News

Mercer has appointed Jamie Willis as a partner as part of the expansion of its retirement practice across London and the South East.

Proposals to implement a new LGPS with lower accrual rates could be used as a short-term fix to generate millions of pounds in savings required from the scheme by Treasury next year.

Punter Southall has launched a tool to assess the cost implications for employers still undecided on how best to implement auto-enrolment.

FRANCE - Natixis Global Asset Management (NGAM) has acquired a controlling interest in investment advisory firm Darius Capital Partners.

CANADA/UK - The Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS) has closed on its previously announced acquisition of V.Group for $520m.

EUROPE/US - Hermes BPK Partners, the hedge fund investment arm of institutional manager Hermes, is to support and seed hedge fund businesses as the climate for start-ups in the $2trn industry re-emerges.

SWEDEN - Första AP-fonden (AP1) returned SEK 3bn ($463bn) after expenses in the first half of 2011, representing a return of 1.4%.

CANADA - Two pension funds have filed a C$6.5bn ($6.5bn) class action lawsuit against China-based timber company Sino-Forest and its auditor Ernst & Young.

UK - Trustees of the Morris Ashby Limited Pension Scheme have completed a £38m ($61.1m) buyout deal with Pension Insurance Corporation removing its liabilities from the Pension Protection Fund.

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