorities for its range of pooled liability-driven investment funds for institutional investors.